Effective date: 01/01/2026Last updated: 12/04/2026

Saudi ICT Shopper News is an independent technology and telecom publication covering the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the wider region in English and Arabic. These Editorial Standards describe what readers can expect from us: how we choose stories, how we verify them, how we disclose our methods, and how we handle errors.

This document is one of our public trust signals. It supplements our Editorial Policy, our Corrections Policy, and our AI Use Disclosure.

1. Mission and scope

We cover developments in:

  • Telecommunications, 5G/6G, fiber, satellite
  • Information and communications technology (ICT)
  • Cloud, AI, cybersecurity, data centers
  • Consumer electronics, gaming, entertainment platforms
  • Saudi Vision 2030 digital initiatives
  • Regional tech industry, regulation, and investment

Our editorial decisions are independent of advertisers, sponsors, government, and any commercial interest.

2. Sourcing

2.1 Source hierarchy

We prefer primary sources in this order:

  1. Official statements, press releases, and regulatory filings
  2. Verified spokespeople and named on-record experts
  3. Government and regulator publications (CITC, MCIT, SDAIA, CMA, Tadawul, official ministries)
  4. Peer-reviewed research and reputable industry analyst firms
  5. Other established news outlets (cited with link)

Social-media posts, anonymous claims, and unverified leaks are not treated as primary sources. They may be reported as such only when newsworthy and clearly attributed.

2.2 Anonymous sources

We use anonymous sources only when:

  • The information is in the public interest
  • The source has direct, demonstrable knowledge of the facts
  • Identification could cause the source professional, legal, or physical harm
  • An identified editor has verified the source’s identity and motive

We describe the source’s vantage point in the article (e.g. “a person familiar with the transaction”) without identifying them. Where possible we corroborate with a second independent source. Single-source anonymous stories are flagged internally and reviewed by a senior editor before publication.

2.3 Press releases and partner content

Press releases are useful starting points, not finished articles. When we publish a story based on a press release, we:

  • Verify key facts against a second source where the news warrants
  • Add context, prior reporting, and any relevant skepticism
  • Rewrite the language in our own voice rather than copy-pasting
  • Attribute the release explicitly when claims cannot be independently verified

Articles produced entirely from a single press release without additional reporting carry an “Industry News” or equivalent label.

3. Verification and fact-checking

Before publication, articles undergo:

  • Cross-checking of names, titles, numbers, dates, and quotes against the source
  • A URL check on every external link
  • A second pair of eyes (an editor other than the writer) for any consequential claim
  • For financial, regulatory, or technical specifications: verification against the underlying document, filing, or specification

When we report a number, we cite where it came from. When we cannot verify a claim, we either omit it or describe it transparently (“according to a company spokesperson”, “in a statement that has not been independently verified”).

4. Disclosures and conflicts of interest

Editors and contributors disclose financial interests (stockholdings, paid relationships) in companies they cover. We do not cover companies in which an editor has a material undisclosed interest.

Sponsored content, native advertising, and paid editorial are clearly labeled at the top of the article and excluded from “Latest” and “Featured” listings on the homepage. The labels we use:

  • “Sponsored” β€” paid placement; editorial content not written by us
  • “Paid editorial” β€” paid placement; we wrote it to client brief, fact-checked it, and stand behind the facts but the topic selection was paid
  • “Press release” β€” verbatim or near-verbatim industry announcement, lightly edited for clarity
  • “Industry News” β€” based primarily on an external press release with our own reporting added

We do not accept payment to write favorable coverage, to omit unfavorable information, or to retract accurate stories.

5. Plagiarism and attribution

Direct quotation always uses quotation marks and an attribution. Paraphrasing acknowledges the source. Statistics, charts, and reporting from other outlets are credited with a link to the original.

We do not republish another outlet’s article in full. When a story breaks elsewhere, we credit the original outlet by name and link in the article, even if we add independent reporting on top.

6. Images and audiovisual content

  • We use original photography, licensed stock, AI-generated imagery, or images released under appropriate Creative Commons licenses.
  • AI-generated imagery is labeled when it depicts real people or real events in a way a reader might mistake for documentary photography. Decorative AI imagery for abstract topics (e.g. a stylized 5G illustration) is not required to carry a label.
  • We do not alter the content of documentary photographs beyond standard color and crop adjustments.
  • Charts and infographics cite their data source in or near the figure.

7. Naming, language, transliteration

  • Names of Saudi people and places follow the official transliteration used by the Saudi Press Agency where available; otherwise the most widely used English spelling.
  • We use Modern Standard Arabic for the Arabic edition, with technical terms transliterated and explained on first use.
  • Dates default to the Gregorian calendar with the Hijri equivalent supplied for religious and official Saudi occasions.

8. Independence

Saudi ICT Shopper News is independently owned and operated. We do not coordinate editorial coverage with advertisers, sponsors, or the parent commercial group. Advertising and editorial functions are organizationally separate.

We may decline to publish a story, but we do not publish a story we know to be inaccurate, and we do not unpublish a story to suit a commercial interest.

9. Right of reply

Subjects of critical reporting are contacted before publication where reasonably possible and given a fair opportunity to respond. Their response, if provided in time, is included in the article. If they decline, we note that we sought comment.

After publication, anyone named in a story may request a clarification, correction, or right of reply. See our Corrections Policy.

10. Comments and reader contributions

If the Site offers comments, they are moderated. We may remove or refuse to publish comments that are abusive, off-topic, defamatory, illegal, or that violate the Saudi Anti-Cyber Crime Law. We are not responsible for individual user comments but we are responsible for moderating in line with these standards.

11. AI in our editorial workflow

We use AI tools to assist with drafting, translation, image generation, and SEO. Every article is reviewed by a human editor before publication. AI does not decide what is newsworthy, what is true, or what gets published. Full details: AI Use Disclosure.

12. Diversity and inclusion

We aim to cover the Saudi tech ecosystem in its diversity β€” including women in tech, regional voices outside Riyadh and Jeddah, and emerging companies alongside incumbents. We are committed to expanding our source list and avoiding over-reliance on the same voices.

13. Compliance with Saudi law

We operate under the laws of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We respect the Saudi Press and Publications Law, the Anti-Cyber Crime Law, and the Personal Data Protection Law. We do not publish content that is illegal under Saudi law (including content that defames individuals, threatens public order, or violates national security obligations).

Compliance with law does not override our commitment to accuracy. If a legal request asks us to publish or remove a story for non-legal reasons, we will refuse and disclose the request to the extent we are permitted to.

14. Masthead

Editorial leadership and staff bios are published on our About page. Our chief editor is responsible for editorial standards. The chief editor reports to the publisher on operational matters and to no one on editorial decisions.

15. Updates

These Standards are reviewed at least once per year and updated as our practice evolves or law changes. The “Last updated” date at the top reflects the current version. Substantive changes are summarized in a brief note at the bottom of this page on each revision.

16. Contact

Editorial questions: [email protected] Corrections: see Corrections Policy General: [email protected]