JAMIL AL-HUJAILAN
Former Secretary-General of the GCC
The launching of the Arab News daily 35 years ago was to me like the realization of one of my cherished dreams.
ABDULLAH OMAR NASSEEF
Former Secretary-General, MWL
It is indeed a great pleasure to congratulate Arab News on its 35th year of establishment. Arab News has fulfilled the journalistic aspirations of millions, not only in Saudi Arabia, but also in the Middle East and the world.
ABDULLAH AL-ALAMI
Writer, former Aramco official
In April 1975, the world was passing through a critical phase when serious events were unfolding and that required intelligent press coverage.
HASHIM ABDU HASHIM
Chairman, Alisra Establishment for Media Studies and Consultancy
Arab News is celebrating the 35th anniversary of its founding, the day when the first English language daily in the Kingdom hit the newsstands.
ABDUL RAHMAN AL-JERAISY
Chairman, Al-Jeraisy Group
Arab News is a brilliant name in Saudi Arabian media. It has commanded the respect of a vast section of elite readers over the past 35 years.
AHMAD MUHAMMAD MAHMOUD
Former editor in chief, Arab News
Arab News has passed through several stages in its growth as a newspaper. The first issue of Arab News that came out on April 20, 1975, was edited on a linotype typesetting machine.
ABDULLAH H. MASRY
Former director of MBC
As a consumer, I have always valued Arab News for over 25 years of general readership.
MOHAMMED ABDUL LATIF JAMEEL
President, ALJ Group
Arab News has undeniably been a part of my memory. Its reports, columns, and coverage of significant events have all been grounded in my memory.
I sincerely congratulate you all on the 35th anniversary of Arab News, the first English newspaper in the Kingdom.
KHALED ABDUL QADER TASH
Managing director of Drive Dentsu - Jeddah
This month marks the sixth anniversary of his departure from this world, yet my father’s name and his words and actions live with his family and friends as if he was still alive.
IBRAHIM ABO-MOUTI
Head of Corporate Communications, SABB
On the occasion of the completion of 35 years since the launch of Arab News as the first English-language daily in the Kingdom, I am pleased to congratulate you on the progressive success your newspaper has achieved over these years.
ROBERT LACEY
Writer, script consultant
I wasn’t there for the birth, but I do remember when the little green newspaper was a slender and feisty four-year-old. It was 1979 and I had just arrived in Jeddah with my family. We wanted to know the times of the prayer calls that day.
JOHN DUKE ANTHONY
President and CEO, National Council on US-Arab Relations
I have been an avid reader of Arab News during practically the entire time since it began until the present. While countless editorials and articles from Arab newspapers have enhanced my knowledge and understanding of Saudi Arabia and Arab culture and society over the years, I am proud to say that the ones appearing in Arab News, from which I have derived great benefit, outnumber the rest.
AFSHIN MOLAVI
Senior research fellow, New America Foundation
In the summer of 1993, fresh out of college, I watched as my peers entered law school or medical school or took their first jobs pushing paper in the private sector.
JOHN SFAKIANAKIS
General manager, Banque Saudi Fransi, Riyadh
Arab News has been an essential contributor to the English reading public, both within and outside Saudi Arabia, of all economic related news and analysis.
JAMES B. SMITH
US ambassador to Saudi Arabia
I would like to offer my sincerest congratulations to Arab News on the occasion of its 35th anniversary as one of Saudi Arabia’s major media.
BERTAND BESANCENOT
French ambassador to Saudi Arabia
I want to congratulate Arab News and the team of reporters and others on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of this excellent newspaper.
DAVE KAISER
Former editor for Arab News
When Arab News was launched as an English-language daily newspaper in 1975, no one was sure how well it would be accepted. Likewise, when I joined Arab News as managing editor of its Houston, Texas Bureau in September, 1977, my wife and I had no idea where that decision would lead.
TALMIZ AHMAD
Indian ambassador to Saudi Arabia
I was glad to know that Arab News had decided to bring out a special issue on April 20, to mark the 35th anniversary of its inception.
By SYED RASHID HUSAIN
Energy analyst
The story of Arab News is the story of Saudi Arabia — of evolution and no fireworks. And I am a witness to it. As a bystander, with some professional hindsight, I have witnessed the newspaper, and indeed the country, grow and mature. And on a world scale!
PABLO BRAVO
Spanish ambassador to Saudi Arabia
On July 30, 1983, Arab News wrote an article about me entitled "After fruitful two-year stay, Spanish Charge d'Affairs leaves" in which my picture was included. The article was written by Suresh Shah and it contained some of my thoughts about my time at the Spanish Embassy, then in Jeddah. Although the color of Arab News was green, as it is today, and green is the color of hope in Spain, the clipping I have kept has taken on a melancholic grey color, to match the hair I have now!
