Qatari newspapers: Al Raya, Al Sharq, Gulf Times and Al Jazeera

In Qatar, the news is read in Arabic in Al Raya, Al Sharq, Al Watan and Al Arab, and in English in Gulf Times, The Peninsula and Qatar Tribune, alongside the QNA agency and the Al Jazeera network, almost all free to access online.

From the 1970s to the Al Jazeera era

The Qatari press developed after independence in 1971. Al Arab appeared in 1972, Al Raya in 1979, Gulf Times in the late 1970s, followed by Al Sharq and Al Watan. The launch of Al Jazeera in 1996 changed the scale of the country's media.

Al Raya, Al Sharq, Al Watan, Al Arab: the Arabic-language four

These four Doha dailies cover Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the government, education and major construction projects. Their editorial lines stay close to official policy, differing in style, sections and the space given to regional opinion pieces.

Al Arab, a title suspended then relaunched

Founded in 1972, Al Arab stopped publishing in the 1990s before being relaunched in 2007 with a modernised layout. Its history illustrates the reshaping of the Doha press market, which is dominated by a handful of groups and publishers.

Gulf Times, The Peninsula, Qatar Tribune: reading in English

Expatriates from India, Nepal, the Philippines, Egypt or Europe make up most of the population. Three English-language dailies keep them informed on residence permits, the Doha Metro, public health and cultural life, particularly around Katara.

Doha News and Qatar Living on the web

Doha News, an English-language site launched in 2009, offers reporting and social news, while Qatar Living serves as a forum and events guide for residents. The dailies run mobile apps and Instagram accounts followed for public holiday announcements.

QNA, the Qatari news agency

The Qatar News Agency, created in 1975, publishes decisions by the emir, the Council of Ministers and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It reports in Arabic and English and is the reference for the diplomatic mediation efforts led by Doha.

Al Jazeera, Qatar TV and national radio

Qatar TV and Qatar Radio come under the Qatar Media Corporation. The state-funded Al Jazeera network has broadcast in Arabic since 1996 and in English since 2006, and is usefully compared with other titles of the Arab and pan-Arab press.

How should Qatar be read after the 2017 blockade?

From June 2017 to January 2021, Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut ties with Doha, amid rival media campaigns. On these issues, compare the Qatari press with the Saudi press and the press of the United Arab Emirates.

Sport, natural gas and finance

Qatar hosted the 2022 football World Cup, covered by Al Kass and beIN Sports, a group based in Doha. The business pages follow QatarEnergy, liquefied natural gas, the Qatar Stock Exchange and investments by the Qatar Investment Authority.

Media regulation and sensitive subjects

The 1979 press law and the 2014 cybercrime law govern the work of journalists. Criticism of the emir or the ruling family is virtually absent from local newspapers, while Al Jazeera mainly covers news from outside the country.

Free access and digital editions in Doha

The websites of Gulf Times, The Peninsula and Al Sharq are free, with a digital replica edition for several titles. Printed copies are sold in supermarkets and distributed in hotels and offices in the West Bay business district.

French-language media and francophone readers

No Qatari daily is published in French, but the QNA agency and some outlets publish content in other languages. French speakers in Doha often combine the local English-language press with French media and the online edition of Al Jazeera.

Following Doha and Qatar from abroad

1. Choose an Arabic-language daily such as Al Raya or Al Sharq and an English title such as Gulf Times or The Peninsula.
2. Check QNA for emiri decrees, official visits and announcements on diplomatic mediation.
3. Sign up to the newsletters or apps of the English-language dailies for alerts on residency and transport.
4. Watch Qatar TV on National Day, 18 December, and Al Kass for sports competitions.
5. Distinguish Al Jazeera's coverage of the Arab world from the local dailies' coverage of domestic Qatari life.

Access to Qatari newspapers and channels

Useful information on Qatar

• Languages: Arabic is official, English is widely used in the media
• News agency: QNA, Qatar News Agency
• Broadcasting: Qatar TV, Qatar Radio, Al Jazeera network
• Dailies: Al Raya, Al Sharq; English-language: Gulf Times, The Peninsula
• Sport: Al Kass and beIN Sports
• Time zone: UTC+3, no daylight saving time
• Currency: Qatari riyal (QAR)

Traps when reading Qatari media

• Confusing Qatar's Al Watan with the many dailies of the same name in Oman, Kuwait or Saudi Arabia.
• Taking an Al Jazeera report on a neighbouring country as an official position of the Doha government.
• Sharing content from the 2017 blockade as if it described current relations with Riyadh or Abu Dhabi.
• Using pirate match-streaming websites posing as beIN Sports, which often carry malware and other risks.

Frequent questions about the Doha press