Media in Saudi Arabia

Media in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia refers to the means and institutions of media in the Kingdom, whether owned by the public or private sector. It began prior to the unification of the Kingdom and later developed in terms of financial and human resources, the establishment of regulatory and legislative foundations, and the building of media institutions.

The beginnings of Saudi media date back to before the unification of the Kingdom, starting with the establishment of Umm Al-Qura Newspaper in Makkah Al-Mukarramah City in 1924, during the reign of the Founding King, Abdulaziz Bin Abdulrahman Al Saud. Umm Al-Qura was the first core of the Saudi media system. It was limited in its publications to state-issued decisions and official statements directed at the Saudi citizen.

Seven years later, Sawt Al-Hejaz Newspaper was added to the media system in 1932. It was published in Makkah Al-Mukarramah City. Other newspapers were also published under what was then known as “individual press,” as these newspapers were privately owned before later transitioning into institutions. In 1958, newspaper mergers took place, with Hira Newspaper merging with Al-Nadwa, and Arafat Newspaper merging with Al-Bilad. This was followed by the abolition of individual ownership of newspapers in 1963. Regulatorily, approval was then granted for the Law of Press Establishments, and licenses to publish newspapers were issued in 1964.

Four years after the unification of the Kingdom, the country witnessed in 1936 the establishment of the Council of Publicity and Hajj, which was then affiliated with the Ministry of Finance. Its mission was to counter campaigns directed against the Kingdom.

This step was followed by a Royal Decree signed by the Founding King Abdulaziz Bin Abdulrahman Al Saud on July 18, 1949, establishing Saudi Radio. He assigned the task to his deputy in the Hejaz, who was then the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prince (later King) Faisal Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The mission of the newly established radio was to connect the Kingdom with the outside world and to promote culture and knowledge within the country. The Kingdom sought the assistance of Sudanese experts seconded from the Sudanese Broadcasting Corporation, who trained Saudis in radio broadcasting. The radio broadcast continued for a period under the supervision of this team, particularly in technical oversight and program coordination.

A Royal Decree was issued on February 10, 1955, changing the name of the radio to the General Directorate of Radio. The General Directorate of Press and Publication was also established, and the radio was affiliated with it. Four years later, specifically in 1959, the Law of Printed Materials and Publication was issued.

The General Directorate of Press and Publication was transformed into the Ministry of Media to oversee media outlets, by Royal Decree issued by King Faisal Bin Abdulaziz on March 5, 1963. The ministry’s name was changed to the Ministry of Culture and Media by a decision issued by the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom in 2003. The two ministries were separated by Royal Order issued on June 2, 2018, establishing a Ministry of Culture independent from media, transferring to it the responsibilities and functions related to cultural affairs, and changing the name of the Ministry of Culture and Media to the Ministry of Media.

The Ministry of Media seeks to establish a consistent image of the Kingdom as an influential country open to the world. The Ministry of Media’s strategy is based on creating competitive media by developing the media industry in a way that increases the sector’s size, enhances its economic contributions, diversifies media content, and improves its quality. It also aims to strengthen the impact of government communication in the Kingdom and to reinforce a positive image of the country locally, regionally, and globally.

The strategic objectives of the Ministry of Media include increasing the quality of local media content, enhancing the contribution of the media sector to the Kingdom’s economy, enabling the media ecosystem to keep pace with global transformations, and strengthening communication about the Kingdom’s achievements, decisions, and future aspirations.

Several Royal Decrees and decisions by the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom have been issued, containing laws and regulations to govern media in the Kingdom. These include: the Basic Law of Broadcasting, the Law of Printed Materials and Publication, the Law of Press Establishments, the Statute of the Saudi Broadcasting Authority, the Statute of the Saudi Press Agency, the Audiovisual Media Law, and the Statute of the General Authority for Media Regulation.

The Law of Printing and Publication in the Kingdom was issued on November 29, 2000, to regulate publishing and printing activities under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Media. It includes the activities subject to the law, as well as the controls, provisions, and penalties related to the processes of publishing and printing.

The Law of Printed Materials and Publication covers a range of activities, including: printed materials, printing presses, pre-printing services, libraries, photography, audio recordings, artistic production for radio, cinema, theater, or television, television and radio studios, publishing, distribution, advertising and publicity, press services, media consulting and studies, public relations, and any other activity proposed by the Ministry of Media and approved by the Council of Ministers.

It is abbreviated as “SPA” and was established in 1971. It is the voice of the Kingdom—Arab, Islamic, and international—and serves as the primary source for news and event coverage in the Kingdom. It provides media content in several languages: Arabic, French, English, Russian, Persian, and Chinese.

The Saudi Press Agency was transformed into a general authority by a decision of the Council of Ministers on May 28, 2012. It is administratively linked to the Minister of Media and has a board of directors chaired by the Minister of Media, with members representing various government entities in addition to two individuals with expertise and insight.

It was established under the name “General Authority for Audiovisual Media” on June 10, 2012, and was later renamed the “General Authority for Media Regulation.” The Council of Ministers of the Kingdom issued its regulatory statute on September 12, 2023. It is responsible for developing and regulating the media sector in the Kingdom, ensuring sustainability and excellence. Its core mission is to improve the business environment and ensure the quality of media content, in coordination with relevant local and international entities.

The General Authority for Media Regulation enjoys legal personality and financial and administrative independence. It is organizationally linked to the Minister of Media, has its headquarters in Riyadh, and operates branches and offices within the Kingdom.

The General Authority for Media Regulation aims to regulate the media sector and its various activities in the Kingdom, oversee and develop media broadcasting, monitor its performance, encourage investment in the sector, establish guidelines for media content, and regulate the status of media professionals.

It is a Saudi governmental authority, established in 2012 following the Council of Ministers’ approval to transform the broadcasting and television sector into a general authority. The authority enjoys legal personality and financial independence and is organizationally linked to the Minister of Media. It strives to convey the Kingdom’s message—locally and globally—through word and image, while enhancing and developing the quality of radio and television performance. It oversees several government channels—television, radio, and digital. These include: Al-Saudiya Channel, SBC Channel, Al-Ekhbariya Channel, Thikrayat Channel, the Holy Quran Channel, Saudi Sports Channels, Saudi Now Channel, and the Sunnah Channel. The authority also oversees radio and digital channels, including: the Holy Quran Radio, Riyadh Radio, Jeddah Radio, Radio Saudi Arabia, Nidaa Al-Islam Radio, Al-Ekhbariya Radio, and the Saudi International Radio Stations. Among the media services provided by the authority are: the Business Sector Services Platform, the Sayma Platform, the Registration and Program Participation Platform, the Television Production Submission Portal, and the Manqulat Platform.