Gulf Times

Last updated

Gulf Times
Type Daily newspaper
Format Broadsheet
Owner(s) Gulf Publishing and Printing Company
PublisherAbdulla bin Khalifa Al-Attiya
Editor-in-chiefFaisal Abdulhameed Al-Mudahka
EditorK T Chacko
Founded1 June 1978
LanguageEnglish
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]

Contents

History

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.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani</span> Emir of Qatar from 1995 to 2013

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 son Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The Qatari government refers to him as the Father Emir.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emir of Qatar</span> Monarch and head of state of Qatar

The Emir, or Amir, of the State of Qatar is the monarch and head of state of the country. He is also the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces and guarantor of the Constitution. He 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 on 27 June 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emblem of Qatar</span> National coat of arms of Qatar

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Culture of Qatar</span> Overview of the culture of Qatar

The culture of Qatar is strongly influenced by traditional Bedouin culture, with less acute influence deriving from India, East Africa and elsewhere in the Persian Gulf. The peninsula's harsh climatic conditions compelled its inhabitants to turn to the sea for sustenance. Thus, there is a distinct emphasis placed on the sea in local culture. Literature and folklore themes are often related to sea-based activities.

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 Father Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and his second wife 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Qatar–United Arab Emirates relations</span> Bilateral relations

Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) 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.

<i>Al Sharq</i> Arabic daily newspaper 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mass media in Qatar</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oman–Qatar relations</span> Bilateral relations

Oman – Qatar relations are the bilateral relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the State of Qatar. Both are members of the GCC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brazil–Qatar relations</span> Bilateral relations

Brazil – Qatar relations are the bilateral relations between Brazil and Qatar. Diplomatic relations were formed in 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">China–Qatar relations</span> Bilateral relations

China – Qatar relations are the bilateral relations between the People's Republic of China and the State of Qatar. China has an embassy in Doha, while Qatar has an embassy in Beijing. With diplomatic relations first formed in 1988, Qatar is a strategic ally of China, and the two countries maintain a strong relationship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Qatar–Spain relations</span> Bilateral relations

The State of Qatar and the Kingdom of Spain formed diplomatic relations in December 1972. Qatar maintains an embassy in Madrid, while Spain has an embassy in Doha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Qatari literature</span>

Qatari literature traces its origins back to the 19th century. Originally, written poetry was the most common form of expression, but poetry later fell out of favor after Qatar began reaping the profits from oil exports in the mid-20th century and many Qataris abandoned their Bedouin traditions in favor of more urban lifestyles.

Hamad Bin Khalifa University Press is a publishing house based in Doha, Qatar. The press was initially managed by Bloomsbury Publishing PLC and was founded as Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Publishing (BQFP) in 2008 until its transition into HBKU Press in 2015. HBKU Press is part of Hamad Bin Khalifa University which is under the wider community of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development. It publishes titles that serve both an international audience as well as the larger Arab community publishing fiction, non-fiction, young adult and children's literature, and academic titles. They highlight local Middle Eastern and Qatari narratives and also translate books from other foreign languages into Arabic.

References

  1. Guardian Staff (5 February 2002). "World news guide: Middle East". The Guardian.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "About Us". Gulf Times. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
  3. "About Us". Gulf-Times (in Arabic).
  4. William A. Rugh (2004). Arab Mass Media: Newspapers, Radio, and Television in Arab Politics. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 60. ISBN   978-0-275-98212-6 . Retrieved 19 September 2013.