Doing Business in Saudi Arabia - International Franchise Association

at anytime world class government services offered in a seamless user friendly and secure way
by utilizing a variety of electronic means, which will contribute to Saudi Arabia’s prosperity.
Trade Promotion and Advertising Return to top
The U.S. Commercial Service in Saudi Arabia organizes a dynamic annual trade events
calendar, including and especially the recruitment of official Saudi delegations to more than a
dozen important trade shows in the United States each year under the auspices of the
Commerce Department’s International Buyer Program, as well as Trade Missions, promotion of
trade events in Saudi Arabia, the USA and in other countries, etc.
Advertising, especially on satellite television, is rapidly expanding, but commercials have to
conform to religious and ethical codes. With some minor exceptions, the female human form is
not culturally or religiously acceptable in the media. The Saudi monopoly on television
broadcasting was broken with the introduction of satellite television, which also forced TV
advertising rates to come down.
Saudi companies have opted to run commercials through international satellite TV channels
such as the Middle East Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) and Arab Radio & Television (ART).
Other Arabic satellite channels that also have proved to be popular in the Arab world include
LBC, Future Television, Dubai One TV, Dubai TV, New TV, Channel 2, MBC2, MBC3, and
MBC4. Many Saudi companies place commercials on these channels as well as on two pan-
Arab news channels, Arabiya and Al-Jazira channels. In addition, two encrypted TV networks
each provide approximately 30 channels for an average subscription of $1,000 per year. The
networks include Orbit Communications and ShowTime.
Newspaper advertising is carried in both the local English and Arabic press, but its effectiveness
is somewhat limited by relatively low readership rates. The two local English dailies, Arab News
and Saudi Gazette, have an average circulation in the range of 35,000 copies. The leading
Arabic newspapers, with nationwide distribution, have circulations in the range of 70,000 to
100,000: Al Hayat, Riyadh Daily, and Okaz.
Other relevant newspapers have lower circulations, and some have only regional distribution.
The principal papers are Al Bilad, Al Jazirah, Al Madina, Al Nadwa, Al Riyadh, Al Youm, Um Al
Qura, Al Watan, Al-Riyadiya (sports only). The economic daily Al Eqtisadiah has rapidly earned
a loyal readership of executives and government officials.
Trade promotion events take place from September through June, with most of them held in the
modern exhibit centers in Saudi Arabia’s three major cities, Riyadh, Jeddah and Dhahran.
Smaller exhibition facilities are also located in regional centers, and often operate in cooperation
with or under the sponsorship of a local chamber of commerce.
Most chambers have a proactive approach to promotion and trade, organizing shows and
presentations for individual companies or groups, and have been eager to attract American and
other Western suppliers. The main chambers of commerce are listed in the “Contacts” section
of Chapter 9 infra.