The Middle East’s leading Arabic current affairs magazine Al-Majalla is celebrating its 45th anniversary, coinciding with the second anniversary of its digital transformation, which introduced a suite of new digital products, an upgraded bilingual website in Arabic and English, and enhanced social media and interactive digital platforms.
Since its establishment in 1980, Al-Majalla has held a unique position in the media landscape as a reliable source of news and bold intellectual discourse. Over the decades, it has earned the trust of thought leaders and decision-makers, delivering in-depth, balanced analyses that explore and analyze the issues shaping our world. Al-Majalla has conducted exclusive interviews with global and regional leaders, published groundbreaking investigative reports spanning politics, culture, economics, and technology, and served as a premier platform for the most important political and intellectual voices from the Middle East and beyond.
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 who have left a significant mark on the media landscape, including Abdulrahman Al-Rashed, Othman Al-Omair, and Adel Al-Toraifi. Throughout its history, the magazine has been a trusted source for insightful perspectives and precise analyses on significant historical milestones. Al-Majalla was among the first to recognize the Iranian threat, closely monitoring Iran-backed organizations and movements. It extensively covered the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, being the first to report on the Kuwaiti government’s meeting in Saudi Arabia in 1990. The magazine also provided detailed coverage of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat’s departure from Beirut in 1982, uncovering the secret negotiations that led to his exit.
Over the years, Al-Majalla has interviewed some of history’s most influential figures, including US President Ronald Reagan, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, King Hussein of Jordan, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, poet Nizar Qabbani, and boxer Muhammad Ali. As a trusted reference, Al-Majalla has also attracted a distinguished group of writers, intellectuals, and specialists from across the region and the world, such as Nobel Prize-winning novelist Naguib Mahfouz, Syrian poet Nizar Qabbani, and Sudanese novelist Tayeb Salih.
Since its relaunch two years ago, Al-Majalla has achieved significant milestones and secured exclusive interviews, reinforcing its prestigious status in the region and beyond. Among its key achievements was an exclusive report on a “ceasefire proposal” in Gaza, which gained widespread attention from major Arabic and international media outlets.
It also exclusively published the “full story” of former Syrian President Bashar Assad’s escape, revealing details never told before 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.
Additionally, Al-Majalla conducted exclusive interviews with key political figures shaping today’s landscape, such as former Turkish President Abdullah Gül and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte — making it the first Arab media outlet to interview him after he assumed his new position.
Jomana R. Alrashed, CEO of SRMG, reflected on Al-Majalla’s enduring legacy: “For over four decades, Al-Majalla has documented the transformations of the region and the world, staying at the forefront of unfolding events while maintaining a steadfast commitment to in-depth, credible, and accurate reporting. Its legacy stands as a testament to a clear editorial vision, upheld by an exceptional team of distinguished journalists and intellectuals, driven by unwavering passion and dedication.”
Speaking on Al-Majalla’s relaunch two years ago in a refreshed and modernized format, Alrashed highlighted the evolving role of media: “In today’s rapidly shifting media landscape, we must honor our strong heritage while embracing modern platforms and formats that resonate with the next generation of readers, leaders, and decision-makers. Our role extends beyond news reporting — we are a mirror to reality, a window into the future, and a bridge that connects generations politically, culturally, and socially.”
Beyond its journalistic achievements, the platform has been recognized for its visual storytelling and illustrative journalism, winning prestigious awards alongside major international media institutions like The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Economist. Among these accolades were two international awards from the Society of Illustrators in New York, honoring the artwork “A Grim Anniversary” on the first year of the Russia-Ukraine war and “Pursuing Fusion” on nuclear fusion. The magazine also made the shortlist for the 2025 Communication Arts Awards, competing among 2,867 artistic entries worldwide.
The transformation over the past two years has led to remarkable success. Page views have surged by 910 percent, daily visitors have increased by 714 percent, and monthly visitors have grown by 629 percent.
To continue to stay ahead in the digital era, Al-Majalla launched its talk show, Hadith Al-Majalla, featuring influential figures discussing key cover stories. Guests have included American expert Andrew Tabler, former Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, former Palestinian Foreign Minister Nasser Al-Qudwa, and former Iraqi Foreign and Finance Minister Hoshyar Zebari. The magazine also hosted a panel discussion at the renowned Frontline Club in London, where former US Ambassador Robert Ford participated in a debate as part of the Debating MENA series, attended by top media figures, diplomats, and experts.
Editor-in-Chief of Al-Majalla Ibrahim Hamidi said: “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 for us. It is an opportunity to build upon this rich heritage with a modern, forward-thinking approach that resonates with the world today, and a challenge that motivates us to preserve, enrich, and elevate this legacy with the highest standards and ambitious goals.
“Over the past two years, in the age of the information revolution, we have focused on delivering insightful, in-depth content, enhanced by elegant language and cutting-edge visual and interactive media, distributed across social platforms to reach a wide and diverse audience. Our mission is to serve as a dynamic bridge that connects our region to the world and unites generations. Just as Al-Majalla transformed magazine journalism more than four decades ago, we now aim to take competitiveness to new, uncharted heights.”
