Qatar Media Corporation (QMC)

Qatar Media Corporation (QMC) is the official state broadcaster of the State of Qatar. It was established by Emiri Resolution No. 9 of 2009 and later reorganised under Amiri Resolution No. 33 of 2014. QMC functions as the umbrella body for Qatar’s official broadcast media, operating national television and radio services and serving as a central vehicle for government communication and public broadcasting.

Media assets

Television: Qatar TV, Al-Kass Sports

Radio: Qatar Radio; Holy Quran Radio; Sout Al Khaleej; Oryx Radio; QBS Radio; Urdu Radio

Ownership and governance

QMC is wholly owned by the State of Qatar and operates as part of the state’s official media system. Strategic and senior leadership appointments are made through the highest levels of the Qatari state.

As of mid-2026, QMC is chaired by Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer Al Thani, a senior member of Qatar’s ruling House of Thani and concurrently Chairman of the Board of Al Jazeera Media Network. QMC’s own website describes him as heading the corporation in addition to chairing Al Jazeera Media Network. His dual leadership roles underscore the close alignment between QMC and the state’s broader media and communication strategy.

A major governance update since the previous cycle was the appointment of Sheikh Khalid bin Abdulaziz bin Jassim Al Thani as Chief Executive Officer of QMC. The appointment was made by Amiri Decision No. 43 of 2025, issued by Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on 21 October 2025. QMC’s current public profile lists Sheikh Khalid as CEO.

In April 2026, QMC Chairman Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer Al Thani also issued a decision appointing Jaber Mohammed Al Sorour as Director of Qatar Radio. The appointment was presented in Qatari media as part of efforts to strengthen institutional performance and place Qatari nationals in senior operational media posts.

Source of funding and budget

Under its legal framework, QMC is permitted to draw on a mixed funding model, including state subsidies, commercial revenues, donations, and bank loans. In practice, the corporation remains heavily reliant on public funding.

According to researchers in Qatar consulted by SMM between 2023 and 2024, approximately 75% of QMC’s annual budget is understood to be sourced directly from the government. Two internal sources at QMC indicated that in 2021 the organisation generated around US$4 million in commercial revenue, predominantly through advertising. More recent financial figures remain undisclosed, and no audited annual budget has been made publicly available to date.

Editorial independence

QMC operates effectively as a state-run broadcaster, adhering closely to editorial guidelines laid down by the Qatari authorities. Its programming avoids content that might be perceived as critical of the Qatari government, Islam, or ruling institutions. This editorial posture reflects broader patterns of media control in Qatar, where limits on expression are reinforced through law and institutional practice, including the cybercrime law adopted in 2014 and reinforced in 2020, which criminalises the online spread of “fake news.”

As of mid-2026, there is no independent domestic oversight mechanism capable of assessing or certifying QMC’s editorial independence. The absence of such safeguards raises persistent concerns regarding the broadcaster’s autonomy and its capacity to reflect a diversity of viewpoints.

AI and digital policy

SMM found no evidence that QMC has published a dedicated public AI governance or editorial-use policy as of mid-2026. Qatar’s wider AI environment is shaped by the state, including a national artificial intelligence strategy and government-led AI policy initiatives.

A relevant 2026 development was the signing of an MoU between QMC and Media City Qatar to support content development, innovation, digital transformation, training, and pilot projects through Media City Qatar’s innovation lab. The agreement points to QMC’s participation in state-backed media innovation and digital transformation initiatives, but it does not establish an independent editorial AI policy or public safeguards for AI use in news and programming.

Classification rationale

QMC is classified as State-Controlled (SC). It is wholly state-owned, institutionally embedded in Qatar’s official media system, and led by senior figures appointed through state authority. Its chairman also chairs Al Jazeera Media Network, and its CEO was appointed by Amiri Decision in 2025. QMC’s editorial output is closely aligned with official state positions, and no independent oversight mechanism exists to safeguard its editorial autonomy. These determinants place it firmly in the SC category.

June 2026