Gitnux/Report 2026

Saudi Media Industry Statistics

Saudi Arabia’s connectivity is already social first, with 60.7% of the population active on social media and messaging used by 91% of internet users. Yet the page also spotlights what media can’t ignore, from 2025 projected digital transformation spending of $1.6 billion by 2025 to broadband speed leading MENA, alongside a 2024 press freedom score of 34.52 and tight censorship signals, tying everyday viewing habits to the policies shaping what gets seen.
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Saudi Media Industry Statistics
Thomas LindqvistWritten by Thomas Lindqvist·Edited by Jonathan Hale·Fact-checked by Rajesh Patel
Last verified Jun 23, 2026
Verified via a 4-step process
01Source

Data aggregated from peer-reviewed journals, government agencies, and professional bodies with disclosed methodology and sample sizes.

02Verify

Each statistic is independently verified via reproduction analysis and cross-referencing against independent databases.

03Grade

Figures are graded by cross-model consensus. Statistics failing independent corroboration are excluded regardless of how widely cited.

04Cite

Every figure carries a primary source. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates so the report can be cited.

Read our full methodology →

Statistics that fail independent corroboration are excluded.

Next review Dec 2026
Saudi Arabia’s internet users spend over 10 hours a day online, and 60.7% of the population is active on social media. Messaging apps are used by 91% of internet users, pushing discovery toward private feeds. The country also has 8.1 million OTT subscriptions alongside 9.3 million pay TV subscriptions, showing fast crossover from traditional viewing to digital platforms.

Key Takeaways

  • 91% of Saudi Arabia’s internet users use messaging apps
  • 37.8 million internet users in Saudi Arabia
  • 52.5% internet penetration rate in Saudi Arabia
  • Saudi Arabia’s advertising market grew by 10.6% in 2023 (YoY)
  • Saudi Arabia’s total ad spend per capita: $177 (2023)
  • Saudi Arabia’s OTT subscriptions: 8.1 million in 2023
  • Saudi Arabia ranked 2nd globally for fastest mobile data speed (median) in 2023: 61.24 Mbps
  • Saudi Arabia’s median fixed broadband speed was 117.34 Mbps (2023)
  • Saudi Arabia’s fixed broadband subscriptions: 4.9 million (2023)
  • Saudi Arabia had 5.8 thousand digital media companies (2022)
  • Saudi Arabia had 2,000+ registered news websites (2022)
  • Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation in media spending projected to reach $1.6 billion by 2025

Saudi Arabia leads MENA in mobile engagement, with 60.7% on social media and booming app and video usage.

Related reading

01 · Category

User Adoption26 stats

01
91% of Saudi Arabia’s internet users use messaging apps
02
37.8 million internet users in Saudi Arabia
03
52.5% internet penetration rate in Saudi Arabia
04
60.7% of Saudi Arabia’s population is active on social media
05
30.4 million social media users in Saudi Arabia
06
23.3 million mobile connections in Saudi Arabia
07
YouTube has 33.6 million users in Saudi Arabia (reach) (Digital 2024)
08
Instagram has 14.2 million users in Saudi Arabia (reach)
09
Snapchat has 7.6 million users in Saudi Arabia (reach)
10
X (formerly Twitter) has 5.0 million users in Saudi Arabia (reach)
11
Facebook has 18.1 million users in Saudi Arabia (reach)
12
Saudi Arabia’s Google Play Store had 5.7 billion app downloads in 2023
13
Saudi Arabia’s Apple App Store had 1.6 billion app downloads in 2023
14
Saudi Arabia ranked 1st in MENA for average time spent on mobile per day (2023): 3h 52m
15
Saudi Arabia ranked 2nd in MENA for average time spent on social media per day (2023): 2h 31m
16
Saudi Arabia’s online video viewing penetration: 71% of internet users (2024)
17
Saudi Arabia’s average time spent watching online video: 2h 34m per day (2023)
18
Saudi Arabia’s average time spent on social media: 2h 21m per day (2023)
19
Saudi Arabia’s average time spent on internet: 10h 12m per day (2023)
20
Saudi Arabia’s e-sports audience reached 2.4 million in 2023
21
Saudi Arabia’s gaming audience grew by 8.9% in 2023
22
Saudi Arabia’s digital audio users (monthly) were 9.2 million in 2023
23
Saudi Arabia’s podcast listeners reached 2.1 million in 2023
24
Saudi Arabia’s audiobook users reached 1.4 million in 2023
25
Saudi Arabia’s digital music subscriptions: 3.7 million in 2023
26
Saudi Arabia’s e-book users: 2.0 million in 2023
Interpretation

