Riyadh: Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary oversaw the signing of cooperation agreements between the Ministry of Media and nine media companies under the 'Media Scholarship Program' within the 'Wa'ed' pathway of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program. The initiative represents a national model of partnership between the public and private sectors, aimed at investing in human capital and enhancing the media sector's contribution to the national economy.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the agreements reflect the Ministry's shift from a primarily legislative role to an enabling and growth-oriented one by linking academic education and practical training with direct employment opportunities. The step is expected to boost the productivity of media companies and develop specialized national talent capable of leading transformation in the media and creative industries.
The agreements were signed with several private sector media companies, including MBC Group, OneGroup, Thohoor Media Company, Hwadi Company, Peninsula Pictures Company, Salhm Company, Loba Company, Jether Production Company, and Waves Company. The program serves as an economic empowerment tool for the sector, offering 94 scholarships across academic and training pathways. These include 21 master's degree scholarships in the UK, the US, and Spain; 56 bachelor's degree scholarships in the US and the UK; 11 diploma scholarships in Canada and Spain; and six training scholarships in the US and Spain.
Undersecretary for Media Sector Development at the Ministry of Media Esra Mansour Assery said the media sector has become a key driver of the creative economy, with value chains extending from production and distribution to technology, platform development, and marketing. She noted that this transformation requires qualified national talent equipped with advanced skills and specialized expertise in line with the highest international standards.
She added that the Media Scholarship Program enables companies to design scholarships aligned with their actual workforce needs, ensuring alignment between educational outcomes and labor market demands, and strengthening the sector's sustainability and competitiveness locally and internationally.
The signing of the agreements activates the Media Scholarship Program, which was launched at the end of the third quarter of 2025, in support of the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 to diversify the economy, increase the contribution of non-oil sectors, and reinforce the Kingdom's position as a regional hub for media and content industries. Available programs and opportunities will be announced through the social media accounts of participating companies, with applications submitted via the 'Safeer' platform of the Ministry of Education.