On an exceptional night in Riyadh, the Saudi Media Awards a magnificent celebration that transcended traditional honors, creating an artistic tableau that embodied the highest expressions of gratitude. The ceremony featured a unique theatrical performance, fundamentally based on symbols of thanksgiving, drawing inspiration from the profound appreciation consistently shown by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Prime Minister, towards the Saudi people and various sectors of national achievement.

The performance, presented by a world-renowned contemporary performing arts troupe, was a visually stunning spectacle that masterfully blended elaborate choreography, cutting-edge visual effects, and a powerful soundtrack. This artistic fusion aimed to convey the philosophy of gratitude as a core value in the nation's development journey, and to offer a direct message of appreciation to every contributor who helps shape the evolving Saudi media landscape.

The context of media transformation and Vision 2030

This artistic presentation cannot be viewed in isolation from the broader context of the media sector in Saudi Arabia. Developing this sector is a cornerstone of the Saudi Vision 2030 , which places great emphasis on empowering national talent and creating globally competitive media content. The Saudi Media Award serves as a key driver of this development, motivating creators and institutions to deliver their best work, reflecting the true image of the Kingdom and its rich culture.

Symbolism of gratitude and the relationship between leadership and the people

The theatrical performance alternated between scenes depicting the rich history of Saudi media and others that evoked the spirit of initiative and innovation characteristic of Saudi youth. The show culminated in a final scene that portrayed gratitude as a vital link between leadership, people, and achievement. This symbolism recalled the Crown Prince's consistent pronouncements of confidence in the Saudi citizen, describing their ambition as "Mount Tuwaiq," thus making the performance an artistic echo of this mutual appreciation.

A universal artistic language with a Saudi identity

The selection of an international troupe to perform this show reflected the organizers' intention to address the world through a shared artistic language, while remaining committed to preserving Saudi identity in both content and message. Visual elements inspired by national culture and Saudi heritage were seamlessly integrated with cutting-edge global performance techniques, creating a celebratory spectacle befitting the award's prestige and regional significance.

This meticulous production approach is in line with the spirit of the ceremony, which was based on the principle of gratitude and appreciation to everyone who contributed to the development of the media sector, whether they were institutions, individuals, or owners of creative initiatives, confirming that the achievements made are the result of the leadership’s continuous support, unlimited empowerment, and great confidence in the national competencies that are leading the media scene towards broader horizons.

In a move reflecting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's leadership in the field of knowledge economy and investment in human capital, the city of Jeddah is preparing to host an exceptional global event, the 19th Asian Conference on Talent and Creativity 2026. This prominent event will launch on Saturday, February 7, 2026, under the generous patronage of His Excellency the Minister of Education, Mr. Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Bunyan, at the University of Business and Technology, and will continue for five days full of scientific and research activity.

A global event of exceptional standards

This conference marks a pivotal moment in the history of talent development, as it will witness the official launch of the first global index for measuring and assessing talent—an unprecedented international initiative aimed at establishing precise standards for monitoring and developing creative abilities. This international forum brings together a distinguished group of leaders, experts, and researchers representing more than 40 countries, making it a global platform for exchanging experiences and perspectives.

The conference's scientific program includes figures that reflect the magnitude of the event, including:

• More than 100 sessions and keynote speeches.
• 350 peer-reviewed scientific contributions.
• Participation of 1200 international speakers and experts.
• 30 accompanying seminars covering various aspects of talent and creativity.

Vision 2030 and the future of gifted education

Under the theme "Towards the Future: A Vision for Gifted Education 2050," this conference aligns directly with the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, specifically the Human Capital Development Program. The Kingdom is no longer content with nurturing gifted individuals domestically; it has moved to a position of global leadership in this field. This conference builds upon a rich history of Saudi achievements on the international stage and reflects the Ministry of Education's efforts to create a competitive educational environment that fosters a culture of innovation.

This edition of the conference is of particular importance given the rapid transformations the world is witnessing in the fields of artificial intelligence and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which makes the need urgent to discover and nurture talents according to modern scientific methodologies, which is what the new global index seeks to achieve.

Strategic partnerships and quality initiatives

The conference features a series of accompanying activities aimed at empowering youth, including an enrichment camp for gifted students and an educational innovation hackathon. The event is held under the auspices of the Asian Federation for Giftedness and Creativity, in strategic partnership with the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba), a global leader in this field, as well as partnerships with the Salem Bin Mahfouz Charitable Foundation, Fitaihi Holding Group, and organizing partner "Zakaat," with support from the Ministries of Education and Culture.

National leadership and competencies

To ensure the conference reflects the Kingdom's stature, a high-level supervisory committee was formed, chaired by Dr. Abdullah bin Sadiq Dahlan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University of Business and Technology. The committee includes prominent national figures, among them His Royal Highness Prince Khalid bin Mishari Al Saud, Dr. Khalid bin Ibrahim Al-Awad, Dr. Wiam bin Hosni Tunisi, Dr. Ziyad bin Abdullah Al-Drees, Professor Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Jughaiman, Engineer Sami bin Omar Al-Hussain, and Dr. Laila Ahmed Jamjoom.

Commenting on the event, Dr. Abdullah bin Sadiq Dahlan affirmed that the Kingdom’s hosting of the conference reflects its firm commitment to supporting excellence and creativity, noting that talent has become a strategic element in the equation of sustainable development, and that the conference will contribute to shaping the future of gifted education globally and building competitive knowledge societies.