Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)
Founded in 1956, the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) functions as the state’s official news wire.
Media assets
News agency: KUNA
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
KUNA operates under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Information. It is formally overseen by a Board of Directors, which includes the Chairman, the Director-General, and four additional members. All are appointed by Cabinet upon recommendation by the Ministry, ensuring that KUNA’s leadership remains firmly within the ambit of government oversight. As of mid-2025, no alterations to this governance model have been reported.
KUNA’s leadership continued under the guidance of Sheikh Mubarak Al-Duaij Al-Sabah, who was reappointed to serve concurrently as Chairman and Director‑General earlier in 2025 through an Amiri decree.
Source of funding and budget
KUNA maintains financial independence from other state broadcasters through a dedicated budget line in the national accounts—unlike Kuwait Television and Kuwait Radio, which are subsumed under the Ministry’s general budget.
In 2023–2024, KUNA received an allocation of KWD 16 million (about US$ 52.1 million), according to budget documents reviewed for this report by media scholars in Qatar. The agency is thus fully subsidized by the state and does not rely on commercial revenues or advertising to bolster its finances.
Editorial independence
KUNA adheres to strict editorial protocols established by the Ministry of Information. It is the official mouthpiece for government announcements, policy statements, and public-sector pronouncements, reflecting an editorial line tightly aligned with official narratives.
There is no enabling statute guaranteeing editorial independence, and no independent body—the sort that might monitor or audit state media for impartiality—has been identified. KUNA remains a staunch arm of state communication, rather than a channel for independent journalism or public debate.
July 2025