NOURAH ABDUL AZIZ AL-KHEREIJI
Writer, women advocate
April 20, 1975, a historic day, witnessed the birth of Arab News, the first publication of Saudi Research & Publishing Company, which was established by Hisham and Muhammad Ali Hafiz.
ADIL SALAHI
Past executive director, Al-Furqan Islamic Heritage Foundation in London
Arab News has accompanied me through many years of my life, 29 to be exact. Those who stay in one job for several years will develop an attachment to it.
ADRIAN CHADWICK
Director, British Council Saudi Arabia and Middle East
For 43 years, the British Council has been working in Saudi Arabia to build stronger cultural and educational ties between the two kingdoms.
ABDULLAH ZAINAL ALIREZA
Minister of commerce and industry
I congratulate Arab News for its dedication and hard work providing national and regional, as well as international, readers with top coverage of issues from around the world.
AMR AL-FAISAL
Chairman, Ithmaar Bank
It has been an honor and a privilege to be a part of the columnists of this journal. Journalism in Saudi Arabia has never been an easy job.
ALI H. ALIREZA
Managing director, Haji Husein Alireza & Co.
I was only a young 15-year-old when the paper first came out, but I was an instant reader and fan. I was studying overseas and followed international sports news and events.
SAMAR FATANY >
Radio broadcaster
Today Saudi women celebrate the 35th anniversary of Arab News and extend their appreciation to all Arab News reporters, editors and management for supporting the empowerment of women in Saudi society under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.
JAMAL KHASHOGGI
Editor in chief, Al-Watan
I was at Arab News when 9/11 happened. The world has changed since then. Arab News certainly and me too. The editor in chief was next to the event in Boston and I was at the heart of it in Jeddah.
ALI IBN SAEED IBN AWWADH ASIRI
Saudi ambassador to Lebanon
Arab News is considered one of the newspapers that started with a superb professional merit and was able to immediately cope with the technological development.
STEVEN B. JACOBS
Rabbi and a leader in interfaith relations
I was introduced to Arab News over two years ago at King Abdullah’s first Interfaith Dialogue in Madrid and again this past September in Geneva.
JIHAD AL-KHAZEN
Media personality
It is 35 years since I first went to Jeddah but it feels like yesterday. A deal for cooperation between Arab News and The Daily Star of Beirut fell victim to the civil war in Lebanon and I returned in 1976 to Jeddah from London with the late publisher and good friend Hisham Hafiz to negotiate taking over as editor.
LUBNA AL-OLAYAN
At Olayan Financing Company, our expatriate community relies on Arab News’ crisp reportage to stay current on important events as they unfold.
MOHAMMAD SALAHUDDIN
Columnist
The birth of Arab News 35 years ago was a distinguished media accomplishment that fulfilled a requirement.
MAHA AKEEL
Managing editor, OIC Journal
I was in Jeddah for a two-week vacation from Canada where I was completing my post-graduate studies in mass communications and cultural studies when I decided, on a whim, after reading Arab News to apply for a job there as a correspondent.
LINA K. ALMAEENA
Director, JUSC
I grew up with the green paper, or as many call it, the “Green Truth.” The first big sentences I ever read were the headlines in Arab News, those were my ABC’s, even though I couldn’t figure out half the terminology at the time.
UMAR KHAN ALISHERZAI
Pakistan's ambassador to Saudi Arabia
It gives me great pleasure to extend my most sincere felicitations on the 35th anniversary of your esteemed daily.
ANTONIO P. VILLAMOR
Philippine ambassador to Saudi Arabia
It is my distinct honor and pleasure to greet the entire Arab News organization on its 35th anniversary celebration.
DAVID CHATTERSON
Canadian ambassador to Saudi Arabia
On the occasion of its 35th anniversary, I would like to underline the outstanding contribution of Arab News to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
LISA KAAKI
writer, media personality
For many of us living in the Kingdom, Arab News has been a part of our lives. Handy and convenient, this faithful companion has always been available everywhere for us to read.
AHMED A. JAWAD
Sri Lanka's ambassador to Saudi Arabia
I would venture to think that an ideal newspaper would inform, educate and enlighten besides leaving that little something unsaid as food for thought over which its readers could reflect upon.
JAVID HASSAN
Former senior reporter for Arab News
From a shoestring budget of SR600 to become part of the biggest publishing house in the Middle East, Arab News represents a good example of imagination, drive, creative management as well as grit and determination on the part of the editorial staff.
HISHAM SADAQA ARAB
Former editor in chief, Ahlan Wa Sahlan magazine
Throughout its history of 35 years, Arab News has been able to successfully overcome a number of hurdles which obstruct the beginning of any publication in the world.
FAWZIA SALAMA
TV broadcaster
My association with Saudi Research and Publishing Co. goes back to one afternoon in the spring of 1981. Arab News was six years old then.
TURKI AL-FAISAL 
EKMELEDDIN IHSANOGLU 
