Latest news with #GeneralAuthorityforMediaRegulation
Zawya
20-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Saudi Arabia's media industry undergoes transformation, aims for $12bln GDP contribution
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia's media sector is undergoing a remarkable transformation, emerging as a key driver of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 ambitions and offering a rapidly expanding platform for investment and innovation. Backed by robust policy support, infrastructure development, and a young, tech-savvy population, the sector is projected to nearly double its economic contribution within the next five years. The General Authority for Media Regulation (Gmedia) projects that by 2030, Saudi Arabia's media sector will contribute approximately $12 billion (SR47 billion) to the national GDP — up from around $6 billion in 2023. This figure represents a projected 0.8% share of GDP, compared to 0.4% currently. In 2024 alone, the sector contributed SR16 billion (roughly $4.3 billion), accounting for 0.57% of the Kingdom's GDP. Employment within the sector is also on the rise. As of the end of 2024, media-related jobs reached 67,000, marking a 22% increase from the previous year. Authorities have set a target of creating 160,000 media sector jobs by 2030. This push is supported by training initiatives across three national media academies and academic partnerships with top global institutions. The Kingdom's unique demographics bolster this trajectory. As of 2022, 43% of the Saudi population is under the age of 39, and the country boasts the highest population growth rate among G20 nations. Saudi Arabia surpassed the $1 trillion mark in nominal GDP and has seen a 4.7% annual expansion in its non-oil sector, of which media plays a growing role. Gmedia's 2024 sector report identifies six key transformative shifts: demand, infrastructure, funding, talent, technology, and regulation. Each of these pillars reflects the Kingdom's intent to modernize and globalize its media landscape. The IGNITE program alone commits $1.1 billion to support content creation and digital infrastructure, including $234 million allocated specifically to the Film Sector Financing Program. On the infrastructure front, over 35 film studios are operational across Saudi Arabia. NEOM's Media Village and Bajdah Studios offer over 12,000 sqm of production space, while Film AlUla features advanced soundstages and has issued more than 350 filming permits. AlUla and NEOM have hosted over 235 productions since their launch, including international commercials and major feature films. Cinema, once banned for decades, is now among the fastest-growing segments. The video sector is expected to reach $4 billion (SR15 billion) by 2027, driven by a 19% compound annual growth rate in cinema revenues and a 10% growth in video streaming. This is complemented by a vibrant content ecosystem: domestic studios like Telfaz11 and partnerships with global platforms such as Netflix and MBC are producing Saudi-made content that is gaining international acclaim. Digital innovation is another hallmark of the transformation. Saudi Arabia has achieved 78% nationwide 5G coverage and an average internet speed of 322 Mbps — 59% faster than the global average. The domestic data center market is expected to surpass $2 billion by 2028, growing at a 12% CAGR, while artificial intelligence is projected to contribute $135 billion to GDP by 2030. In audio, Saudi Arabia leads the Arab world in podcast consumption, with over 5 million regular listeners and 67% of adults tuning in weekly. The audio segment, including music streaming and production, is valued at approximately $300 million and is forecast to grow at 4% annually through 2027. The publishing sector is adapting to digital disruption. Although revenues from print newspapers and magazines are expected to decline slightly, the overall market is on track to reach $584 million by 2027, growing at 3% annually. Initiatives like the Digital Publishing Program and Books for All are designed to increase readership and modernize the literary ecosystem. Gaming and esports represent the most dynamic frontier. The gaming sector is growing at a rapid 23% annual rate and is expected to be worth more than $1.1 billion by 2027. Backed by strategic investments, including a $40 billion fund under the Public Investment Fund for artificial intelligence projects, Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as a global leader in gaming and interactive entertainment. Financially, the sector is benefiting from a wide array of incentives, including cash rebates of up to 40% for production projects in NEOM and AlUla, and long-term tax exemptions for companies relocating to the Kingdom under the Regional Headquarters Program. The Cultural Development Fund has already launched a $234 million film financing program, while private equity and venture capital are encouraged to support early and mid-stage media startups. The regulatory environment is also evolving. Gmedia is implementing a revamped media law designed to increase transparency, streamline licensing, and ensure market competitiveness. This includes the development of special media economic zones and liberalized regulations for international media firms. The National Intellectual Property Strategy further safeguards content creators and strengthens the value chain. These reforms are not merely local in impact. By enhancing media education, content production, and technological infrastructure, Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as the regional epicenter for digital storytelling, journalism, entertainment, and gaming. © Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Saudi Gazette
