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Type | Daily newspaper |
---|---|
Format | Broadsheet |
Owner(s) | Gulf Publishing and Printing Company |
Publisher | Abdulla bin Khalifa Al-Attiya |
Editor-in-chief | Faisal Abdulhameed Al-Mudahka |
Editor | K T Chacko |
Founded | 1 June 1978 |
Language | English |
Headquarters | Doha, Qatar |
Sister newspapers | Al Raya |
Website | gulf-times.com |
The Gulf Times newspaper has been founded in 1978 as the first publication of the Gulf Publishing and Printing Company in the capital city of Qatar, Doha (or ad-Dawhah). [1] [2] It is one of three English language newspapers in the country (the others being The Peninsula [1995] and the Qatar Tribune [2006]). It is published by Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah, the former deputy prime minister and the former head of the Emir's court. The current chairman of Gulf Times is Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiya, while the editor-in-chief is Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka making the editor in charge K T Chacko. [3]
The Gulf Times, Qatar, (the first publication of the Gulf Publishing and Printing Organisation) was founded on 1 June 1978. Its contract was signed and the required license was issued on 5 August 1978, in accordance with the laws of Qatar. [2] The first edition of Gulf Times was published on 10 December 1978, as a black-and-white tabloid, under the leadership of Yousef Jassim Darwish, the editor-in-chief of both Gulf Times and later the sister Arabic-language paper Al Raya . [4] The acting Ministry of Information at that time declared and confirmed the formation and the creation of a Qatari-based English newspaper that is now known till this day as ‘Gulf Times’. They have published their first ever publication during the month of December in the year of 1978 as a weekly paper. Three years later in February 1981, the newspaper was approved to be published every day.
On 1 January 1993, Gulf Publishing & Printing Company—encompassing both the Gulf Times and Al Raya—moved to new headquarters in the Al Hilal Area, on the C Ring Road, with a larger printing press, more up-to-date facilities and more office space. The newspaper could now grow both in physical size and publishing figures.
In December 1995, Gulf Times was converted from tabloid to broadsheet and the content was increased considerably and further enhanced. With that being said, the newspaper not only focuses on local news but so too on international news too. [2] Currently,[ when? ] a Gulf Times newspaper is 40 pages, broadsheet, with a separate monthly magazine, called Society. There are eight different categories that consist of Gulf Times. Indeed, such as, editorial, analysis, news, economy, sports, library and archives, technical and local reporters. [2]
Recently,[ when? ]Gulf Times expanded coverage by adding more pages dedicated to Latin America and Africa and also in business and finance and sports.
The paper is one of the leading publications in the English language market in Qatar. It has been notable for carrying news reports that go beyond the self-censorship usual to the Persian Gulf region. It pioneered reporting of criminal court cases, including reporting serious offences by Qatari nationals and other negative social issues, such as the black market in alcohol, but has since become more conservative. It was the first Gulf paper to document the mistreatment of very young camel jockeys in a report that is credited with leading to the reform of the camel racing industry in several Gulf states.
Society is the premier monthly lifestyle magazine published by Gulf Times newspaper in Doha, Qatar. Launched in January 2012, the magazine offers a broad range of features, primarily based on lifestyle, hospitality and social issues, relevant to Qatar expatriates and nationals. Its contents and voices are guided by the needs and aspirations of the people of Qatar and their opinions, choices and needs, ultimately making the magazine a very strong platform for people to reach out and make a difference.
The magazine is being distributed free of cost to the subscribers of the Gulf Times newspaper.
Upon conception, the Gulf Times' emblem remained a dhow named Fateh al-Kheir. Its significance lays in both its representation of Qatar's history and its ownership by former Ruler Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa. Not only did it possess the country's first engine, it was the first nationally owned dhow and largest of its kind. The color of the logo is maroon and white, the color of the Qatari Flag. Consequently, this color was chosen to further represent the national identity of the newspaper, Qatar. The color obtains further value as maroon symbolizes the historical background and identity of what made Qatar, as the bloodshed of the many people that died for the independence of Qatar. Indeed, the white reflected the peace and harmony in the country.
