SRMG unveils new advertising arm ‘SMS’ to boost data-driven campaigns

1 / 2
The launch of SMS comes at a time when the market is experiencing significant growth. (Supplied/File)
2 / 2
The launch of SMS comes at a time when the market is experiencing significant growth. (Supplied/File)
Short Url
Updated 08 April 2025
Follow

SRMG unveils new advertising arm ‘SMS’ to boost data-driven campaigns

  • SMS empowers brands to connect with over 170 million users worldwide through innovative, AI-powered media solutions, SRMG says
  • Company will represent Asharq Al-Awsat, Asharq News, Asharq Business with Bloomberg, Al Eqtisadiah, Akhbaar24, Arab News, Hia, Sayidaty, Billboard Arabia, Manga Arabia and Thmanyah

RIYADH: SRMG, the MENA region’s largest integrated media group, announced Tuesday the launch of SRMG Media Solutions (SMS), a next generation, data-driven media solutions company designed to deliver innovative, results focused advertising strategies.

Building on the 35-year legacy of Al Khaleejiah, a pioneer in driving revenue growth and fostering strategic partnerships, SMS empowers brands to connect with over 170 million users worldwide through cutting-edge digital, social, TV, audio, and print channels. 

As the exclusive media sales representative of SRMG’s extensive brand portfolio, SMS leverages the group’s position as the MENA region’s leading integrated media powerhouse. SMS will represent prestigious brands such as  Asharq Al-Awsat, Asharq News, Asharq Business with Bloomberg, Al Eqtisadiah, Akhbaar24, Arab News, Hia, Sayidaty, Billboard Arabia, Manga Arabia and Thmanyah, offering advertisers access to a diverse mix of digital, social, TV, audio, print platforms, industry-leading advertising models, immersive storytelling, branded content, and experiential IPs such as the Billboard Arabia Music Awards and Hia Hub.

With a global reach of over 170 million users, SMS provides brands and advertisers with unparalleled opportunities to engage audiences worldwide. By leveraging proprietary first-party data, the latest AdTech solutions and AI-driven audience segmentation, SMS delivers personalized, results-oriented campaigns that drive growth, innovation, and profitability. Advanced analytics and multi-platform activation ensure precise audience targeting, enabling brands to connect with the right consumers at scale.

Jomana R. Alrashid, CEO of SRMG, commented, “The launch of SMS represents a pivotal moment for both SRMG and the media industry. I take great pride in the legacy built with Al Khaleejiah, and I’m excited to see how it will evolve with SMS to better meet the needs of modern digital audiences. In an era where data is reshaping how brands connect with audiences, SMS provides advertisers with the tools they need to navigate this dynamic landscape. Our strategic approach, combining SRMG’s unrivaled reach with data-driven precision, ensures that SMS is not just another media sales house, but a game-changer in the advertising space. As the industry moves towards AI-driven marketing and targeted content strategies, SMS will play a crucial role in shaping the future of advertising in the MENA region and beyond.” 

Ziad Moussa, Managing Director at SMS, added: “SMS is transforming advertising through AI-driven audience segmentation, real-time analytics, and first-party data insights. By integrating digital, audio, TV, print, and experiential platforms, we empower brands to execute seamless, high-impact campaigns. As we innovate with advanced ad products and immersive storytelling, SMS is setting new benchmarks for targeted, performance-driven advertising in the MENA region.”

The launch of SMS comes at a time when the market is experiencing significant growth. According to IAB MENA, the MENA digital ad spend market saw a remarkable 13.6 percent increase, surpassing $6 billion for the first time. This surge highlights MENA as one of the fastest-growing media markets, driven by a 15 percent rise in video consumption. Key factors fueling this growth include greater internet and mobile penetration, a large youth demographic, high social media engagement, a booming e-commerce sector, and increasing video content consumption. Leading the charge are Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the broader GCC region.


Iceland joins Eurovision boycott over Israel’s participation

Updated 10 December 2025
Follow

Iceland joins Eurovision boycott over Israel’s participation

  • Decision follows similar moves by Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland and Slovenia over the Gaza war
  • Iceland’s national broadcaster says it pulled out 'given the public debate' in the country

LONDON: Iceland’s national broadcaster said Wednesday it will boycott next year’s Eurovision Song Contest because of discord over Israel’s participation, joining four other countries in a walkout of the pan-continental music competition.
Broadcasters in Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland and Slovenia told contest organizer the European Broadcasting Union last week that they will not take part in the contest in Vienna in May after organizers declined to expel Israel over its conduct of the war against Hamas in Gaza.
The board of Iceland’s RÚV met Wednesday to make a decision.
At its conclusion the broadcaster said in a statement that “given the public debate in this country ... it is clear that neither joy nor peace will prevail regarding the participation of RÚV in Eurovision. It is therefore the conclusion of RÚV to notify the EBU today that RÚV will not take part in Eurovision next year.”
“The Song Contest and Eurovision have always had the aim of uniting the Icelandic nation but it is now clear that this aim cannot be achieved and it is on these program-related grounds that this decision is taken,” the broadcaster said.
Last week the general assembly of the EBU — a group of public broadcasters from 56 countries that runs Eurovision — met to discuss concerns about Israel’s participation. Members voted to adopt tougher contest voting rules in response to allegations that Israel manipulated the vote in favor of its competitor, but took no action to exclude any broadcaster from the competition.
The pullouts include some big names in the Eurovision world. Spain is one of the “Big Five” large-market countries that contribute the most to the contest. Ireland has won seven times, a record it shares with Sweden.
Iceland, a volcanic North Atlantic island nation with a population of 360,000, has never won but has the highest per capita viewing audience of any country.
The walkouts cast a cloud over the future of what’s meant to be a feel-good cultural party marked by friendly rivalry and disco beats, dealing a blow to fans, broadcasters and the contest’s finances.
The contest, which turns 70 in 2026, strives to put pop before politics, but has repeatedly been embroiled in world events. Russia was expelled in 2022 after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
It has been roiled by the war in Gaza for the past two years, stirring protests outside the venues and forcing organizers to clamp down on political flag-waving.
Opponents of Israel’s participation cite the war in Gaza, where more than 70,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to the territory’s Health Ministry, which operates under the Hamas-run government and whose detailed records are viewed as generally reliable by the international community.
Israel’s government has repeatedly defended its campaign as a response to the attack by Hamas-led militants on Oct. 7, 2023. The militants killed around 1,200 people — mostly civilians — in the attack and took 251 hostage.
A number of experts, including those commissioned by a UN body, have said that Israel’s offensive in Gaza amounts to genocide, a claim Israel has vigorously denied.
Wednesday marked the final day for national broadcasters to announce whether they planned to participate. More than two dozen countries have confirmed they will attend the contest in Vienna, and the EBU says a final list of competing nations will be published before Christmas.