Saudi Media Forum 2026: The Role of Women in Leading Cultural Transformations
The Saudi Media Forum 2026 witnessed significant momentum with an exceptional dialogue session entitled "Women Leaders Shaping the Future: The Role of Women in Shaping Cultural Transformations." The session highlighted the qualitative shift Saudi women are experiencing, not only as participants in the labor market but also as leaders and key drivers of cultural and institutional transformations in the Kingdom, amidst the presence of a select group of experts and decision-makers.
The context of transformation and women's empowerment in Vision 2030
This discussion comes at a time when Saudi Arabia is witnessing unprecedented developmental momentum under the leadership of Vision 2030 , which has placed women's empowerment at the forefront of its priorities. The Kingdom has moved beyond the traditional concept of "empowerment" as simply providing opportunities, and into the stage of "making an impact." Official statistics have demonstrated a rise in women's participation in the workforce and their assumption of leadership positions in both the public and private sectors, reflecting the maturity of the Saudi experience in investing in human capital in both its aspects.
Family and Institutions: Integrating Roles
During the session, the Secretary-General of the Family Affairs Council, Maimouna Al-Khalil, affirmed that the concept of empowerment in the Kingdom has evolved to be based on standards of competence and tangible successes. She pointed out that women today are active participants who make a difference in institutional performance, emphasizing that the family remains the primary nucleus for preparing leaders. She explained that building leadership skills begins in childhood by providing appropriate educational content and broadening horizons for children, thus contributing to the development of a generation capable of keeping pace with global changes.
Work environment challenges and the power of women's investments
For her part, Amira Al-Taweel, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Women Leaders Network, addressed the practical realities and challenges that women still face, particularly regarding balancing social and professional roles and their representation on boards of directors. Al-Taweel revealed striking figures reflecting the economic power of Saudi women, noting that the "Leaders" network comprises approximately 200 members managing investments exceeding 30 billion riyals . She expressed her hope for a future where women's presence in decision-making positions becomes commonplace, requiring no special classifications, thus demonstrating the full maturity of the institutional framework.
Community partnership and economic impact
In a related context, the CEO of MBC Academy, Zainab Abu Al-Samh, explained that true empowerment is achieved through an integrated partnership with men, stressing that institutional initiatives and empowerment committees are necessary steps to raise awareness, provided that they are supported by decision-makers who have the vision to overcome obstacles.
This event is of particular importance given its expected impact at the local and regional levels; enhancing the role of women in cultural and economic leadership directly contributes to raising the gross domestic product and strengthens the soft power of the Kingdom, providing an inspiring model in the region for how to balance authenticity and modernity in the social development process.
The session concluded with recommendations that focused on the need to continue investing in human beings, and to strengthen cooperation between the media, education and the family to establish sustainable leadership models that contribute to achieving the goals of comprehensive national development.
