Dar Al Sharq is a prominent Qatari media group that publishes several daily newspapers and operates a commercial printing and distribution arm. Its flagship Arabic-language daily, Al Sharq (“The Orient”), was established in 1987 and has long been part of the country’s mainstream press. In 1996, the company expanded into English-language journalism with the launch of The Peninsula. More recently, in 2020, Dar Al Sharq acquired Al Arab, an older Arabic-language newspaper, consolidating its footprint in the local print media market.
In addition to its news operations, Dar Al Sharq offers a suite of printing and publishing services and plays a central role in the distribution of both domestic and imported media content across Qatar.
Media assets
Publishing: Al Sharq, Al Arab, Lusail, The Peninsula
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
Dar Al Sharq is a privately held company owned by Sheikh Khalid bin Thani bin Abdullah Al Thani, a senior member of Qatar’s ruling Al Thani family. Sheikh Khalid is a high-profile business magnate with diverse investments spanning banking, real estate, insurance, financial services, healthcare, telecommunications, information technology, and travel. His media holdings are just one element of a broader portfolio that aligns closely with key sectors of the Qatari economy.
No public governance framework or independent supervisory structure governs Dar Al Sharq’s media operations. All strategic and editorial decisions fall under the direct control of its owner and his appointed leadership.
Dar Al Sharq is currently led by Abdul Latif Abdullah Al Mahmoud, who serves as Chief Executive Officer of the group.
Source of funding and budget
As with other major media houses in Qatar, Dar Al Sharq does not publish its financial statements, and there is no public information detailing the revenue or expenditure breakdowns of its operations. The group is known to rely on advertising income—particularly from state entities and affiliated companies—as its primary revenue stream.
Informed observers interviewed for this report in March 2024 and May 2025 suggest that the company also receives direct or indirect government support, but the proportion of state funding in the company’s total budget remains opaque. This lack of transparency is consistent with the broader Qatari media landscape, where financial dependencies are rarely disclosed.
Editorial independence
Dar Al Sharq’s publications are widely perceived as extensions of the Qatari state’s communication strategy. Given the owner’s proximity to the ruling elite, the group’s newspapers maintain a consistently pro-government editorial line. Coverage rarely—if ever—includes criticism of the Emir, the government, or key state policies.
Content is heavily skewed toward official narratives. For example, Al Sharq frequently features front-page coverage of royal engagements, diplomatic activities, and ministerial announcements, while omitting dissenting viewpoints or alternative interpretations.
As of June 2025, no legal framework exists in Qatar to guarantee editorial independence, and Dar Al Sharq is not subject to any independent oversight or media watchdog scrutiny. There are no known internal mechanisms for editorial accountability or public complaints.
July 2025