Four decades of chronicle of events bears eloquent testimony to the integrated services of Arab News to its readers.  

Arab News has become a household name and people look to it not only for current events in and outside the Kingdom, but also for information about their daily life in the Saudi environment. 

The newspaper has always stressed creating a positive and harmonious social impact, encouraging its readers to bring about positive change in whatever they do. 

Bringing about behavioral change, particularly in addressing public health challenges and educational issues, needs concerted efforts to create awareness within the community. 

And over the past decades, the newspaper has taken up this responsibility with full commitment.

Hameed Mowlana, a senior expatriate resident who has been reading Arab News since its inception, said: “I vividly remember carrying the affectionately called ‘Green Truth’ — Arab News — as a ‘six-month-old-baby’, on my arrival in the Kingdom.”

He added: “I was so delighted to see my first letter being published in it, way back in 1976.”

Mowlana said: “This was the period we did not have the services of Internet or fax. Most of the letters were by airmail to Jeddah. My first letter was handwritten and was sent through an ‘aerogram’, which is now extinct.” 

He said: “So far, well over 3,000 letters of mine have appeared in the newspaper on diversified subjects.” 

Mowlana said : “I am extremely grateful to Arab News as many of my letters have yielded fruitful results, the most important and recent ones being the restoration of the telephone, fax and Internet lines by the authorities concerned in Al-Faisaliyah district and the immediate attention given by the municipality for the depleted condition of the roads in the same area. A day is not complete without reading Arab News. In short, many of us are addicted to this great newspaper, which has become a part and parcel of our daily breakfast.” 

During a recent visit to Saudi Arabia, James Oberwetter, former US ambassador to the Kingdom, said: “Congratulations Arab News, we wish a very happy 40th birthday! Even in the US, I make it a point to read Arab News, which gives an insight into news on the Middle East and Saudi Arabia.”

He quipped: “Arab News is my morning cup of tea.”

The late Lakshman Kadirgamar, former Sri Lankan foreign minister, who was an Oxford scholar, described Arab News as a window to the Middle East. 

Be it health, education, entertainment, recreation, crime or social awareness, Arab News has been in the forefront to provide detailed information on relevant subjects. 

The newspaper has been contributing a in a big way by conveying health messages to the people as and when required by the Ministry of Health.

Since the detection of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus in June 2012, the newspaper has been with the readers, providing them with detailed information on the disease and preventive and curative measures.

Readers are also fully informed of the vaccination campaign undertaken by the Ministry of Health from time to time. 

People contact the Arab News office to find out the date of vaccination and try to get the phone-in-service contact numbers of the ministry to get clarifications on various health matters. 

The newspaper also plays an effective role during the Haj season for millions of pilgrims.

It raises awareness among pilgrims on vital topics and helps disseminate important information.

As much as it concentrates on health issues, the newspaper deems it a duty to enlighten the readers on various issues related to education which it feels should be given top priority. 

The newspaper never fails to highlight the facilities, events and openings available in schools, colleges and universities in the Kingdom. 

School events are given adequate publicity in the paper to encourage both staff and students to increase their output in the field of education. 

In case of an inclement weather in the Kingdom, school principals contact not the Ministry of Education but the Arab News desk to find out whether the school will remain open the next day. 

Businessmen from all parts of the world make it a point to read Arab News to get the latest updates on the economy of the Kingdom as well as in the Middle East. 

The business section of the newspaper covers all related events and news from opening up of a gigantic project to a new restaurant in the Kingdom. 

Community groups always like to see their events and performances in the Sports section, which gives immense publicity for their feats. In line with the Kingdom’s policy of Saudization, the newspaper has been campaigning intensively to provide more jobs to Saudi youth in the private sector. 

The youth are regularly informed on the opportunities available for them to develop their human resource skills.

The newspaper takes it as a responsibility to highlight the dynamic role of local women and their contribution to society. 

Their activities and job opportunities for them are well publicized. 

The newspaper never fails to highlight the achievements of various government and non-government organizations.

It not only promotes their performances, but also helps the readers to be availed of such services.

King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology is one such example of the services rendered by the newspaper in highlighting its role in the scientific and technological area. 

The newspaper, which has weathered four decades of different challenges, such as the electronic revolution, is doubly energized and determined on this auspicious day to carry forward its march with the support of its patrons toward giving the readers better services for the greater good of the nation.