Under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Riyadh is preparing to host the fifth edition of the Saudi Media Forum 2026 , the region’s premier event bringing together thought leaders and media executives. Held this year under the theme “Media in a Changing World,” the forum promises a significant leap forward with the launch of five strategic initiatives and a first-of-its-kind global award, reflecting the Kingdom’s commitment to developing the media sector and keeping pace with global transformations.

Background and development of the Saudi Media Forum

Since its inception, the Saudi Media Forum has established itself as a leading dialogue platform that brings together local, regional, and international media experts. This event is being held within the context of the major transformations taking place in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as part of Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the economy and build a vibrant society. The media plays a pivotal role in achieving this vision by enhancing the Kingdom's image, supporting innovation, and empowering national talent. Over its previous editions, the Forum has evolved into more than just a forum for discussion; it has become a catalyst for change and a creator of initiatives that serve the future of the media industry.

Strategic initiatives to empower the media sector

This year's forum will witness the launch of a package of high-quality initiatives targeting various aspects of the media landscape, in strategic partnership with the Human Capacity Development Program. These initiatives include:

• Media Innovation Camp: An initiative designed to empower Saudi and international talent by providing a stimulating environment for developing innovative media solutions and projects that address industry challenges.
• Media Ambassadors: It aims to refine and empower young national talents, and prepare a new generation of media leaders capable of competing globally.
• SMF Connect: A global platform to expand communication networks between media professionals and institutions, and to facilitate the exchange of experiences, knowledge and international best practices.
• Growth Initiative: Focuses on supporting emerging media companies and improving the efficiency of existing companies, with the aim of enhancing their sustainability and growth in a competitive market.
• The Saudi Media Forum’s focus is on expanding the forum’s influence beyond the capital, by organizing diverse media events in various regions of the Kingdom to enhance community engagement.

A global award for artificial intelligence and its international impact

Perhaps the most notable feature of this year's edition is the launch of the revamped Saudi Media Award 2026, which includes the first global award dedicated to AI-generated content. This award represents a pioneering step, reflecting the Kingdom's understanding of the importance of emerging technologies and their profound impact on the content industry. It is expected to have a significant international impact, setting new standards for excellence and innovation in this field and encouraging the ethical and effective use of AI in media. Furthermore, it positions the Kingdom at the forefront of countries leading the global dialogue on the future of media in the digital age.

A busy agenda and a promising future

Over three days, the forum will feature more than 150 specialized dialogue sessions with the participation of over 300 leading media professionals, experts, and specialists from around the world. The sessions will cover vital topics including the future of global media, the challenges of credibility and influence, digital transformation, the economics of media and entertainment, and the art of storytelling and advanced production. With this momentum, the Saudi Media Forum merely an annual event, but a strategic platform that effectively contributes to shaping the future of media and enhancing the sector's ability to adapt and grow in a constantly changing world.

In an ambitious move aimed at establishing a unified global framework for human well-being in urban environments, the Saudi Media Forum 2026 will discuss the launch of a new international standard for measuring quality of life in cities. This initiative seeks to answer a pivotal question: How can quality of life be measured by a single, globally understood standard that ensures a fair and comprehensive assessment that goes beyond traditional economic indicators?

This step falls within a broader and more comprehensive context: Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which places improving the quality of life for citizens and residents at the heart of its objectives. The Quality of Life Program is one of the most important programs for achieving this vision, working to develop infrastructure and services in Saudi cities to make them among the best cities to live in the world. Therefore, the launch of this standard is not seen as an isolated event, but rather as part of an integrated national strategy through which the Kingdom seeks to lead in the field of sustainable urban development and share its expertise with the world.

A comprehensive framework for human well-being

The proposed standard is based on an integrated conceptual and methodological framework that combines four key dimensions: economy, society, environment, and urban development. This approach aims to provide a holistic view of human well-being, where a city is assessed not only based on its GDP but also on the quality of its health and education services, the cleanliness of its environment, the availability of green spaces, accessibility to services, community safety, and cultural interaction. This comprehensive framework transforms the concept of “quality of life” from an abstract idea into a set of measurable and improveable indicators.

When measurement becomes understandable, the quality of life in cities becomes a subject that can be assessed and improved.

The importance of standardization and its global impact

Standardizing performance measurement criteria creates a fair comparison between cities worldwide, fostering healthy competitiveness. When cities use a common language to assess their performance, it becomes easier to identify strengths and weaknesses, share best practices, and develop more effective and sustainable urban policies. Locally, this standard will enable Saudi cities to accurately measure their progress toward achieving the goals of Vision 2030. Internationally, it positions the Kingdom as an influential participant in the global dialogue on the future of cities, making it a more attractive destination for global investment, talent, and expertise seeking a high-quality living and working environment.

Specialized session and future prospects

The Saudi Media Forum will dedicate a session titled “Towards a New Global Standard for Quality of Life in Cities” to discuss this topic in depth. Abdullah Al-Harbi, Director General of Performance Management at the Quality of Life Program Center, will participate in the session, lending a specialized, practical dimension to the discussion and bridging the gap between vision and implementation. The session will address the prospects for adopting this standard internationally, as well as the challenges and opportunities associated with its application in diverse urban contexts. Thus, the forum's role extends beyond being merely a media platform; it transforms into a knowledge-based space that contributes to shaping a better future for cities and their inhabitants worldwide.

The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) announced today in a statement a new security achievement, adding to its impressive record. It successfully thwarted 1,202 attempts to smuggle contraband through various land, sea, and air customs ports in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in just one week. These efforts reflect the vital role the Authority plays as the first line of defense in protecting the security and economy of the community.

The seizures included a wide range of prohibited substances that pose a direct threat to social security and public health. ZATCA explained that the confiscated items included 64 types of highly dangerous narcotics, such as hashish, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine, as well as large quantities of Captagon pills, which specifically target young people. Authorities also seized 546 other prohibited substances, 12 types of weapons and related equipment, and uncovered 11 cases of smuggling involving undeclared sums of money, often linked to money laundering and the financing of illicit activities. In addition, the smuggling of 2,426 tobacco products, intended to evade applicable duties and taxes, was thwarted.

A strategic role in protecting the homeland

These high-quality operations reflect the Kingdom's comprehensive strategy, aligned with the goals of Vision 2030, which aims to build a safe and prosperous society. The Kingdom's strategic geographic location, which makes it a global logistics hub, places a heightened responsibility on its security and customs agencies to secure its borders against organized crime networks that seek to exploit international trade to smuggle their illicit goods.

Effects that extend beyond local boundaries

The success of the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority in thwarting these large quantities of contraband has an impact not only on the local level but also on regional and international security. Every successful seizure contributes to dismantling a link in the chain of transnational smuggling networks and limits their ability to deliver their poisons to other countries, thus reaffirming the Kingdom's role as an active and reliable partner in combating organized crime on the global stage. Protecting society from the scourge of drugs, preventing the spread of illicit weapons, and combating tax evasion are all fundamental pillars for achieving sustainable development and stability.

In closing its statement, ZATCA reiterated its firm commitment to tightening customs control over all imports and exports of the Kingdom, stressing the importance of continued cooperation and coordination with its partners in the security and military authorities to unify efforts and tighten the noose on anyone who tries to compromise the security and safety of the homeland and its resources.