Saudi Arabia’s media sector is emerging as a major pillar of the Kingdom’s economic diversification drive, with its contribution to GDP forecast to nearly triple to SR47 billion ($12.5 billion) by 2030, according to a new report by the General Authority of Media Regulation (Gmedia) in partnership with Oxford Business Group.
The report, Saudi Arabia Media Market Outlook: Investment Opportunities in 2025 and Beyond, describes the media industry as having evolved “from a channel for broadcasting news into a fully-fledged industry – an economic force, a cultural heavyweight and a strategic player in shaping the Kingdom’s image both at home and abroad”
Salman bin Yousef Al-Dossary, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Media and Chairman of Gmedia, said the sector is now positioned as “one of the key drivers of change and foundational pillars of the future” under Vision 2030, adding that the Kingdom is witnessing “the emergence of a media ecosystem that not only keeps pace with the times but aspires to lead and define them”
According to Gmedia projections, the sector’s GDP contribution is expected to rise from SR16 billion ($4.3 billion) in 2024 to SR47 billion by the end of the decade, representing a compound annual growth rate of around 20 percent. Employment is projected to expand from about 67,000 jobs in 2024 to 150,000 by 2030
The report identifies five strategic segments driving this expansion: video, audio, publishing and digital media, gaming and e-sports, and advertising and marketing. Together, these segments are expected to push the Saudi media market to a value of SR41 billion ($11 billion) by 2030, growing at an estimated 9 percent CAGR between 2025 and 2030
Video and cinema are highlighted as key growth engines, supported by audience demand and fiscal incentives, including film-production cash rebates of up to 40 percent. Gmedia noted that more than 350 new film licences were issued in 2025, while Saudi films such as Norah gained international recognition, including selection at the Cannes Film Festival
Live entertainment has also expanded rapidly, with the number of live music events increasing sixfold between 2022 and 2025. Flagship festivals such as Soundstorm and XP Music Futures have helped raise Saudi Arabia’s global cultural profile, the report said
Advertising and marketing are undergoing a structural shift, with digital channels expected to account for 90 percent of total advertising spend in the Kingdom by 2029. The report noted that the sector is becoming “increasingly data-driven,” signalling a move toward analytics-led content monetisation and AI-enabled targeting
Gaming and e-sports were described as among the “most dynamic media growth engines” in Saudi Arabia. Under the National Gaming and E-Sports Strategy, the sector is forecast to generate 39,000 jobs and contribute more than SR50 billion ($13.3 billion) to the economy by 2030. Events such as Gamers8 attracted more than 500 million global viewers, underscoring the Kingdom’s growing influence in competitive gaming
Princess Lamia bint Majed Al Saud, CEO of Rotana Media Group, said Vision 2030 has transformed media into “a key driver of national growth and reputational capital,” noting that a young, digitally native population is reshaping demand patterns across platforms
“With 71 percent of the population under 35, a young, dynamic audience is shaping creative expression and digital consumption,” she said, adding that near-universal internet penetration and high mobile download speeds offer strong potential for responsible use of data and artificial intelligence in content production and distribution
The report also emphasised regulatory reform as a central enabler of growth. Gmedia has simplified licensing procedures, strengthened intellectual property protection and modernised the Audiovisual Media Regulation framework to improve transparency and investor confidence. Initiatives such as age-based ratings and the Mawthooq permit were described as helping to “de-risk investment and streamline compliance”
Mike Sneesby, CEO of MBC Group, said Saudi Arabia has established “a stable and internationally benchmarked regulatory framework,” adding that engagement with regulators has created “a level of transparency rarely seen in other markets.”
Despite strong momentum, the report cautioned that structural challenges remain. These include shortages of specialised talent, limited post-production and studio capacity, gaps in early-stage financing, and ongoing issues around IP enforcement and monetisation. “Addressing these constraints will be crucial to unlocking the sector’s full potential,” Gmedia said.
Even so, the outlook remains strongly positive. The report concluded that Saudi Arabia is “poised to consolidate its position as a regional destination for media innovation and creative industries,” offering investors opportunities across content production, digital distribution, media technology, infrastructure and skills development as Vision 2030 gathers pace
