Dar Al-Watan is the publisher of Al-Watan (meaning “homeland” in Arabic), a daily morning political newspaper in Arabic, and Qatar Tribune, an English newspaper, both based in Doha. Al-Watan was founded in 1995 as the first newspaper launched in Qatar after Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani abolished formal press censorship. Qatar Tribune was launched in 2006.
Media assets
Publishing: Al Watan, Qatar Tribune
State Media Matrix Typology: Captured Private (CaPr)
Ownership and governance
Dar Al-Watan is majority-owned by Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, known as HBJ, a member of the ruling family (and cousin of the emir). The company is registered as a private corporation.
HBJ has had a career in government, holding various positions, including foreign affairs minister, between 1992 and 2013. In business circles, HBJ is known as the “man who bought London” because of his role in acquiring major British assets, including Harrods and the Shard (the tallest building in Europe).
HBJ also has a 10% stake in El Corte Ingles, a major Spanish retail chain. According to Forbes, HBJ’s fortune is worth US$2.1 bn.
Source of funding and budget
There is no publicly available information about Dar Al-Watan’s publisher. The company generates revenues through 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
Because of its ownership links with the ruling family in Qatar, Dar Al-Watan is perceived as a pro-government publisher. Its publications never criticize the authorities, and they are routinely referred to as editorially pro-government.
There is no domestic statute or independent assessment/oversight mechanism that would validate Dar Al-Watan’s editorial independence.
July 2024