SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part III

Saudi Media Forum President Mohammed Fahad Al-Harthi met with a group of high-profile international experts and industry leaders in Riyadh to explore strategic collaborations and innovative content production opportunities that align with Saudi Arabia’s 2030 vision of becoming a global media powerhouse. Al-Harthi emphasised Saudi Arabia’s commitment to fostering a dynamic media ecosystem, highlighting the investment in accelerators, incubators and production funds designed to support international partnerships. “The future of media is built on collaboration, innovation and cross-border content creation. We are excited to work with global leaders to shape a new era of storytelling,” he commented.

The meeting also addressed the importance of AI in content creation, the evolving landscape of streaming platforms and the role of the Kingdom as a hub for global media projects. There was a lot of enthusiasm about potential partnerships, particularly in film, animation and immersive media experiences.

This dialogue marks a significant step in strengthening Saudi Arabia’s position in the global media industry, paving the way for co-productions, content distribution agreements and knowledge exchange between local and international players.

Heba Korayem, founder, CoProduction Salon

The CoProduction Salon focuses on accelerating deals and investments in high-quality tradeable video assets such as TV shows, series and films. It brings together the region’s most influential media entities and qualified international partners seeking meaningful collaborations with MENA content experts.

The Salon’s CEO Networking Power Hour attracted a diverse range of international companies, underscoring the global interest in Saudi Arabia and the broader MENA region. Select invited C-Level executives including US-based leaders like Allen Media Group and Crazy Town Creative. Turkish powerhouses such as Intermedya and Mediahub showcased the growing demand for dubbed series in global markets while seeking high-quality Arabic titles for international distribution – a trend increasingly noted by distributors worldwide. From the east, major platforms like Viu with a strong MENA presence were present. Regional giants, including Rotana TV, SBA and Egypt’s Al Nahar TV network, further highlighted the Salon’s mission to bridge meaningful collaborations between regional and international markets. At FOMEX, the physical space facilitated over 100 spontaneous meetings, while the online platform recorded more than 200 meeting requests through its matchmaking service. Nearly 100 new applications were received during the event, with stringent criteria allowing a 30% participation rate, and maintaining a high-calibre network of members and content investors.

Lama Sharyan, Social Media Specialist, B.PRO Production

B.PRO Production is a production house originally based in Beirut, but we now operate across the GCC and other countries. We also have a sister company in Riyadh, where we produce documentaries, TV programmes and news reports, mainly for TV channels. Some of our notable projects include two Ramadan docuseries for Saudi TV: La Akhir Nafas (Until the Last Breath) and Al Khair Fi Ahliha (Kindness is Within the People). Both have multiple seasons – Al Khair Fi Ahliha is now in its third season, and La Akhir Nafas is in its second. These series highlight Saudi philanthropists who, inspired by their own experiences, have launched initiatives or NGOs to help others. Our team size varies depending on the project, as we mainly operate on a project basis. The company is led by our General Manager, Rola Broch, who has extensive experience in the industry – she started out as a TV reporter before moving into production.

B.PRO is a woman-led company, and we primarily focus on docu-series, reports and TV programmes rather than drama series. Over the years, we’ve worked with several major networks, including Saudi TV, Al Arabi TV, TRT, DW and Al Jazeera.