Al Majalla: 45 years of excellence in journalism

Throughout its history, Al Majalla has published pioneering investigative reports in politics, culture, economics, and technology. It was the first to analyse Iranian politics by tracking major Tehran-backed organisations and movements. The magazine followed the details of Iraq's invasion of Kuwait closely, 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 and secured exclusive interviews, reinforcing its prestigious status in the region and beyond. Among its key achievements was an exclusive report on the ceasefire proposal in Gaza, which gained widespread attention from major Arabic and international media outlets.

It also published exclusive details of former Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad's escape from the country, recounting the days leading up 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 the clear editorial vision led by elite journalists and thinkers and the continuous passion and drive of our team."

Regarding the re-launch of Al Majalla two years ago, Jomana 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, the platform has been recognised 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.

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. At the same time, we continue to strive 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."