Al-Watan (Qatar)
Qatari newspaper
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Al-Watan (Arabic: الوطن, lit. 'The Homeland') is a pro-government Arabic-language daily political newspaper based in Doha, Qatar.[1][2] It is one of the three leading Arabic-language newspapers in the country along with Al Raya and Al Sharq.[3]
| Type | Daily newspaper |
|---|---|
| Format | Print, online |
| Owner | Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani |
| Publisher | Dar Al-Watan Printing, Publishing and Distribution Company |
| Founded | 1995 |
Political alignment | Pro-government |
| Language | Arabic |
| Headquarters | Doha |
| Circulation | 15,000 (2008) |
Sister newspapers | Qatar Tribune |
| Website | al-watan |
Through its publisher, it is majority-owned by former Foreign Minister and Prime Minister Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani, a senior member of the Qatari royal family and a cousin of the emir.[4][5] Qatar Tribune is Al-Watan's English-language sister newspaper.[1]
History and circulation
Al-Watan was founded in 1995[5] and was the first newspaper to be launched in Qatar after the Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, abolished press censorship.[6] Its parent company is Dar Al Watan Printing, Publishing and Distribution Company. With the publication of the daily the other leading Qatari Arabic paper Al Raya lost its one-third of its circulation.[7] The 2008 circulation of the daily was 15,000.[8]
In 2020, the website Industry Arabic named Al-Watan as the fourth most influential Arabic newspaper in the world.[5]
Ownership
Former Foreign Minister and Prime Minister Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani, a senior member of the Qatari royal family and a cousin of the emir, owns half of the newspaper.[5] Qatar Tribune is its English-language sister newspaper.[1]