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“We are committed to leading, shaping, and contributing to the future of Saudi advertising journey.”
by Hisham Maksoudian, CEO Ad Council
March 19, 2026
As Saudi Arabia continues its rapid transformation under Vision 2030, the advertising landscape is undergoing a profound shift, one defined by digital acceleration, cultural reinvention, and expanding creative ambition. At the forefront of this evolution, Hisham Maksoudian, CEO of the Ad Council, offers a strategic perspective on how the industry has developed over the past five years and where it is headed next.
How has the Saudi advertising landscape evolved over the past five years, especially with vision 2030 accelerating digital transformation and creative industries?
Over the past five years, Saudi Arabia has undergone one of the most profound advertising transformations in the world. Vision 2030 has accelerated digital maturity, opened entirely new sectors, and reshaped the country’s creative economy. What was once a traditionally conservative and media-heavy landscape has become one of the region’s most dynamic arenas for innovation.
Today, Saudi advertising is driven by data, digital ecosystems, and experiential storytelling. The rise of entertainment, tourism, F&B, sports, culture, and giga-projects has expanded the canvas for brands. Campaigns are bolder, more localized, and more integrated than ever spanning content creation, influencers, gaming, tech, and immersive experiences.
Saudi consumers themselves have evolved. They are digitally fluent, expressive, and highly engaged. They expect relevance, authenticity, and emotional connection, and this demand is raising the bar for the entire industry.
The result is clear: Saudi Arabia is no longer catching up. It is actively shaping the region’s creative benchmark.
What are the biggest opportunities for brands in the kingdom today, and how are agencies helping clients tap into them?
Today’s opportunities are driven by three powerful forces:
1. THE EXPANSION OF THE CREATIVE ECONOMY
With the surge of festivals, sports events, entertainment formats, and cultural seasons, brands now have more ways than ever to build meaningful emotional connections.
2. A YOUNG, DIGITAL-FIRST POPULATION
With over 70% of the population under 35, Saudi Arabia is one of the most engaged digital markets globally. This creates massive potential for creator-driven content, micro-influencers, social storytelling, and participatory campaigns.
3. A GOVERNMENT COMMITTED TO TRANSFORMATION
Tourism, sustainability, infrastructure modernization, giga-projects, and new industries are opening categories that did not exist five years ago. Each one needs brand building, communication strategies, and long-term consumer engagement.
Agencies today play a strategic role by:
- Translating global concepts into culturally rooted narratives
- Building platform-native campaigns
- Developing data-driven insights for segmentation and personalization
- Creating experiences that embed brands into national moments
- Guiding clients toward long-term brand architecture
- Ensuring storytelling is as relevant locally as it is competitive globally
The opportunities are immense, but only for those who truly understand the pace, ambition, and cultural nuance of the Saudi market.
What role does cultural authenticity play in advertising in Saudi Arabia, and how do you ensure your work resonates with local audiences while appealing to global standards?
Cultural authenticity sits at the heart of Saudi advertising. It is not a trend, it is the foundation of relevance.
When campaigns reflect genuine Saudi values, hospitality, family, ambition, pride, and the balance between heritage and modernity, audiences respond.
But authenticity must be modern. It requires understanding the subtle layers of Saudi identity: dialects, humor, aesthetics, regional differences, and especially the attitudes of Gen Z and Gen Alpha, who are shaping the future narrative of the Kingdom.
To ensure our work resonates, we:
- Build hybrid teams of Saudi and global talent
- Invest in cultural insight research and audience understanding
- Collaborate with Saudi creators, storytellers, and communities
- Test ideas with real audiences
- Avoid stereotypes and shallow representation
- Ensure production quality meets global standards
This is the formula: a Saudi soul, delivered through world-class execution.
What are the biggest challenges agencies face today in the Saudi market — talent, regulation, competition, and consumer fragmentation — and how are you addressing them?
TALENT
Demand is growing faster than the talent pipeline. The long-term solution is investing in training, mentorship, and global-to-local knowledge transfer, while nurturing the next generation of Saudi creatives.
REGULATION
The regulatory environment is evolving, especially in digital media, influencers, data usage, and creative approvals. Agencies must stay agile, proactive, and work closely with regulators to ensure compliant innovation.
COMPETITION
The market is now a blend of global networks, regional leaders, and ambitious boutique agencies. Differentiation comes from cultural intelligence, speed, strategic depth, and the ability to execute from concept to production.
CONSUMER FRAGMENTATION
Saudi Arabia is diverse in regions, demographics, and platform behaviors. Precision is essential, segmenting audiences, leveraging data analytics, and tailoring content across touchpoints.
Ultimately, the solution to all four challenges lies in: Agility, Cultural fluency, and Continuous Investment in people.
Looking ahead, what long-term shifts do you expect in Saudi advertising, and how is your agency preparing for the next decade of transformation?
Saudi Arabia is entering a decade defined by creativity, experience, and technological acceleration.
1. THE RISE OF LARGE-SCALE EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING
The Kingdom is becoming a global events destination. Brands will increasingly rely on immersive activations, festivals, exhibitions, and hybrid experiences that go far beyond traditional advertising.
2. AI, AUTOMATION, AND DATA-DRIVEN CREATIVITY
AI is reshaping the entire value chain, from consumer insight and targeting to content creation and optimization. Agencies must evolve from being traditional partners to becoming AI-enabled creative and strategic engines.
3. SAUDI CREATIVITY GOING GLOBAL
Saudi creators, campaigns, and brands will play an active role on the global stage. Authentic Saudi narratives will increasingly become exportable cultural assets.
To prepare, we are:
- Investing in knowledge and talent development
- Scaling AI and data capabilities
- Building multidisciplinary teams – from strategy to experience design
- Reinforcing local production capacity inside the Kingdom
- Collaborating with creators, culture-makers, and technologists
- Embedding Vision 2030 values – innovation, empowerment, and excellence – into every project
The future of Saudi advertising is ambitious, fast-moving, and world-class, and we are committed to leading, shaping, and contributing to that journey.
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