JEDDAH: Asharq Al-Awsat, a sister publication of Arab News, will now also be published from Doha, Qatar, which has become the 16th place from where the international newspaper is being published.
A launching ceremony was held in Doha on Tuesday which was attended by the Qatari minister of culture, arts and heritage, Dr. Hamad bin Abdul Aziz Al-Kawwari. The project is a tripartite partnership between the Saudi Research and Marketing Group (SRMG), Dar Al-Sharq for Printing and Distribution Company and the Qatari Media Company.
Speaking at the launch, Sheikh Al-Hussain bin Ali bin Ahmad Al-Thani, CEO of the Qatar Media Company, welcomed the audience and hoped the company would be the sole agent for the newspaper's advertisements in the Qatari market. He said the company was established in 2004 and now has offices in the UAE, Malaysia and the United Kingdom.
"With Asharq Al-Awsat joining us, we are now able to provide our customers with written advertisements in addition to the existing audio and visual ones," he said.
Dr. Azzam bin Muhammad Al-Dakhil, CEO of Saudi Research and Marketing Group and a member of its board of directors, expressed happiness to be among the crowd of officials, editors in chief and Qatari elite. He described Qatar as a pivotal media forum in the Middle East.
"Printing from Doha reflects our concern for Qatari readers and the thorough coverage of the important local and economic events in Qatar," he said.
"With this new extension, Asharq Al-Awsat is proving once again that it is the international newspaper for Arabs and the favorable publication for decision-makers in the fields of politics, culture, arts and others," he added.
Asharq Al-Awsat is currently printing from Riyadh, Jeddah, Dhahran, Madinah, Kuwait, Casablanca, Baghdad, Cairo, Beirut, Dubai, Frankfurt, Marseille, Madrid, London, New York and Doha.
"The newspaper not only publishes news and analysis but also opinions. Its writers include pioneers of thought, politics, culture and arts," he added.
Abdullatif Al-Mahmoud, general manager of Dar Al-Sharq for Printing and Distribution considered the printing of Asharq Al-Awsat in Doha as a huge gain for Qataris and foreigners living in Qatar. He said the printing house has an ambitious plan to print other international newspapers such as The Times and the Guardian in Doha.
© Arab News 2010
