Arafat Newspaper was a popular weekly Saudi newspaper focused on social issues. It was first published in 1957 in Jeddah City, initially as an eight-page magazine-sized publication before expanding to sixteen pages. The newspaper operated for about a year before merging with al-Bilad Newspaper.
Establishment of Arafat Newspaper
The idea for Arafat Newspaper had been in the mind of its chief editor, Hassan Abdulaziz Qazzaz, for six years before its publication.
'Arafat' was the first newspaper in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to address social issues through caricatures. The first issue was published in magazine format, measuring twenty-four by thirty-two cm, with twenty-four pages. This issue was considered experimental, as the second issue, numbered Issue One, was released on December 23, 1957, in a thirty by forty cm format with eight pages, published every Monday. From Issue Forty-Three, the number of pages increased to sixteen.
Editorial team of Arafat Newspaper
Hassan Abdulaziz Qazzaz was the founder, editor-in-chief, and publisher of Arafat Newspaper. He was assisted by an editorial team consisting of Ahmed Salah Jamjoom, Ahmed Zaki Yamani, Abdulaziz al-Rifai, Mohammed Abdulqader Alaqi, Mohammed Sayed al-Awadhi, and Shakib al-Amawi. Each member contributed a section aligned with their expertise and interests. Additionally, other contributors to the newspaper included Abdulwahab Ashi, Abdulaziz Dia, Abdulwahab Abu Hajar, Saleh Bawazair, and Salem Habash.
Arafat Newspaper published a total of fifty-three issues, with the last one dated January 19, 1959. Following this, the newspaper merged with al-Bilad al-Saudia and was subsequently published under the name 'al-Bilad.'
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