19-05-2025
- Business
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi Arabia's media industry undergoes transformation, aims for $12 billion GDP contribution
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Saudi Arabia's media sector is undergoing a remarkable transformation, emerging as a key driver of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 ambitions and offering a rapidly expanding platform for investment and innovation. Backed by robust policy support, infrastructure development, and a young, tech-savvy population, the sector is projected to nearly double its economic contribution within the next five years. The General Authority for Media Regulation (Gmedia) projects that by 2030, Saudi Arabia's media sector will contribute approximately $12 billion (SR47 billion) to the national GDP — up from around $6 billion in 2023. This figure represents a projected 0.8% share of GDP, compared to 0.4% currently. In 2024 alone, the sector contributed SR16 billion (roughly $4.3 billion), accounting for 0.57% of the Kingdom's within the sector is also on the rise. As of the end of 2024, media-related jobs reached 67,000, marking a 22% increase from the previous have set a target of creating 160,000 media sector jobs by push is supported by training initiatives across three national media academies and academic partnerships with top global Kingdom's unique demographics bolster this trajectory. As of 2022, 43% of the Saudi population is under the age of 39, and the country boasts the highest population growth rate among G20 Arabia surpassed the $1 trillion mark in nominal GDP and has seen a 4.7% annual expansion in its non-oil sector, of which media plays a growing 2024 sector report identifies six key transformative shifts: demand, infrastructure, funding, talent, technology, and of these pillars reflects the Kingdom's intent to modernize and globalize its media IGNITE program alone commits $1.1 billion to support content creation and digital infrastructure, including $234 million allocated specifically to the Film Sector Financing the infrastructure front, over 35 film studios are operational across Saudi Media Village and Bajdah Studios offer over 12,000 sqm of production space, while Film AlUla features advanced soundstages and has issued more than 350 filming and NEOM have hosted over 235 productions since their launch, including international commercials and major feature once banned for decades, is now among the fastest-growing segments. The video sector is expected to reach $4 billion (SR15 billion) by 2027, driven by a 19% compound annual growth rate in cinema revenues and a 10% growth in video is complemented by a vibrant content ecosystem: domestic studios like Telfaz11 and partnerships with global platforms such as Netflix and MBC are producing Saudi-made content that is gaining international innovation is another hallmark of the transformation. Saudi Arabia has achieved 78% nationwide 5G coverage and an average internet speed of 322 Mbps — 59% faster than the global domestic data center market is expected to surpass $2 billion by 2028, growing at a 12% CAGR, while artificial intelligence is projected to contribute $135 billion to GDP by audio, Saudi Arabia leads the Arab world in podcast consumption, with over 5 million regular listeners and 67% of adults tuning in audio segment, including music streaming and production, is valued at approximately $300 million and is forecast to grow at 4% annually through publishing sector is adapting to digital disruption. Although revenues from print newspapers and magazines are expected to decline slightly, the overall market is on track to reach $584 million by 2027, growing at 3% like the Digital Publishing Program and Books for All are designed to increase readership and modernize the literary and esports represent the most dynamic frontier. The gaming sector is growing at a rapid 23% annual rate and is expected to be worth more than $1.1 billion by by strategic investments, including a $40 billion fund under the Public Investment Fund for artificial intelligence projects, Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as a global leader in gaming and interactive the sector is benefiting from a wide array of incentives, including cash rebates of up to 40% for production projects in NEOM and AlUla, and long-term tax exemptions for companies relocating to the Kingdom under the Regional Headquarters Cultural Development Fund has already launched a $234 million film financing program, while private equity and venture capital are encouraged to support early and mid-stage media regulatory environment is also evolving. Gmedia is implementing a revamped media law designed to increase transparency, streamline licensing, and ensure market competitiveness. This includes the development of special media economic zones and liberalized regulations for international media National Intellectual Property Strategy further safeguards content creators and strengthens the value reforms are not merely local in impact. By enhancing media education, content production, and technological infrastructure, Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as the regional epicenter for digital storytelling, journalism, entertainment, and gaming.
