Al Arabiya

• 1. Founding And Launch

  ›

  On the 3rd of March 2003, a new voice entered the crowded airwaves of the Middle East. Al Arabiya launched from Dubai Media City as a Saudi-backed alternative to Al Jazeera. An early funder called Middle East News stated its goal was to provide "a balanced and less provocative" perspective. This channel emerged during a time when regional audiences were seeking options beyond existing networks. The launch marked a significant shift in how news was delivered across the Arab world.

  78

• 2. Ownership Evolution

  ›

  The ownership structure shifted dramatically over two decades. Initial funding came from the Middle East Broadcasting Center alongside investors from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and other Gulf states. Prince Abdulaziz bin Fahd and Waleed bin Ibrahim al Ibrahim held partial stakes through MBC. In 2025, the Public Investment Fund acquired a 54% stake in MBC Group following a majority acquisition. Waleed bin Ibrahim al Ibrahim retained a 36% stake in the company. This transition moved control firmly into state hands after years of private investment.

  39

• 3. Operational Relocation

  ›

  Al Arabiya completed its move from Dubai to Riyadh in July 2025. The relocation followed orders by the Saudi government for multinational companies to establish regional hubs within the kingdom by 2024. The network aimed to produce 12 hours of news programming from the Saudi capital by early January. This strategic shift represented the completion of a multi-year process that began with operational changes in 2021. The new headquarters in Riyadh became the central hub for all broadcasting operations.

  1516

• 4. Programming Portfolio

  ›

  Special Mission premiered on the 19th of October 2003 as the channel's longest-running investigative program. It continues to air weekly based on the investigative Panorama concept. Eda'at airs every Thursday at 2:00 PM Saudi Arabia time featuring one-on-one interviews with influential figures. Rawafed broadcasts once a week on Wednesdays at 5:30 PM focusing on arts and culture documentaries. From Iraq presents socio-political realities inside Iraq on Sundays while Inside Iran covers political, social, and economic issues within that country. Death Making airs Fridays discussing global terror attacks and their underlying factors.

  232527

• 5. International Controversies

  ›

  On the 14th of February 2005, Al Arabiya became the first satellite channel to air news about Rafik Hariri's assassination. In September 2008, Iran expelled bureau chief Hassan Fahs after three correspondents had been banned from working there. The Algerian Ministry of Communication withdrew operating accreditation on the 31st of July 2021 citing disinformation and manipulation. Syrian politicians criticized coverage following the Hariri assassination in 2007 for perceived pro-US bias. The Iraqi government banned reporting from the country in November 2004 after broadcasting an audio tape attributed to Saddam Hussein.

  43465456

• 6. Journalist Safety Record

  ›

  In September 2003, reporter Mazen al-Tumeizi was killed on camera in Baghdad when a U.S. helicopter fired on a crowd in Haifa Street. Three reporters including Atwar Bahjat were abducted and murdered in Samarra, Iraq during February 2006 while covering mosque bombing aftermath. Baker Atyani, Asia correspondent, was abducted by an armed militia in the Philippines in 2012 before being released after 18 months. These incidents highlight the dangers faced by journalists covering conflicts across the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

  475960