In line with the nation's pearl diving industry, it was crafted in the 1920s using wood from the North of Oman and was in service up until the 1940s. At the death of the pearl diving industry the dhow is widely perceived to have been disposed. However, the dhow has been retrieved and can be found in the National Museum amongst other traditional fleets.
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Hamad bin Abdullah bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani is a member of the ruling Al Thani Qatari royal family. He was the ruling Emir of Qatar from 1995 until 2013 when he abdicated the throne, handing power to his fourth son Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani who was born to his second spouse, Moza bint Nassir. The Qatari government refers to him as the Father Emir.
The emir of the State of Qatar is the monarch and head of state of the country. The emir is also the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces and guarantor of the Constitution. The emir holds the most powerful position in the country, and has a prominent role in foreign relations.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Abdullah bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani was the Emir of Qatar from 27 February 1972 until he was deposed by his son Hamad bin Khalifa in a coup on 27 June 1995.
Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al-Missned is one of the three consorts of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the former Emir of the State of Qatar and mother of the current Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. She is the co-founder and chair of the Qatar Foundation, the largest state-owned NPO in the country.
Jassim bin Hamad Stadium is an association football stadium in Doha, Qatar, located about 5 kilometres west from the centre of Doha. It is the home of the Al Sadd Sports Club's association football team, who play in the top-flight Qatar Stars League, and is occasionally used by the Qatar men's and women's national football teams as one of their home grounds. Named after the then-Qatari Minister of Youth and Sports Jassim bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al Thani, who had provided permission for Al Sadd's founding members to form the group in 1969, the stadium was opened in 1975, and has since been renovated twice; once for the 17th Arabian Gulf Cup in 2004, and again in 2010. In addition to hosting all matches of the Arabian Gulf Cup in 2004, the stadium has hosted numerous international association football matches throughout its history, including matches of the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup, the football tournaments at the 2006 Asian Games and 2011 Pan Arab Games, and two editions of the Italian super cup, the Supercoppa Italiana.
The national emblem of Qatar is one of the official symbols of the state of Qatar. The emblem was initially adopted six years after the termination of the British protectorate, with the gained independence as a country under Sheikh Ahmad bin Ali Al Thani, and was designed under the reign the Emir of Qatar Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani in 1976.
The Peninsula is an English language daily newspaper published from Doha, Qatar. Its main competitors are the Gulf Times and the Qatar Tribune.
Al-Watan is a daily morning Arabic language political newspaper based in Doha, Qatar. The paper is one of the three Arabic newspapers in the country along with Al Raya and Al Sharq.
Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani is the sister of Qatar's ruling Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and daughter of the country's former Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and his second wife Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al-Missned. Al-Mayassa was declared the most influential person in art on Art+Auction's top-10 list and ArtReview's Power 100, and prominently appears on the Time 100, and Forbes' The World's 100 Most Powerful Women. She was listed in the 'Top 100 most powerful Arabs' from 2014 to 2017 and 2021 by Gulf Business. Al-Mayassa serves as Chairperson of Qatar Museums, and it was reported by Bloomberg that her annual acquisition budget on behalf of the organization is estimated at $1 billion.
Qatar and the United Arab Emirates share a naval border and are part of the Arabic-speaking Persian Gulf region. They are both members of the GCC.
Al Raya is an Arabic daily newspaper published in Doha, Qatar. It is semi-official newspaper of the country and is one of the five leading Qatari dailies. As for Arabic dailies published in the country Al Raya is among the three major newspapers along with Al Sharq and Al Watan.
Al Arab was the first Arabic daily following the independence of Qatar. It was printed between 1972 and 1995 and was relaunched on 18 November 2007 as an e-newspaper which is based in Doha, Qatar.
Al Sharq is an Arabic pro-government daily newspaper published in Doha, Qatar. The paper is one of the three leading Arabic newspapers in the country in addition to Al Raya and Al Watan.
The mass media in Qatar relays information and data in Qatar by means of television, radio, cinema, newspapers, magazines and the internet. Qatar has established itself as a leading regional figure in mass media over the past decade. Al Jazeera, a global news network which was established in 1996, has become the foundation of the media sector. The country uses media to brand itself and raise its international profile.
Oman – Qatar relations are the bilateral relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the State of Qatar. Both are members of the GCC.
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