12 Major Sector-Building Initiatives Announced at FOMEX & SMF 2026

Riyadh opened February with a clear message: Saudi media isn’t just evolving in format. It’s evolving in purpose, economics, and global reach. The 5th edition of the Saudi Media Forum 2026, held under the theme “Media in a World Taking Shape,” came with scale. But more importantly, it came with outcomes. In his opening remarks, Minister of Media Professor Salman bin Yousef Al-Dosari announced a package of flagship initiatives designed to turn media into a stronger national industry and a smarter global influence channel.

Below are 12 sector-building initiatives and frameworks designed to accelerate capability, attract investment, and expand Saudi media’s global reach.

1) Saudi Media Innovation Bootcamp (Saudi MIB)

The headline initiative was Saudi MIB, built to push real innovation in media workflows, not just discussions. It focuses on three tracks: AI-enhanced journalism, intelligent content creation, and the smart virtual presenter. It is launched with SDAIA (and supported by ecosystem partners) to help Saudi talent develop AI-driven solutions that can move from prototype to real-world output.

2) Tamkeen

The Tamkeen initiative is a direct signal to founders and builders: media is no longer only institutions. It is also startups, products, and scalable models. The initiative is designed to support entrepreneurial ideas and startups, helping new concepts find structure, mentorship, and a path to execution within the Saudi media ecosystem.

3) Nomo with Kafalah

If Tamkeen is the “support” message, Nomo is the “sustainability” message. Launched in partnership with the Kafalah Program, Nomo is positioned to help transform media ideas into investment-ready, sustainable business models, the kind that can grow beyond a pilot and survive beyond one season.

4) Virtual Broadcaster Program

One of the most discussed practical outcomes was the Virtual Broadcaster Program, aligned with the direction of modern broadcast formats and new presenter models. The signal is clear: Saudi media is building capability for next-gen presentation where studios, formats, and talent evolve with technology and audience behavior.

5) Media Scholarship Program (100+ international seats)

This outcome focuses on the long game: people. The Forum highlighted the Media Scholarship pathway, offering more than 100 seats to train Saudi talent through leading global universities and institutions. The goal is not only skills, but leadership, building future producers, editors, strategists, and operators who can compete globally.

6) Konoz Expanded Slate (30+ documentaries and films)

Saudi’s media growth is not only about news and digital. It is also about cultural storytelling at scale. Under the Konoz initiative, the Minister announced the production of 30+ documentaries and films this year, reflecting Saudi heritage and future ambitions with higher production standards and wider collaboration. This is a content library move, one that can feed distribution, festivals, platforms, and national storytelling for years.

7) ImpaQ: Hosting 2,000+ Content Creators and Influencers

Creator economy was treated as a serious layer of influence. The Minister announced the second edition of the Impact Makers Forum (ImpaQ) in Qiddiya, set to host 2,000+ content creators and influencers from 90+ countries. That scale matters. It positions Saudi Arabia not only as a market for content, but as a global convening hub where creators meet, collaborate, and build cross-border influence.

8) State of Media in the Kingdom Report (2nd Edition)

Media can’t grow like a real industry without measurement. One of the clearest “business” outcomes was the release of the second edition of the State of Media in the Kingdom report, positioned as a reference built on numbers and trends. For founders, it signals where demand is moving. For investors, it reduces guesswork. For companies, it supports clearer strategy and smarter budgeting.

9) SPA Media Studies and Public Opinion Center

Another structural step: the launch of the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) Media Studies and Public Opinion Center. This is about evidence. Collecting and analyzing data to support stronger media decision-making and policy development. In a world of noise, research capacity becomes a competitive advantage.

10) Expert Hub

Not every outcome is a national program. Some outcomes are designed to create access. The Forum launched Expert Hub, aimed at giving direct connection to national media expertise, a practical bridge between experienced leaders and the next generation of practitioners. This is how ecosystems mature: knowledge becomes reachable, not locked inside closed circles.

11) SMF GROW UP

Beyond startups, there is the “in-between” layer: emerging media companies that have traction but need support to scale. SMF highlighted SMF GROW UP as a program supporting emerging media companies as part of the Forum’s wider initiative suite. It reflects a deliberate approach: not only launching new ideas, but helping early momentum turn into stable companies.

12) SMF Connect

Saudi media’s next phase is global by default. SMF Connect was presented as part of the Forum’s initiative suite, designed to strengthen media talent and global communication. This matters because influence is not only produced, it is also distributed, partnered, and translated into relationships across markets.

A Values-First AI Media Framework Announced

Beyond programs, SMF 2026 also delivered a stance: in a world driven by the “attention economy,” Saudi’s direction emphasizes media rooted in values, and it backed that stance with action by announcing an AI principles document for media, developed with SDAIA, to guide responsible adoption of advanced technologies.

Why FOMEX Mattered in this Equation

FOMEX was positioned as the applied layer where technology, partnerships, and industry execution meet. Official messaging frames FOMEX as a place to explore how technology reshapes media, and to connect with leaders around innovation and partnerships. And the event scale was significant, with 250+ participating companies reported during the Forum week.

The Bigger Signal

The story of FOMEX 2026 is not one announcement. It’s a pattern.

Saudi media is being built like a true ecosystem:

• Innovation pipelines (Saudi MIB, virtual formats)
• Company building (Tamkeen, Nomo, GROW UP)
• Talent development (scholarships, expert access)
• Content supply (Kunooz)
• Creator influence (ImpaQ)
• Measurement and research (state-of-sector reporting, SPA analytics)
• Global cooperation (SMF Connect)

That combination is what turns media into both an economic sector and an influence engine.

Explore more stories on Saudi Wins, covering the people, projects, and announcements shaping Vision 2030.