Al Watan (Saudi Arabia)
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Al Watan logo
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| Type | Daily |
|---|---|
| Format | Broadsheet |
| Owner(s) | Bandar bin Khalid Al Faisal |
| Founder(s) | Assir Establishment for Press and Publishing |
| Editor-in-chief | Dr. Othman al Sini |
| Founded | 30 September 2000 |
| Political alignment | Islamic, pro-reform |
| Language | Arabic |
| Headquarters | Abha |
| Circulation | 150,000 (2007) |
| Website | Official website |
Al Watan (Arabic: الوطن meaning The Homeland ) is a daily newspaper in Saudi Arabia. The chairman of the newspaper is Bandar bin Khalid.
Al Watan's main publishing centre was at Abha in the south of the country, close to the Yemen border. The paper was based in the Asir province, the south-west of Saudi Arabia. However, later its headquarters was moved to Jeddah. In addition, it has publishing facilities in London, New York, Amman, and Cairo.
Al Watan was launched on 1 September 2000 by Assir Establishment for Press and Publishing.Al Watan is said to be influenced by the perspectives of Khalid Al Faisal, who initiated the idea of establishing a national newspaper that reflects the pulse and lifestyle of Saudi Arabia, and seeks to engage a mass audience across all regions of the Kingdom. The publishing facilities of the paper were constructed on a site donated by late Crown Prince Sultan.
Al Watan was initially established as a small regional newspaper. Then, it developed as one of the top three most read Arabic dailies in the Kingdom (ranked by IPSOS and PARC) and tied for first place based on an independent bookshop audit conducted by PARC. Its vision is to become the number one most read newspaper in the Kingdom by 2012. This growth has not only provided Al Watan with local acknowledgment through being rated among the most credible local newspapers, but International as well by being the most quoted local newspaper by International Media.
In early 2009, Al Watan presented its news identity to its readers in the Kingdom, which was a milestone for the newspaper. It also expanded its printing facilities across the Kingdom, making it the only Saudi daily that is printed every morning in four major cities within the Kingdom. The 48-pages of the new edition published in broadsheet format cover in depth Saudi affairs with a wide range of feature stories, news, analysis, lifestyle and reports. During the tenure of Jamal Khashoggi as editor-in-chief, Al Watan columnists aggressively poked at the contradictions and oppressive effects of Saudi Islam, especially with regard to women. Eventually, religious conservatives, under pressure of social change, regarded Al Watan as a major enemy.
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