Arab News
04-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
State of the Saudi media sector and investment opportunities it offers
RIYADH: The General Authority for Media Regulation has released a report, 'The State of the Saudi Media Sector and Investment Opportunities for 2024,' which provides an overview of the media landscape in the Kingdom and highlights the significant transformations the sector is undergoing to keep pace with Saudi Vision 2030. The report reflects promising investment opportunities, in addition to the technical and regulatory shifts that support the growth and sustainability of the sector. It also illustrates the magnitude of the boom in the Saudi media sector, which has achieved remarkable development driven by digital transformation and technological advance, improving the efficiency of media content and enhancing its global competitiveness. The media authority's estimates in the report indicate that the contribution of the media sector to the direct and indirect gross domestic product increased to 0.57 per cent in 2024, amounting to SAR16 billion ($4.26 billion), compared with 0.52 per cent in 2023. The authority continues to work towards achieving its ambitious goals of raising this percentage to 0.8 percent by 2030. In terms of investment in human capital, job growth reached 67,000 jobs, with a rate of 22 percent by the end of 2024, with the aim of reaching 160,000 jobs by 2030. The report also identified six key transformations in the media industry in the Kingdom, including the increasing demand for local content, developing media infrastructure, adopting modern technologies such as artificial intelligence and augmented reality, improving the regulatory environment, supporting national talents and competencies, and expanding investment opportunities. The report confirms that the Kingdom has become a prominent destination for media investment, providing a flexible regulatory environment and mega-projects aimed at enhancing the media industry. It also addressed the opportunities available to investors in content production, the development of electronic games, investment in media infrastructure, and international partnerships in the Saudi media market. In addition, the continued innovation and adoption of modern technologies to enhance the competitiveness of Saudi media globally is a crucial factor because the sector has elements that make it one of the main drivers of economic and cultural development in the Kingdom. The report details the opportunities and challenges in the sector and covers the five media divisions supervised by the General Authority for Media Regulation: publishing; audio; visual; advertising; and games sectors. The authority, through the report, hopes to improve understanding of the local media landscape and provide clear and accurate data to media entities and local and international investors, to highlight the promising opportunities in the sector. The report is a comprehensive reference for the state of media in the Kingdom and is provides a guide for local and international investors and researchers in the sector. The authority urges interested partis to view the report on its website at
Gulf Insider
14-04-2025
- Health
- Gulf Insider
Saudi Arabia: MoH Summons Woman Health Practitioner For Posting Misleading Video Content On Social Media
The Ministry of Health office in Al-Qurayyat governorate in the northern Al-Jouf region has summoned an expatriate woman healthcare practitioner after she appearing in a video on social media and disseminating misleading information about cosmetic surgery being performed at a private clinic. The visual content of the healthcare practitioner included advertising practices that violate the Law of Practicing Healthcare Professions, its executive regulations, and related regulations. The ministry has taken legal measures against the content publisher, who was referred to the General Authority for Media Regulation to complete the regulatory procedures regarding the published content in violation of the regulations. 'The necessary legal measures will be taken against the healthcare practitioner, prior to referring her to the competent authority to examine the violations committed by her, in accordance with Articles 5 and 8 of the Law of Practicing Healthcare Professions, its executive regulations, and the Guide to Professional Conducts and Ethics for Registered Medical Practitioners,' the ministry sources said. The Ministry of Health emphasized the importance of healthcare practitioners adhering to professional regulations and controls. 'Producing or publishing any content that includes professional violations or promotes false or misleading information is considered as a cybercrime, and the perpetrator of such crimes shall be subjected to penalties prescribed by law, which may reach up to five years in prison or a fine of up to SR3 million,' the ministry sources added.
Saudi Gazette
14-04-2025
- Health
- Saudi Gazette
MoH summons woman health practitioner for posting misleading video content on social media
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — The Ministry of Health office in Al-Qurayyat governorate in the northern Al-Jouf region has summoned an expatriate woman healthcare practitioner after she appearing in a video on social media and disseminating misleading information about cosmetic surgery being performed at a private clinic. The visual content of the healthcare practitioner included advertising practices that violate the Law of Practicing Healthcare Professions, its executive regulations, and related regulations. The ministry has taken legal measures against the content publisher, who was referred to the General Authority for Media Regulation to complete the regulatory procedures regarding the published content in violation of the regulations. "The necessary legal measures will be taken against the healthcare practitioner, prior to referring her to the competent authority to examine the violations committed by her, in accordance with Articles 5 and 8 of the Law of Practicing Healthcare Professions, its executive regulations, and the Guide to Professional Conducts and Ethics for Registered Medical Practitioners," the ministry sources said. The Ministry of Health emphasized the importance of healthcare practitioners adhering to professional regulations and controls. "Producing or publishing any content that includes professional violations or promotes false or misleading information is considered as a cybercrime, and the perpetrator of such crimes shall be subjected to penalties prescribed by law, which may reach up to five years in prison or a fine of up to SR3 million," the ministry sources added.
