What 43% of Saudis Under 39 Means for Publishing

A Vision-Driven Transformation

Saudi Arabia’s media sector is evolving rapidly under Vision 2030, projected to double its economic contribution to £9.3 billion by decade’s end. The General Authority for Media Regulation expects the media sector’s GDP share to rise from 0.4% to 0.8%, creating new opportunities for publishing professionals.

Talent Development & Investment

With 43% of Saudis under 39, the Kingdom is investing heavily in creative talent. Three national media academies are training the 160,000-strong workforce needed by 2030 – an ambitious expansion from the current 67,000.

The IGNITE programme has committed $1.1 billion to boost content creation and digital infrastructure, with $240 million allocated to film sector financing, signaling a serious push toward narrative-driven media.

At which point let’s come back to that 43% of Saudis under 39, because age structure analysis (population age demographics) is a much-neglected science in publish-think, but needs to be at the core of long-term planning.

What 43% of Saudis Under 39 Means for Publishing

Digital-First Consumption – Saudi Arabia will likely see an accelerated shift toward e-books, audiobooks, and interactive media, as when prices are not artificially warped, younger audiences tend to favor digital content over print.

Localised & Youth-Oriented Content – Demand for educational, self-improvement, and entertainment content tailored to Saudi youth is expected to grow.

Social Media & New Media Integration – Short-form content and influencer-driven publishing are reshaping traditional models, making platforms like LinkedIn and TikTok key distribution channels.

Education & Literacy Growth – Vision 2030’s education reforms will drive demand for academic publishing, research materials, and AI-focused education content.

Even within the current model, Saudi Arabia’s publishing market is projected to reach £450 million by 2027. The Digital Publishing Programme (source) and Books for All Initiative (source) are expanding distribution channels for savvy publishers.

Saudi Arabia leads the region in digital media consumption, with 5 million podcast listeners and 67% of adults engaging weekly. Its strong 5G coverage (78%) and internet speeds 59% above global averages create the ideal environment for innovative digital publishing formats.

This post first appeared in the TNPS LinkedIn newsfeed.