RIYADH: Reem Al-Bliwi, one of Saudi Arabia’s youngest and most recognizable TV presenters, recently spoke on The Mayman Show about the honor of working in the Kingdom’s media industry.

Al-Bliwi burst onto the scene with Studio SBC, a TV show that is a part of the Saudi Broadcasting Authority network.

“Well, I think I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to be doing something I wanted to do, but did not expect to be doing (it) at such an early age,” she said.

Al-Bliwi quickly earned her spot in the national spotlight with her poise and presence.

With a background in modeling and an identity shaped by her Mexican mother and Saudi father, Al-Bliwi brings a unique blend of confidence, curiosity, and cross-cultural understanding to her work.

Al-Bliwi began pursuing a television media career while she was at university.

“So, I took the opportunity, and at first, I’m not going to lie, I was afraid, because it felt like I had zero experience at the time. I was still doing my bachelor’s degree in public relations — I had just been accepted.”

Al-Bliwi recalled that she was hesitant due to the difficulty of finding a balance between studying and working.

“So, it felt like I’m either going to succeed or I’m going to ruin it for myself ... like maybe forever who knows. So I took the opportunity, and I said, OK, why not. I’ll do the casting, and I got accepted. I was rehearsing for like maybe a couple of months.”

After her training Al-Bliwi was offered a fashion and beauty segment on SBC’s morning show.

“For me, it was OK, because, I didn’t have much experience at the time. I had just started building my career. I had just been accepted in public relations, so it was fun ... it was a good start.”

Al-Bliwi dazzled SBC’s morning show editor-in-chief who then told her that she was chosen to be a main presenter of the program.

“I was nervous, but maybe that’s the moment where I felt, ‘OK, this is what I’m supposed to be doing ... this is where I belong.’”

Al-Bliwi recalled how her first outing in the media spotlight was modeling. “I was actually very young. I started doing it very casually, then I found myself actually committed to it.”

She added that the landscape of the fashion and beauty industry was different five years ago.

“I’m proud of what we have accomplished in those past five years. I mean, we see now the Fashion Commission, everything they are doing — even for the modeling career — and all the programs they have been doing. I’m really proud of that.”

Al-Bliwi said that her mixed background has shaped her views of how to communicate with the world.

“Saudi is very rich in culture, and also Mexico is very rich in culture. So, I think, having those two parts, I get to appreciate that. And I get to learn more about culture, heritage, history and everything.”

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia, led by the Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission, is taking part in the Seoul International Book Fair and the Beijing International Book Fair, both being held from June 18 to 22.

The Kingdom inaugurated its pavilion at the Seoul International Book Fair 2025 on Wednesday at the COEX Convention and Exhibition Center in the South Korean capital, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Commission CEO Abdullatif Abdulaziz Al-Wasel said Saudi Arabia’s participation reflects its growing presence in global cultural events.

He said the initiative underscores the Kingdom’s commitment to fostering partnerships with international publishing houses and building cultural bridges.

The Saudi delegation includes representatives from the King Abdulaziz Public Library, King Fahd National Library, the Publishing Association, and local publishing houses, as well as the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, and Nashir publishing and distribution company.

KSGAAL Secretary-General Abdullah Al-Washmi said the fair provides a platform for engaging with those interested in the Arabic language and culture. It also offers an opportunity to underscore Saudi Arabia’s efforts to support the Arabic language and promote its use in academic and technical fields.

The academy is presenting a selection of its latest publications and introducing visitors to its digital platforms and initiatives for teaching Arabic to non-native speakers, compiling dictionaries, and developing linguistic resources to support Arabic digital content.

The Saudi pavilion is also at the Beijing International Book Fair 2025, which kicked off at the China National Convention and Exhibition Center on Wednesday.

The book fair is part of 2025 being celebrated as Saudi-Chinese Cultural Year, reflecting the strength of bilateral relations built on decades of friendship and cooperation and embodying both countries’ aspirations to enhance cultural and intellectual exchanges between their peoples.

During the five-day book fair, the Saudi pavilion presents a diverse literary and cultural program that reflects the growing momentum of the Saudi cultural scene, displaying the Kingdom’s evolving creative and intellectual landscape.

The pavilion reflects a spirit of cultural dialogue and openness, making the exhibition a key international platform to present Saudi initiatives in the book sector while deepening literary and cultural relations with intellectual figures and global publishing houses.