Latest news with #CARMA


Gulf Business
22-07-2025
- Business
- Gulf Business
How Saudi Arabia leveraged events and influencers to boost reputation
Image: Getty Images Saudi Arabia's international reputation has seen a measurable improvement, according to the Key findings reveal sustained reputational gains In 2024, positive media coverage of Saudi Arabia increased by 25 per cent compared to 2023, while negative coverage declined by 55 per cent since 2020. These shifts signal a long-term transformation in how the Kingdom is perceived internationally. CARMA's multi-market public survey, which gathered insights from the UK, USA, India, Singapore, and Russia, found that 59 per cent of respondents expressed a favourable view of Saudi Arabia. Among these, 37 per cent said their perception had become more positive in the past 12 months. Vision 2030 leads the narrative The Vision 2030 agenda has become central to international discussions about Saudi Arabia, accounting for 60 per cent of global media coverage—the highest share recorded to date. Notably, coverage of Saudi Arabia's social and economic transformation now exceeds the volume of political discourse for the first time since 2020. Tourism, entertainment, and major events fuel attention Coverage related to the Kingdom's economy rose by 77 per cent in 2024, supported by events such as the Future Investment Initiative, the LEAP tech conference, and the World Defence Show. Tourism and entertainment coverage grew by 60 per cent year-on-year, reflecting the country's efforts to position itself as a global destination. While coverage of sports fell by 7 per cent, it still made up 11 per cent of total global media volume, driven by events like Saudi Arabia's confirmed bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. Influencers and leadership shaping perceptions Influential global personalities such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, MrBeast, and Elon Musk contributed to increased engagement with Saudi Arabia's growing entertainment and cultural presence through high-profile social media posts. CARMA also noted that Saudi leadership was frequently represented in international media as drivers of reform, mega-project development, and regional diplomacy. Survey results reflect this shift in perception: 59 per cent of respondents expressed interest in visiting Saudi Arabia, 60 per cent were open to doing business in the Kingdom, and 52 per cent said they would consider working there. Read: Methodology CARMA's report integrates AI-powered sentiment analysis, human interpretation, international media review, influencer tracking, and public perception data. The methodology offers a 360-degree view of how Saudi Arabia's evolving strategies are influencing global perceptions. The report underscores how sustained communication efforts, landmark reforms, and strategic investments in tourism, sports, and culture are reshaping international attitudes toward the Kingdom.


Web Release
22-07-2025
- Business
- Web Release
Saudi Arabia's Global Reputation Shifts Positively, Driven by Vision 2030 and Economic Diversification
Saudi Arabia's global reputation has seen a significant positive transformation, according to CARMA's 5th Edition of the Kingdom Reputation Report. The report indicates a notable increase in positive sentiment and a decline in negative media coverage, largely attributed to the country's Vision 2030 initiatives, economic diversification, and growing soft power. The latest insights from CARMA's Report include: A Surge in Positive Global Sentiment Positive mainstream media coverage of Saudi Arabia increased by 25% in 2024, compared to the previous year. Since 2020, negative media coverage has declined by 55%, signalling a decisive reputational shift. CARMA's survey, encompassing respondents from the UK, the USA, India, Singapore, and Russia, revealed that 59% expressed positive sentiment towards Saudi Arabia. Additionally, 37% of respondents reported that their views have become more favourable over the past 12 months. Vision 2030 Shaping The Narrative Vision 2030 dominated international discourse in 2024, directly tying into 60% of all global media coverage about Saudi Arabia, the highest share recorded to date. For the first time since 2020, coverage of Saudi Arabia's economic and social transformation under Vision 2030 has outpaced political discourse. Events, Tourism and Entertainment Drive Global Interest Media coverage of Saudi Arabia's economy rose by 77% in 2024, driven by events like the Future Investment Initiative (FII)LEAP tech conference and the World Defence Show. Tourism and entertainment media coverage is increasing by 60% compared to 2023, representing a strong rebound and highlighting Saudi Arabia's growing appeal as a destination. While overall media volume on sports decreased by 7%, it still accounts for 11% of all media coverage, maintaining its significant influence. High-profile sports events, such as the announcement of hosting the 2034 FIFA World Cup, continue to generate headlines and build international connections. Influencing the Influencers Influential figures like Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, MrBeast, and Elon Musk amplified engagement through their posts, showcasing Saudi Arabia's evolving cultural, sporting, and entertainment landscape. Saudi Arabia's leadership emerged as influential figures in global media, widely portrayed in a positive light for driving transformative reforms, advancing landmark mega-projects, and deepening regional diplomacy. The public survey found that 59% of respondents were interested in visiting Saudi Arabia, 60% would consider doing business there, and 52% were open to working in the Kingdom. CARMA's report, which utilises AI analysis, sentiment tracking, human interpretation, and considers international media, influential social voices, multi-market public surveys, and AI-driven search trends, provides a comprehensive view of Saudi Arabia's evolving perception. This shift reflects global recognition of Saudi Arabia's determined efforts toward economic, social, and cultural reinvention.


