The Saudi Research and Media Group (SRMG) has unveiled its new headquarters in the King Abdulla Financial District (KAFD), the new global centre for business and commerce in Riyadh.
SRMG’s new headquarters is located in the fourth district at KAFD and will consist of ten floors to accommodate around 1,200 employees. The interior spaces of the new headquarters, to which the group will gradually move, are designed to encourage cross-collaboration and provide an interactive working environment.
The new headquarters supports the group’s growth and expansion strategy announced last year, which aims to cement its leadership position in the media sector in the region, redefine the regional media landscape, and support its efforts to become one of the key leading media groups globally.
The move lays the foundation for a global creative media hub in KSA that brings together the most prominent media, technology, and content companies. The new state-of-the-art headquarters will allow the group to meet the aspirations of millions of readers, viewers, and followers from across the globe monthly.
The new environment, which will feature market-leading digital technologies and date capabilities, will enable the group to foster stronger integration and optimise synergies between the group’s businesses and talent, as well as support the development and digitisation of its media platforms.
It will also enable SRMG to enter new fields such as events, conferences, exhibitions, and book publishing, and support the group’s research and polling capabilities.
The new headquarters will house the group’s various media platforms and businesses under one roof including Asharq Al-Awsat; Asharq network which includes Asharq News and Asharq Business with Bloomberg, Arab News, Independent Arabia, Argaam, Manga Arabia, Sayidaty, and Hia magazines, as well as the group’s businesses: SRMG Media, SRMG X, and SRMG Think, establishing a creative media hub at KAFD.
SRMG’s global expansion
The new headquarters marks the beginning of the group’s global expansion, including that of Asharq network and its platforms Asharq News and Asharq Business with Bloomberg, with plans to establish several global offices in Washington and Singapore, in addition to its current offices in London and Dubai.
In addition, the group will employ top-of-the-line studio technologies with data-based capabilities, including social media, podcast and virtual reality studios, and introduce new content offerings such as cultural and specific documentaries, supporting the group’s legacy as a trusted source of news and information.
Jomana Al Rashid, CEO of ARMG, commented: “Our vision for the new headquarters is to drive the creation of a global media hub at KAFD in particular and in the city of Riyadh in general. The group’s headquarters will attract creative talent and provide numerous career opportunities across more than 30 media platforms in all disciplines and fields, including content creation, journalism, production, directing, writing, event management and more.
“SRMG will also serve as an incubator for entrepreneurs by offering investment and strategies to support and facilitate new business opportunities underpinned by the latest technologies in connectivity, communication, and data analysis, which will ultimately lead to a great positive impact on the group and the wider media sector.
She added: “KAFD is considered an architectural masterpiece, characterized by the integration of its services and its pivotal location, all of which are success factors to attract the greatest talents and produce creative work.”
Gautam Sashittal, CEO of KAFD, said: “The establishment of the headquarters in KAFD for the most prominent regional media group is an important step in our development as a premium business and lifestyle destination in the region.
“The presence of the new headquarters of the Saudi Research and Media Group will contribute to enriching the business environment within KAFD, in addition to its contribution to attracting talent and stimulating growth and expansion.
“We welcome SRMG to KAFD; together we will support the Kingdom’s future as a knowledge and information-based economy.”
KAFD is set to host the headquarters of many international companies and serve as the centre of KSA’s digital economy.