MISLEADING campaigns are exploiting events, successes and the remarkable development witnessed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on all fronts to tarnish the image of the Land of the Two Holy Mosques through fabricated, baseless and deceptive media content. These efforts aim to undermine the reputation of the purest nation in this era—a nation dedicated to serving Islam and Muslims across humanitarian, religious and political dimensions.
The truth is these campaigns undoubtedly stem from hostile motives, orchestrated by organizations, entities, states or individuals with enmity towards Saudi Arabia. Thankfully, such campaigns are transparent and well-known, lacking credibility to the point that even the average individual can easily recognize their weakness. Today, there is hardly anyone in this diverse world who is unaware of Saudi Arabia’s genuine image as a nation committed to serving Islam and Muslims, aiding Muslim communities and defending Islamic causes globally.The remarkable advancements and progress achieved by Saudi Arabia have coincided with smear campaigns using deceptive information, fabricated images and manipulated videos. A notable target has been the success of the Saudi Entertainment Authority and its initiatives for citizens and residents, such as Riyadh Season. The campaigners attempt to discredit these achievements using deceptive content.
For instance, Tunisian writer Abu Bakr Al-Saghir exposed some of these tactics in his article about the opening ceremony of Riyadh Season, highlighting the following points: 1. The full Riyadh Season opening ceremony (approximately two hours long) was broadcast live on YouTube, and there is no connection or image associated whatsoever to the Kaaba.2. The so-called “Kaaba image” is fabricated. It originated from a 2023 boxing match where four massive screens were suspended to create a cubic appearance, ensuring all spectators had a clear view. The images were manipulated with Photoshop to resemble the Kaaba.3. Alleged statues and idols in the venue were added digitally. 4. The model carrying a paper sword design is from a New York fashion show held years ago, entirely unrelated to Saudi Arabia.5. The viral “metal music with Quranic verses” video was also fake. It was edited to include Quranic verses over footage from a 2014 American concert, completely detached from the Quran or Islam.
Riyadh Season has emerged as a global showcase, fully open to engaging with cultures worldwide. It appeals to an international audience and communicates with the world while delivering a message that resonates both internally and externally. This openness is deliberate and carefully structured, adhering to clearly defined limits that ensure it never compromises or even approaches the Kingdom’s foundational principles and policies. The ideas and plans behind Riyadh Season are grounded in the highest values, designed to reach every individual on this planet while operating within the solid framework of Saudi Vision 2030—a vision that meticulously considers and respects all religious, cultural economic and political dimensions.
Why hasn’t Saudi Arabia’s historical leadership in Islamic and Muslim causes received sufficient attention? And I also ask: why don’t they mention the efforts of the Kingdom towards Islamic causes? For example, the Kingdom convened the Islamic Summit on November 11, 2023, following the Gaza crisis that began on October 7, 2023. A year later, on November 11, 2024, Saudi Arabia hosted the second Arab-Islamic Summit which significantly boosted international recognition of Palestine as a state. This summit served as a critical step in unifying Arab and Islamic efforts. Similarly, why do these campaigns ignore Saudi Arabia’s unmatched dedication to serving the pilgrims of the Two Holy Mosques? The Kingdom has achieved remarkable milestones in facilitating Hajj and Umrah services, hosting millions of pilgrims and ensuring their comfort. These efforts have seen a transformative leap under Saudi Vision 2030, under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who prioritizes enhancing services for pilgrims as a key objective of this vision.
Ultimately, I believe audiences are conscious and aware and possess the media literacy needed to distinguish between genuine and fabricated content. Today, it is our responsibility to uphold the truth and remain vigilant against campaigns aiming to tarnish the image of the homeland of Islam, benevolence, dignity and humanity. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its capital of goodness will remain pure and unblemished, no matter how hard these deceivers try. Together, with the support of loyal allies, we will stand firm against these campaigns and continue defending this pioneering nation that serves the causes of Islam and Muslims worldwide.
—The writer is contributing columnist.
