After a tumultuous journey and witnessing world-changing events on the way, Arab News — the fledgling black and white broadsheet that had a very humble beginning exactly 40 years ago — has evolved into a hugely respected source of information and informed comment on the Arab world.
Innovative then and innovative now, through the adoption of 21st century digital platforms, Arab News just a handful of years ago took a quantum leap from local and regional newspaper to a local newspaper with global reach.
The editorial approach of Arab News has been consistent. It is to present differing viewpoints on issues in the region and beyond. We believe that cultural or ideological differences should not mean disputes and hostility and that we are part of a richly diverse world and beliefs and those viewpoints are to be respected and discussed fully and fairly.
Following this sometimes-challenging credo, Arab News has become a brand with undisputed credibility because of its objectivity, accuracy and sharp analyses. It has become a prime source of information for policymakers, professionals and the corporate world. It has won the admiration of the members of the royal family, ministers, diplomats, influential business leaders and intellectuals.
During 2014 and the first quarter of this year we have seen a remarkable growth in circulation. The feedback from our readers shows that increasing numbers of people are reading our publication, particularly young Saudis. As the print edition has gathered ground, we embraced the opportunities of Web-based publication and successfully added digital platforms. Our iPad, iPhone, website and Android platforms are doing exceptionally well and yielding a very good response.
We continue to make changes in the newspaper to reflect the requirements of our readers. Starting today, we have a new look and feel. We have introduced several new elements that are in sync with the demands of our readers. As with any commercial organization that suffers and survives for 40 years the “slings and arrows of outrageous fortune” that the world hurls at it, we have a few battle scars and a huge reservoir of knowledge, wisdom and accumulated experience.
Wisdom comes with age and, as we look forward, we realize that the lessons of our long past are enormously important to guiding us in future and that we have a duty to use our individual and corporate talents responsibly, with wisdom and good judgment.
One of the core reasons for responsible behavior is, in a word, reputation. Reputation and with it, credibility, takes years, even decades to build. In this “instant news” world where events on one side of the planet can be seen on the other in seconds, we are aware as never before in history reputation can be lost in seconds.
A newspaper relies on two pillars of finance to survive and to continue its work in the community. Therefore, at this significant moment in our history, we thank our valued advertisers without whose support we would not have achieved anything of significance.
The other pillar of support is our loyal readership. So it is also to you, our loyal reader, we extend our sincerest thanks; to those who we may never meet, never know and never see. Yet you are family, friend, critic, supporter and mentor — all in one. Without you, we would not exist and there would be no reason for us to exist.
Nobody could have imagined in 1975 that Arab News would become the nucleus of the largest media house in the Arab world, the Saudi Research and Marketing Group (SRMG), which publishes a number of titles, including dailies, weeklies and monthlies.
It is the contributions of individuals who helped Arab News and SRMG become a success. The late Prince Ahmad bin Salman, former chairman of the board of directors, was the one who realized the significance of developing the media in this country.
The late Hisham Hafiz and Muhammad Ali Hafiz, from a family of journalists, infused their passion and expertise into the enterprise and set a new and high-level benchmark for quality journalism that we built on and demand today.
In 2002, Prince Faisal bin Salman took over as chairman until his appointment as Madinah governor. He brought his considerable intellectual weight to bear on SRMG operations by hiring professional journalists and training Saudis for leading positions. Under his visionary stewardship, Arab News consolidated its place in the domestic market and became a true internationally recognized brand.
Over the years, others have followed in their illustrious footsteps, including former editors in chief Ahmad Mahmoud, Muhammad Ali Hafiz, Muhammad Al-Shibani, Farouk Luqman, Khaled Almaeena, the late Dr. Abdul Qader Tash and Abdul Wahab Al-Faiz.
We rely on the corporate wisdom and the vision and unwavering support of SRMG Chairman Abdullah Salem Bahamdan and Chief Executive Officer Eng. Sulaiman Al-Hudaithy. They have promised complete support as we undertake new challenges and take the newspaper to a new level.
We will continue to the very best of our abilities, all of us in Arab News, to report, inform, and bring you the news at the standard you have come to expect of us and we will strive to get even better day by day, because we understand that perfection is a journey, not a destination.
