Saudi Arabia current situation
Status regular
Last update: 30.03.2026 - older versions
On 7 August 2023, the Saudi Broadcasting Authority officially launched DAB+ broadcasts in Riyadh, Damman and Jeddah, with six stations on air. In 2024, five more cities Neom, Hail, Al Madinah, Al Ahsa, and Al Qassim were activated. Transmitters from Syes were used for these sites. Each city has separate reception and encoding systems compatible with DAB+.
In early 2026, First Gulf Company (FGC) handed over a major Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) project across multiple cities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The deployment covered key locations including Makkah Al-Mukarramah, Abha, Al-Baha, Tabuk, Arar, Sakaka, Najran, Duba and Al-Ula. The project scope included the installation and commissioning of advanced DAB transmission systems to enable high-quality digital audio broadcasting services. The implementation was supported by satellite-based backhauling via Arabsat, ensuring reliable nationwide distribution. In addition, a state-of-the-art multiplexing and encoding platform was established in Riyadh to support centralized content aggregation and distribution.
In December 2025, FGC also completed the deployment of DAB infrastructure across key locations along the Riyadh–Abha road corridor. The scope of work for this project mirrors the multi-city deployment, including full installation, testing, and commissioning of DAB transmitters, along with satellite backhauling and centralized multiplexing and encoding integration. The system was designed with 1+1 redundancy to ensure uninterrupted broadcasting using DAB+ technology, providing seamless digital audio coverage across the route.
Saudi Arabia has legislation requiring radio receivers to be equipped with terrestrial DAB+ capabilities. According to Saudi legislation, starting from 1 January 2021, home receivers, portable receivers and vehicle receivers are required to be equipped with DAB+.
Saudi Arabia automotive
Last update: 21.09.2020 - older versions
According to Saudi legislation, starting from 2021/01/01, home receivers, portable receivers and vehicle receivers are required to be equipped with DAB+.
Saudi Arabia receiver market
Last update: 14.11.2023
The GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) List of GSO Technical Regulations for Motor Vehicles (2024 Model Year) states:
Implementation of Terrestrial Radio Receiver Specifications for AM/FM/TDAB+:
Saudi Arabia: All vehicles should be provided with AM/FM/T-DAB+ according to SASO 2938:2019: Technical specifications of the radio, digital and analog broadcasting receiver for (AM/FM/T- DAB+).
Saudi Arabia regulation and spectrum
Last update: 29.10.2026 - older versions
Saudi Arabia has introduced legislation requiring radio receivers to be equipped with terrestrial DAB+ capabilities.
According to Saudi legislation, starting from 2021/01/01, home receivers, portable receivers and vehicle receivers are required to be equipped with DAB+.
This must comply with SASO 2938:2019: Technical specifications of the radio, digital and analogue broadcasting receiver for (AM/FM/T-DAB+).
In April 2026, the GCC Standardisation Organisation (GSO), a standards organisation for the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council and Yemen, published GSO 2693:2026, The GCC Terrestrial Radio Receiver Specifications for AM/FM/T-DAB+. It says:
This specification shall apply to all producers, manufacturers, importers and retailers who wish to sell radio receivers and all other products which have built-in radio receivers in the GCC countries.
This specification shall be used to assess the eligibility of a product for use in the GCC countries.
This specification covers devices which can receive terrestrially transmitted AM, FM and T-DAB+ radio services. Some of these devices may also receive other digital radio services via alternative delivery platforms, such as the internet. This specification does not cover details of a receiver intended to receive digital services via these alternative delivery platforms.
This specification covers many types of receivers, including home receivers, portable receivers, devices integrated into the vehicle dashboard and aftermarket devices mounted in the dashboard, behind the dashboard, to the vehicle windscreen or elsewhere.
This specification covers devices whose sole function is to receive radio services, and devices which have one or more other functions in addition to receiving radio services.
The document was an update to GSO 2693:2022, officially released on May 12, 2022 by Gulf Standardization Organization (GSO) with document No. GSO:803170.
Saudi Arabia overview
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