Umm al-Qura Newspaper

Umm al-Qura Newspaper is the official gazette in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The first issue was published on December 12, 1924, eight years before the Kingdom was unified. It was established by King Abdulaziz Bin Abdulrahman Al Saud and was named Umm al-Qura after Makkah al-Mukarramah's name mentioned in the Holy Quran.

The headquarters of Umm al-Qura Newspaper is in Makkah al-Mukarramah City, specifically in al-Umrah Neighborhood. It is issued from its headquarters. The first editor-in-chief was Yousef Yasin, and it was known as the starting point of Saudi media and an important source for it. Later, it expanded into four branches in the cities of the capital Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and Madinah al-Munawwarah.

The newspaper is published on Fridays of every week, and it contains the official news of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the Crown Prince, weekly updates of the Council of Ministers, Royal orders and decrees, statements from the Royal Court, and official statements in the Kingdom. It also includes decisions made by organizations and ministries, regulations, laws, and agreements, in addition to memoranda of understanding and various governmental announcements.

Umm al-Qura Newspaper was the first step on the way to establishing the Ministry of Media, and it included research and information about the development of the press, journalism, publications in the Kingdom, the establishment of radio, as well as important information in national media.

Umm al-Qura Newspaper is one of the oldest official printed gazettes in the Kingdom. King Abdulaziz established it to be a bridge connected with the worlds of journalism, literature, and politics and a gathering point where cultures and nations meet. The gazette published updates about the Founder King and his efforts and voyages. It reported all political and military events, such as World War II, and documented a century-long history since it was established before the unification of the Kingdom in 1932. As for the early beginnings of Umm al-Qura, it basically focused on religion, politics, and literature, and during the reign of King Abdulaziz, it stood out for its ambitions to educate readers and enrich the linguistic and literary movement in Saudi society.

Issue number 4183, released on January 11, 2008, is the first updated issue of Umm al-Qura Gazette, where its logo and page numbers were added to every single page. Its design was also updated to keep up with journalism, and prayer times for multiple cities were added, as it only mentioned prayer times in Makkah al-Mukarramah before. On the same page, a timetable showing the weather forecast across the Kingdom was added.

Umm al-Qura Newspaper also developed into the electronic domain to keep up with modern journalism and established its own website that contains electronic copies of print issues, so they can be stored or navigated more conveniently.

Under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and in the presence of Prince Khalid al-Faisal, Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Governor of Makkah al-Mukarramah Province, Umm al-Qura newspaper celebrated on March 28, 2022, the occasion of its centennial since its establishment. With the issuance of this issue numbered 4928, Umm al-Qura newspaper embarked on a new journey in its second century, with a focus on progress and digital transformation.

In a speech by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, on the occasion of the centennial of the establishment of Umm al-Qura Newspaper, it was mentioned that nearly a hundred years ago today, King Abdulaziz (may God have mercy on him) founded the first newspaper in the Kingdom in Makkah al-Mukarramah, and named it Umm al-Qura, which is one of the names of the holy city of Makkah al-Mukarramah, the direction of prayer for Muslims. This was a testament to the approach of this blessed country, emphasizing its care for the Two Holy Mosques, and its interest in media and culture on the other hand. Umm al-Qura newspaper has reached a century of distinguished existence, unlike many other newspapers, as it has never ceased publication during its years of existence. Most newspapers faced a paper shortage during World War II and were suspended for years. Umm al-Qura faced the same crisis in the year 1941, but King Abdulaziz immediately ordered a solution to the issue, and efforts were made to procure paper. The newspaper continued to be published, serving as the voice of the country in the service of Islam, especially in its early years. Umm al-Qura Newspaper witnessed the founding of the Kingdom and evolved alongside its great development, encompassing all government sectors and regions. It preserved in its memory the initial foundations of laws and regulations enacted by the state, with the publication of decisions and systems that formed a strong legislative, developmental, and economic structure. To this day, Umm al-Qura Newspaper remains the official newspaper of the state.

During the celebration of Umm al-Qura newspaper's centennial, the former Acting Minister of Media, Dr. Majid al-Qasabi, announced the royal approval to transfer Umm al-Qura Newspaper to the Saudi Press Agency. This move marked a new phase and a significant transformation in all aspects of media work and digital development.