Dar Al Sharq is the publisher of Al Sharq (meaning “Orient” in Arabic), which is an Arabic daily newspaper whose history goes back to 1987, Al Arab, a newspaper acquired in 2020, and The Peninsula, an English daily newspaper that was established in 1996. The company also offers printing and media distribution services.
Media assets
Publishing: Al Sharq, Al Arab, Lusail, The Peninsula
State Media Matrix Typology: Captured Private Media (CaPr)
Ownership and governance
Dar Al Sharq is owned by Khalid bin Thani Al Thani, a member of the Thani ruling family. The company operates as a privately held holding.
Source of funding and budget
There is no publicly available financial information about the publications of Dar Al Sharq. The company generates revenues from ad sales, but also receives funds from the government. It is not clear though what percentage of the publisher’s annual budget comes from the government.
Editorial independence
Mainly because of its ownership links with the ruling family in Qatar, Dar Al Sharq is known for its pro-government coverage. Its publications never criticize the authorities and follow a very strict editorial line in favor of the government. Routinely, the publications of the group devote most of their space to reporting on the activities of the ruling Al Thani family.
There is no domestic statute and no independent assessment/oversight mechanism that would validate the independence of Dar Al Sharq.
August 2023