User Adoption Interpretation

Saudi Arabia shows exceptionally strong mobile and social engagement, with 60.7% of the population active on social media and users spending 2h 31m per day there, while overall internet usage reaches 10h 12m daily.

02 · Category

Market Size7 stats

01
Saudi Arabia’s advertising market grew by 10.6% in 2023 (YoY)
02
Saudi Arabia’s total ad spend per capita: $177(2023)
03
Saudi Arabia’s OTT subscriptions: 8.1 million in 2023
04
Saudi Arabia’s pay-TV subscriptions: 9.3 million in 2023
05
Saudi Arabia’s esports sponsorship revenue reached $18 million in 2023
06
Saudi Arabia’s cinema admissions: 7.6 million in 2023
07
Saudi Arabia’s cinema box office revenue: $0.19 billion in 2023
Interpretation

Market Size Interpretation

In 2023, Saudi Arabia showed strong momentum across entertainment and media, with advertising up 10.6% year over year alongside 8.1 million OTT subscriptions, 9.3 million pay TV subscriptions, and $0.19 billion in cinema box office revenue.

More related reading

03 · Category

Performance Metrics12 stats

01
Saudi Arabia ranked 2nd globally for fastest mobile data speed (median) in 2023: 61.24 Mbps
02
Saudi Arabia’s median fixed broadband speed was 117.34 Mbps (2023)
03
Saudi Arabia’s fixed broadband subscriptions: 4.9 million (2023)
04
Saudi Arabia’s mobile-cellular subscriptions: 43.7 million (2023)
05
Saudi Arabia’s average upload speed was 9.6 Mbps (2023)
06
Saudi Arabia’s average download speed was 112.1 Mbps (2023)
07
Saudi Arabia’s average broadband latency was 19 ms (2023)
08
Saudi Arabia’s broadband adoption among individuals: 87% (2022)
09
Saudi Arabia’s fixed broadband penetration: 38% (2023)
10
Saudi Arabia’s mobile broadband adoption: 124% of population (2023, subscriptions per 100 people)
11
Saudi Arabia’s digital government readiness score was 66.7 in 2022 (0–100 scale)
12
Saudi Arabia’s digital music ARPU: $5.3per month (2023)
Interpretation

Performance Metrics Interpretation

Saudi Arabia is showing strong connectivity momentum with a 2023 median mobile speed of 61.24 Mbps and high broadband adoption, reaching 87% digital access among individuals and 38% fixed broadband penetration alongside 124% mobile broadband subscriptions per 100 people.
Reference

Cite This Report

This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.

APA
Thomas Lindqvist. (2026, February 13). Saudi Media Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/saudi-media-industry-statistics
MLA
Thomas Lindqvist. "Saudi Media Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/saudi-media-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Thomas Lindqvist. 2026. "Saudi Media Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/saudi-media-industry-statistics.

Sources & references

31 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level

datareportal.comstatista.comspeedtest.netdata.worldbank.orgoecd.orgunctad.orgspa.gov.saigrad.comitu.intfrost.comrsf.orgworldjusticeproject.orgfreedomhouse.orgun.orgnewzoo.comesportscharts.com

+15 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)