RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary attended the closing ceremony of the fifth Saudi Media Forum on Wednesday evening, marking the conclusion of the three-day event held under the theme “Media in a Shaping World,” alongside the Future of Media Exhibition (FOMEX) in Riyadh. The ceremony brought together senior officials, media leaders, and professionals from Saudi Arabia and abroad, and featured the announcement of winners across the forum’s award categories. In a closing address, Saudi Media Forum Chairman Mohammed Al-Harthi thanked partners, sponsors, and participants, describing the forum as a platform that celebrates creativity, gratitude, and professional excellence in the media sector. He said the fifth edition attracted around 300 speakers from across the world and recorded strong attendance that enriched discussions and positioned the forum as a global media gathering. Al-Harthi said the forum is working to evolve from a seasonal event into a sustainable institutional platform through initiatives including the Media Innovation Center, the “Numu” program to support media entrepreneurs, the Media Ambassadors initiative to empower university students, and the “Daw” initiative aimed at extending the forum’s reach to regions across the Kingdom.He added that the Future of Media Exhibition drew more than 250 local and international companies showcasing the latest content production technologies, underscoring the role of media as a partner in development, awareness-building, and change, supported by Saudi leadership and the Ministry of Media. During the ceremony, organizers announced that the Saudi Media Forum had achieved a Guinness World Record after registering 65,603 visitors, highlighting its growing international stature. Winners of the forum’s fifth-edition awards were also announced. Khaled Al-Badr won the journalistic report category, while Abdulhadi Habtoor received the award for journalistic interviews, and Lama Al-Suhaili won in academic research.In visual and audio media categories, awards included recognition for AI-generated media content. Morocco’s “Rachid Show” won the social talk show category, while Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture won the podcast and radio talk programs category for “Podcast 1949.” The Tourism Development Fund won best media work for Saudi National Day for “What Have You Heard About Saudi Arabia?”, while the Ministry of Defense received the award for best Founding Day media work for the film “Al-Ouja.” Royal Court Adviser and Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah received the Global Influencer Award, while columnist Mohammed Al-Rumaihi won the opinion column category. The Vision 2030 account won best media work for Saudi Flag Day. The forum concluded with the announcement of veteran journalist Dr. Hussein Najjar as Media Personality of the Year, honoring his long-standing contributions to the media sector.