Saudi outlets do not stray from the authorities’ official narratives. Self-censorship is ever-present, including on social networks. Even privately owned Saudi media follow government guidelines set out by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). The press is divided into two main camps: the Al-Watan and Okaz dailies represent the “liberal” side while Al-Riyadh leads the conservative side.

Self-censorship is standard practice for media outlets owned by the royal family. Other media outlets are required to submit to daily scrutiny by censors, and certain topics are covered in a way that serves the interests of the State. Journalists who criticise the monarchy’s choices and strategies are considered traitors. Those who prefer to stay neutral and who do not follow the official line of praise for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman become de facto suspects.

The penal code and anti-terrorism and cybercrime laws allow imprisonment or suspension of journalists who share any criticism, on grounds of “blasphemy,” “inciting chaos,” “jeopardising national unity,” or “harming the image and reputation of the king and the state.” Since 2018, the government has been tightening its grip on social networks. Unjust sentences of decades in prison have been handed down for tweets. 

Saudi media outlets are, for the most part, financed by the kingdom or those close to ruling circles. The MBC group, which owns Al Arabiya, benefits from ample resources, and its influence extends beyond the country’s borders. Many prominent journalists are thriving in sports journalism, particularly following efforts to draw attention to sports in Saudi Arabia. Their coverage is popular, as is that of cultural and entertainment events in the kingdom.

The cases of Raif Badawi and Ali Abulohoom, each convicted for having published comments online that were deemed to constitute apostasy, are emblematic of the tension between press freedom and respect for religious edicts in the Wahhabi kingdom. Women's rights also remain a sensitive topic due to prevailing customs and traditions. Those who attempt to criticise certain social norms may face arrest.

Journalists face long prison sentences and sometimes even the death penalty. In 2025, the authorities executed journalist Turki al-Jasser, the first reporter to be killed by the kingdom since the extrajudicial murder of Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Türkiye in 2018. Media figures who criticise the authorities are persecuted and harassed online by “electronic brigades.” The kingdom also uses high-tech espionage tools to track down journalists in exile.