Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Media, Salman Al-Dossary, visited the new state-of-the-art studios of Asharq Network in the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) in Riyadh on Tuesday. The chairman of the Saudi Research and Media Group (SRMG), Eng. Abdulrahman Ibrahim Al-Ruwaita, and SRMG CEO Jomana Alrashid welcomed the minister and accompanied him on the tour.
Strategic Repositioning to Riyadh
In an interview with Asharq Bloomberg, Al-Dossary said: “Today we are living through a very special and pivotal moment in the history of Arab media with the launch of Asharq Network from Riyadh, the capital of influence, decision-making and growth in the region.” He added: “Today we are not just talking about a geographical move, and not just a move from one city to another, but rather a strategic repositioning, to the place where the story is being shaped politically, economically, in sports and in media, in Riyadh today.”
Asharq Bloomberg, one of the channels launched by Asharq Network in November 2020, began as a partnership between SRMG and Bloomberg Media to deliver news and in-depth economic analysis. The network officially launched its broadcast operations from KAFD in Riyadh on Monday, after initially going live from its studios in Dubai in 2020.
Expanding Media Portfolio
Over the past five years, Asharq Network, part of SRMG, has launched several channels: Asharq Documentary, Asharq Discovery, Asharq Podcasts, Radio Asharq, and Asharq NOW. Al-Dossary emphasized the breadth of the network: “When we say Asharq Bloomberg, we are not just talking about a screen. We are talking about a range of media coverage, podcasts, television channels, augmented reality, and also social media platforms and engagement.” He added: “All of this gives us a new concept of media, which is no longer old and new media, but rather media that, in my estimation, the Asharq represents in the best possible way. It blends old and new media and reaches all segments and levels.”
The minister toured Asharq’s integrated newsroom, television studios, and broadcast operations at SRMG’s new headquarters, learning about the network’s editorial and production capabilities, including advanced technologies for television, digital, radio, and podcasts.
Investment in People and Innovation
Jomana Alrashid said the minister’s visit affirmed Saudi Arabia’s vision to build a world-class media sector that enables innovation and supports the growth of Saudi media institutions. “At SRMG, we are proud to be part of this journey, investing in innovative content, media technologies, and national talent in a way that helps cement the Kingdom’s position as a leading regional hub for media and content creation,” she said. “These new facilities represent more than an investment in technology and infrastructure; they are an investment in people, creativity, and trusted journalism. By bringing our editorial, production and broadcasting capabilities together under one roof, we are strengthening our ability to deliver high-quality journalism with greater speed, depth, and innovation, while empowering our teams to better serve audiences across the region and beyond.”
The minister also met with journalists, presenters, producers, engineers, and technical teams across the network. He concluded the visit with a meeting with SRMG’s senior leadership to discuss the ongoing development of Saudi Arabia’s media sector.