Zawya
21-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Saudi Arabia's global reputation shifts positively, driven by Vision 2030 and economic diversification
Saudi Arabia's global reputation has seen a significant positive transformation, according to CARMA's 5th Edition of the Kingdom Reputation Report. The report indicates a notable increase in positive sentiment and a decline in negative media coverage, largely attributed to the country's Vision 2030 initiatives, economic diversification, and growing soft power. The latest insights from CARMA's Report include: A Surge in Positive Global Sentiment Positive mainstream media coverage of Saudi Arabia increased by 25% in 2024, compared to the previous year. Since 2020, negative media coverage has declined by 55%, signaling a decisive reputational shift. CARMA's survey, encompassing respondents from the UK, the USA, India, Singapore, and Russia, revealed that 59% expressed positive sentiment towards Saudi Arabia. Additionally, 37% of respondents reported that their views have become more favourable over the past 12 months. Vision 2030 Shaping The Narrative Vision 2030 dominated international discourse in 2024, directly tying into 60% of all global media coverage about Saudi Arabia, the highest share recorded to date. For the first time since 2020, coverage of Saudi Arabia's economic and social transformation under Vision 2030 has outpaced political discourse. Events, Tourism and Entertainment Drive Global Interest Media coverage of Saudi Arabia's economy rose by 77% in 2024, driven by events like the Future Investment Initiative (FII)LEAP tech conference, and World Defense Show. Tourism and entertainment media coverage increasing by 60% compared to 2023, representing a strong rebound and highlighting Saudi Arabia's growing appeal as a destination. While overall media volume on sports decreased by 7%, it still accounts for 11% of all media coverage, maintaining its significant influence. High profile sports events, such as the announcement of hosting the 2034 FIFA World Cup, continue to generate headlines and build international connections. Influencing the Influencers Influential figures like Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, MrBeast, and Elon Musk amplified engagement through their posts, showcasing Saudi Arabia's evolving cultural, sporting, and entertainment landscape. Saudi Arabia's leadership emerged as influential figures in global media, widely portrayed in a positive light for driving transformative reforms, advancing landmark mega-projects, and deepening regional diplomacy. The public survey found that 59% of respondents were interested in visiting Saudi Arabia, 60% would consider doing business there, and52% were open to working in the Kingdom. CARMA's report, which utilizes AI analysis, sentiment tracking, human interpretation, and considers international media, influential social voices, multi-market public surveys, and AI-driven search trends, provides a comprehensive view of Saudi Arabia's evolving perception. This shift reflects global recognition of Saudi Arabia's determined efforts toward economic, social, and cultural reinvention. About CARMA Expertly helping PR and communications professionals demonstrate the value of their work, CARMA collaborates with both global brands and local organisations across a diverse range of industries. CARMA equips PR and communications professionals with the data, insights, and context needed to make better-informed business technology provides the most comprehensive monitoring of print, broadcast, online and social media in every continent, across 130+ content partners and 100+ languages. Discover CARMA's suite of solutions, our team, and the work we do. Joumana El Tarabulsi Group Account Director, Cicero & Bernay Communication Consultancy Email: Joumana@ Ahmed Dahduli Managing Director, CARMA – Riyadh Email: For inquiries and more information, please contact


Web Release
28-05-2025
- Business
- Web Release
CARMA Expands to Spain to Support Organisations in Managing Reputation and Media Presence
CARMA, a global leader in media monitoring, analysis, and reputation management, has officially announced the launch of its latest office in Madrid, Spain. This strategic expansion provides organisations across Spain with access to CARMA's advanced media intelligence solutions, supporting smarter decision-making and stronger reputation management. Spain's dynamic economy is driving a growing demand for accurate, timely, and actionable media insights. CARMA's services, from monitoring and measurement to deep analysis, are ideally positioned to meet these needs. By delivering meaningful data and expert interpretation, CARMA empowers clients in Spain to achieve stronger outcomes in a competitive media environment. To drive its operations in Spain, CARMA has appointed Antonio Buades de Armenteras as Country Manager, supported by Filipe Manuel Pereira, General Manager Iberia, Latam and Sub-Saharan Africa. Antonio Buades brings 30 years of professional experience across media, hospitality and the distribution sector. Antonio has held many senior roles of note, including Chief Sales Officer for Grupo Prisa in Latin America, Director of International Business at Prisa Radio and Commercial Director of Cadena SER. A Strong Leadership Team to Drive CARMA's Success in Spain CARMA's commitment to the Spanish market is further demonstrated through its investment in a locally-based, dedicated sales and marketing team. Noelia Moncho Rojo, appointed as Senior Business Developer Executive, will play a central role in building relationships with prospective clients and showcasing the strategic value of CARMA's solutions. With a 100% focus on the Spanish market, Noelia brings energy, industry knowledge, and a consultative approach that will ensure businesses understand how media intelligence can drive both commercial and reputational success. Working closely alongside her, Pilar Jiménez, Marketing Executive for Iberia, will support brand visibility and client engagement, ensuring CARMA's offerings resonate across sectors. 'We are proud to expand into Spain, this illustrates CARMA's mission to increase market share and to become the global leader in media intelligence. Under the direct and very experienced management of Antonio Buades and Filipe Manuel Pereira, we are well-positioned to help Spanish businesses succeed with their reputation management and strategic decision-making,' stated Timothy Webb, CEO Europe and the Americas at CARMA.

