In a landmark recognition for the Kingdom, Jomana Al-Rashid, a driving force behind Saudi Arabia’s evolving media and cultural sectors, has been named to TIME magazine’s 2025 “TIME100 Next” list. This accolade marks her as the first Saudi personality to be featured on the prestigious annual list, which spotlights emerging leaders and innovators shaping the future across industries worldwide.
Al-Rashid, who serves as the CEO of the Saudi Research and Media Group (SRMG) and Chairwoman of the Red Sea International Film Festival Foundation, was honored for her pivotal role in transforming the nation’s media landscape and fostering a new era of cinematic creativity.
Her inclusion in the list underscores a period of profound change in Saudi Arabia, with Al-Rashid at the forefront. At SRMG, one of the Middle East’s largest media conglomerates, she has spearheaded a comprehensive digital transformation. Under her leadership, the group has expanded into a dynamic network of over 30 media platforms, significantly growing its global audience and modernizing its content strategy for a new generation.
Beyond her corporate achievements, Al-Rashid’s cultural influence is powerfully felt through her work with the Red Sea International Film Festival Foundation. As its Chairwoman, she has championed a mission to support and elevate filmmakers from the Arab world, Asia, and Africa.
This commitment has yielded extraordinary results. Under her guidance, foundation-backed films have gained international acclaim, with 80 projects being showcased at the world’s most prestigious film festivals, including Cannes, Venice, Berlin, Toronto, and Sundance. This initiative has not only nurtured regional talent but has also forged crucial pathways for international collaboration.
TIME’s “TIME100 Next” list is renowned for identifying individuals who are poised to define the coming years. Al-Rashid’s selection reflects a global acknowledgment of her visionary leadership and its tangible impact. Her work is widely seen as instrumental in advancing the media and cultural scene within the Kingdom and across the wider region, signaling Saudi Arabia’s growing influence on the global creative stage.
This honor solidifies Al-Rashid’s status as a key architect of the new Saudi narrative, one that is increasingly written, produced, and celebrated on an international level.
TunisianMonitorOnline (Douha Essafi)
