Syrian Arab Publishing and Distributing Company

The Syrian Arab Publishing and Distributing Company is a privately held Syrian media company best known as the publisher of the daily newspaper Al-Watan. Al-Watan was launched in 2006 and became one of Syria’s most prominent pro-regime private newspapers under the Assad system. It was widely identified with Rami Makhlouf, the maternal cousin of former President Bashar al-Assad, and functioned for years as a captured private outlet closely amplifying government messaging throughout the civil war.

Following the collapse of the Assad regime, Al-Watan resumed regular publication in January 2025, publishing mostly on its website and Telegram channel. Its tone remains conservative, though more careful in framing political events. Sama TV returned to broadcasting on satellite platforms in April 2025, largely airing apolitical entertainment content and coverage of post-conflict reconstruction.

SMM found no public confirmation that the Syrian Arab Publishing and Distributing Company has been formally dissolved, transferred, nationalised or placed under an independent ownership structure. Nor was any reliable public filing found clarifying the company’s current shareholders, board, management control or relationship to the transitional authorities.

Media assets

Removed from the database in 2026