Saudi Gazette
Saudi state-aligned
Background
Saudi Gazette was founded in Jeddah in 1976 (some sources say 1978) as one of the kingdom's first English-language dailies, aimed at expatriates and international readers. It has long been published by the Okaz Organization for Press and Publication, itself founded in 1960 and later converted from private to institutional ownership under a 1964 royal decree that ended individual ownership of Saudi newspapers. Like all Saudi outlets, it operates under press laws that prohibit criticism of the monarchy, the ruling family, or core government policy, and it has historically served as a platform for official statements and government-friendly framing of domestic and foreign affairs. The paper shifted to an online-only format in 2019 after discontinuing its print edition. It competes with Arab News, the kingdom's other major English-language paper, and covers Saudi, Gulf, and international news, business, and sports. Because of the ownership structure and licensing environment, independent watchdog groups classify it as pro-government rather than independent, and it is generally not a venue for adversarial reporting on the Saudi state.
Sources
- Saudi Gazette - Wikipedia
- Okaz - Wikipedia
- Saudi Gazette - Bias and Credibility - Media Bias/Fact Check
- Okaz Newspaper - Saudipedia
Profile compiled 2026-09-25; refreshed when ownership, funding, or the administration changes.