Dar Al-Watan Printing, Publishing and Distribution Company

Dar Al-Watan is a prominent Qatari media house based in Doha. It publishes Al-Watan—a daily Arabic-language political newspaper—and the Qatar Tribune, its English-language sister publication. Al-Watan was launched in 1995, becoming the first newspaper to emerge in the post-censorship era following Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani’s 1995 decree to abolish formal press censorship. Qatar Tribune followed in 2006, aiming to serve Qatar’s diverse English-speaking population, including expatriates and diplomatic communities.

Media assets

Publishing: Al Watan, Qatar Tribune

State Media Matrix Typology

Ownership and governance

Dar Al-Watan is majority-owned by Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani (HBJ), a senior member of the ruling Al Thani family and a cousin of the Emir. The company is incorporated as a privately held entity under Qatari commercial law.

HBJ is a towering figure in both political and business spheres. He served as Qatar’s Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1992 to 2013 and concurrently held the post of Prime Minister from 2007. Beyond politics, he is best known for his global investment ventures. Dubbed “the man who bought London,” HBJ played a pivotal role in Qatar’s high-profile acquisitions of assets such as Harrods, the Shard, and stakes in Barclays and Heathrow Airport.

As of mid-2025, he also holds a 10% stake in Spain’s leading department store chain, El Corte Inglés. Forbes estimates his personal wealth at approximately USD 2.1 billion.

Source of funding and budget

Dar Al-Watan operates through a mixed funding model. Advertising remains its primary declared source of revenue, supplemented by undisclosed government support. Although state subsidies are widely reported within Qatari media circles, there is no public breakdown of the company’s annual budget or a clear disclosure of the proportion of government funding involved.

Editorial independence

Dar Al-Watan’s publications are widely regarded as editorially aligned with state interests. Owing to the close familial and political ties between its principal owner and the ruling elite, its newspapers seldom—if ever—publish criticism of the Qatari government or royal family.

Both Al-Watan and Qatar Tribune adopt a consistently pro-government editorial line. Their content often reflects official narratives, particularly in matters of domestic governance, foreign policy, and regional politics.

There are no domestic legal protections or independent oversight mechanisms in place to ensure the editorial autonomy of Dar Al-Watan or its publications. The absence of statutory protections for press freedom, coupled with the publisher’s ownership structure, raises persistent concerns about the degree of editorial control exercised behind the scenes.

July 2025