Al Majalla, the leading Arab news magazine, is celebrating its 45th anniversary, a milestone that coincides with the second anniversary of its successful digital transformation. This transformation saw the introduction of a suite of new digital products, an upgraded bilingual website in Arabic and English, and enhanced social media and interactive digital platforms.
Since its founding in 1980, Al Majalla has held a prestigious position in the Arab media landscape, renowned for its in-depth analysis and reliable reporting, including coverage of controversial topics. It has become an indispensable resource for researchers and decision-makers across generations, providing a comprehensive understanding of the political, economic, and cultural landscape of the region. For more than four decades, Al Majalla has provided unique coverage of pivotal events in regional and global history, led by a distinguished group of journalists and editors-in-chief, including Abdulrahman Al-Rashed, Othman Al-Omair, and Adel Al-Toraifi.
The magazine has a rich history of conducting exclusive interviews with prominent political figures, including U.S. President Ronald Reagan, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, King Hussein of Jordan, and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, offering valuable insights into the shaping of contemporary global politics. Al Majalla has also attracted a distinguished group of writers, thinkers, and experts, including Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz, Syrian poet Nizar Qabbani, and Sudanese novelist Tayeb Salih.
Throughout its history, Al Majalla has published groundbreaking investigative reports in politics, culture, economics, and technology. It was a pioneer in analysing Iranian politics by tracking major Tehran-backed organisations and movements. The magazine played a crucial role in covering the Iraq-Kuwait War, being the first to report on a Kuwaiti government meeting in Saudi Arabia in 1990. It also provided exclusive coverage of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat's departure from Beirut in 1982 and revealed the secret negotiations that led to his exit.
Since its relaunch two years ago, Al Majalla has achieved significant milestones, securing exclusive interviews and publishing groundbreaking investigative reports, further solidifying its position as a leading voice in the region. Notable achievements include an exclusive report on a "ceasefire proposal" in Gaza, which garnered widespread attention from major Arabic and international media outlets. The magazine also exclusively published the "full story" of former Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad’s escape, revealing never-before-told details about the days leading to the fall of the Assad regime. Other widely covered investigative pieces included “top-secret” communications between Israel and the Assad regime and the Hamas-Fatah agreement on Gaza governance.
Jomana R. Alrashid, CEO of SRMG, stated: "More than four decades ago, Al Majalla was established to cover the transformation of the region and the world, tracking events, reporting on reality, and uncovering complexities by delivering credible, accurate, and in-depth content. Al Majalla's excellence could not have been achieved without a clear editorial vision, led by elite journalists and thinkers, and the continuous passion and drive from our team."
Regarding the re-launch of Al Majalla two years ago, Jomana Alrashid emphasised, "The fast-changing media landscape requires us to build on the legacy of the past and leverage modern platforms that resonate with the next generation of thought leaders and decision-makers." She continued, "Today, the role of media goes beyond news delivery—it is a mirror reflecting reality, forecasting the future, and bridging generations politically, culturally, and socially."
Beyond its journalistic achievements, Al Majalla has been recognised for its visual storytelling and illustrative journalism, winning prestigious awards alongside major international media institutions such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Economist.
The transformation over the past two years has led to remarkable success. Page views have surged by 910%, daily visitors have increased by 714%, and monthly visitors have grown by 629%.
To continue staying ahead in the digital era, Al Majalla launched its talk show, ‘Hadith Al Majalla,’ featuring influential figures discussing key cover stories each month. It also holds discussion sessions at the renowned Frontline Club in London, featuring top media, diplomatic, and expert figures.
Ibrahim Hamidi, Editor-in-Chief of Al Majalla, remarked: "Today, we celebrate 45 years since the founding of Al Majalla. This distinguished legacy, crafted with expertise and foresight by leading journalists and intellectuals, presents both an opportunity and a challenge. It is an opportunity to build upon this rich heritage with a modern, forward-thinking approach that resonates with today’s world, and a challenge that drives us to maintain the highest standards."
He added, "In the age of digital innovation, we are focused on delivering insightful content, enhanced with cutting-edge visuals and infographics, distributed across social platforms to reach a wide and diverse audience, uniting generations and connecting our region to the world."
"Just as Al Majalla transformed magazine journalism four decades ago, we now aim to reach new, uncharted heights."
