[57676] Drama in the Saudi media world: 'ثمانية' (Thmanyah) company CEO Abdulrahman Abumalih resigns

Dramatic resignation at the media company 'ثمانية' (Thmanyah)

On May 12, 2026, it was reported on social media that Abdulrahman Abumalih had resigned from his position as CEO of the prominent media company 'ثمانية' (Thmanyah). According to reports by ahmad2man and 1SMi_, the background for the move is "disagreements that escalated recently" between him and the Chairperson of the Board, Jomana Al-Rashid, regarding the company's future strategy and vision.

The strategic dispute and its implications

According to sources, Abumalih sought to adhere to the company's original vision, while the system leaned toward organizational changes. AZK_SA also reported the resignation of the company's Chief Operating Officer (COO) after five years of work, noting rumors about the "establishment of a new advertising entity" by those who departed. It should be noted that Abumalih is restricted from establishing a direct competitor for one year from the moment of his departure.

Opinions and interpretations online

The event sparked a stormy debate among the Saudi public. While users like i_Aliz7 estimated that Abumalih received generous financial compensation upon selling his stake, sharp criticisms also arose. For example, all_hamor came to the defense of Jomana Al-Rashid, who is ranked as one of the most influential businesswomen in the Middle East, and criticized those who questioned her authority in comparison to Abumalih.

Conversely, users like mans700mns raised personal and critical claims against Abumalih against the backdrop of his sporting tendencies (a fan of the Al-Hilal club), which led to heated arguments among followers regarding the essence of professionalism in media company management versus "lack of planning" as some critics defined it.