Mid East Info
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Mid East Info
Media Confidence in Chinese Automotive Brands Grows Globally and Hits 62% in the UAE, According to CARMA's Latest Analysis
CARMA, the leading technology and consulting company, has released the second part of its 'Driving Change Series' study, which presents an analysis surrounding the Automotive industry, hyper focusing on the incoming Chinese brands in the MENA region and beyond. Findings show that Chinese automotive brands are gaining media confidence globally, with limited outright scepticism. Through a variety of online articles, media in the Philippines, Malaysia and the UAE showcased the highest levels of confidence in Chinese automotive brands (over 60% confident in each of those markets). The analysis found that positive media coverage of Chinese brands aligned with what really matters to consumers with regards to purchasing decisions. The first part of this series, which focused on consumer research, found that price, reliability and technology were key factors for those considering purchasing a new vehicle. Chinese brands were characterised by low levels of criticism and high proportions of positive coverage on pricing, technology and reliability. In addition, Chinese automotive brands – especially BYD – are increasingly seen as industry innovators. The brand garnered more than double the volume of coverage where brands are positioned as innovative (1,189 articles) compared to other Chinese brands such as Geely (402) and Xpeng (298), as well as established brands including BMW and Volkswagen (284 and 251 respectively). BYD was also found to have contributed 41% of all positive coverage on Chinese brands, and had a higher proportion of positive coverage compared to other Chinese brands and established brands. Part 2 of the series, titled 'Media Perception' presents an analysis of 12,000 media articles from 1 January 2024 to 31 January 2025. Online articles from automotive specialist outlets, news sources, lifestyle media and technology outlets in 15 markets were analysed. These articles featured over 25 Chinese brands and over 30 established brands. 'The automotive industry experienced significant turbulence over the last 18 months with headwinds affecting both Chinese and established brands. Despite this our analysis revealed that Chinese automotive brands have gained media confidence around the globe, and that positive sentiment on 'the rise of Chinese brands' is a result of BYD's success, rather than strong industry-wide performance. In fact, BYD leads in terms of share of voice compared to several other Chinese and Established brands and generated 41% of all positive coverage of Chinese brands,' says Paige Lingwood, Insights Consultant, CARMA. Technology and innovation were found to be key themes that media outlets covered with their articles – 60% of media coverage highlighted Chinese brands' use of innovative technology. Articles also focused on the rapidly evolving automotive industry highlighting trends such as tariff impacts, technology collaboration, the rise of Software Defined Vehicles (SDVs), and the role of social media platforms such as YouTube and TikTok in influencing car buyers. Within the MENA region Chinese brands secured the most articles where they positioned as innovative in the UAE (75%), which helped elevate the presence and perception of Chinese brands across the wider Middle East region. Numerous articles were published by UAE media on BYD, highlighting the investment the company has made into innovation and technology. Other outlets also praised the inclusion of the Chery Tiggo 8 in the Dubai Police Fleet, noting that the model was chosen specifically as Dubai Police required vehicles equipped with the latest technology. In Saudi Arabia, high levels of confidence were reported in media narratives relating to pricing, reliability and technology. In the first part of this series, these factors were found to be the most important or consumers when purchasing a vehicle, highlighting that Chinese brands have found a winning formula for growth despite the automotive industry's challenging and competitive landscape. Part 3 of the Driving Change series will focus on a case study on BYD. Stay tuned as we continue to explore the transformative rise of Chinese automotive brands on the world stage. About CARMA: Expertly helping PR and communications professionals demonstrate the value of their work, CARMA collaborates with both global brands and local organisations across a diverse range of industries. CARMA equips PR and communications professionals with the data, insights, and context needed to make better-informed business decisions. Our technology provides the most comprehensive monitoring of print, broadcast, online and social media in every continent, across 130+ content partners and 100+ languages. Discover CARMA's suite of solutions, our team, and the work we do.