Ad-Dustour
An Arabic-language daily newspaper published in Jordan.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Ad-Dustour is an Arabic-language daily newspaper based in Amman and serving readers in Jordan. Its name, الدستور, translates roughly as “The Constitution.” The newspaper began publication on 28 March 1967, emerging from the merger of Filastin and Al Manar, two publications associated with the West Bank that stopped appearing during the upheaval surrounding the Six-Day War. Its origin therefore reflects both the reorganization of Jordanian and Palestinian print media in the late 1960s and the political importance of newspapers in the region. The publication initially operated as a private company. In 1986, the Jordanian government acquired a stake, changing the newspaper’s ownership environment while leaving it as a continuing daily news organization. The paper has been described as employing nearly 600 staff, although the available reference material does not provide a current staffing figure or a detailed breakdown of ownership. Its print circulation was estimated at approximately 90,000 copies in 2003 and approximately 40,000 in a later estimate; the sources do not establish whether those figures are directly comparable or identify the methodology behind them. Ad-Dustour covers domestic Jordanian affairs, international news, business and economic developments, sports, culture, health, lifestyle, and youth-related subjects. Its regular newspaper structure includes a principal section for headlines and local news, a section devoted to international affairs and business, the sports supplement Addustour Alriyadi, and Doroob, which focuses on miscellaneous subjects including health and living styles. A cultural section appears on Fridays, while Al-Shabab is published weekly on Wednesdays and may appear daily during major sporting events such as the FIFA World Cup. The newspaper has also been an early adopter of digital publishing in the Arab media market. It launched its website in 1998, a move described in the reference material as making it the first newspaper in the Arab world to establish an online presence. The official website extends the brand beyond the printed daily and provides its principal digital publishing channel, although the available sources do not document the current relationship between print circulation, website traffic, and digital subscriptions. Ad-Dustour has had a succession of senior editorial figures. Musa Keilani served as editor-in-chief from 1991 to 1995, Nabil Sharif was editor until February 2009, and Mustafa Riyalat is identified as the current editor-in-chief in the supplied reference. In 2020, Industry Arabic named Ad-Dustour the most influential Arabic newspaper, a recognition that indicates continued prominence in Arabic-language news discussion, though the source material does not specify the ranking methodology. Overall, Ad-Dustour is best understood as an established Jordanian newspaper brand combining a long-running print daily with a broad editorial portfolio and an early digital publishing presence.
History
Ad-Dustour was founded in the context of the major political and territorial disruption that affected Jordanian and Palestinian publishing in 1967. Its first issue appeared on 28 March of that year after Filastin and Al Manar were merged. Both predecessor publications had been published in the West Bank and ceased publication during the Six-Day War. The new newspaper consequently combined the institutional and editorial legacy of two earlier titles while establishing a continuing daily presence in Jordan. For its early years, Ad-Dustour operated as a private company. That arrangement changed in 1986 when the Jordanian government purchased a share of the newspaper. The available material does not identify the precise size of the stake, the valuation, or the subsequent ownership structure, but the transaction marked a significant change in the newspaper’s corporate setting. Ad-Dustour remained a major daily publication and was reported to have nearly 600 staff. The newspaper’s editorial leadership included Musa Keilani, who served as editor-in-chief between 1991 and 1995. Nabil Sharif was editor until February 2009. Mustafa Riyalat is identified in the reference material as the current editor-in-chief. No complete succession list or detailed account of editorial policy is provided by the available sources. Ad-Dustour developed a broad section-based editorial model. Its first section carries major headlines and domestic news. A second section covers international affairs, business, and the economy. Addustour Alriyadi provides domestic and international sports coverage. Doroob addresses miscellaneous topics, including health and lifestyle. The cultural section is issued on Fridays and covers cultural events in Jordan, the wider region, and internationally. Al-Shabab appears on Wednesdays and focuses on youth events; during major sports competitions, including the FIFA World Cup, it may be published daily. Digital publishing became an important milestone in the newspaper’s history. In 1998, Ad-Dustour launched an Arabic-language website. The available reference characterizes it as the first newspaper in the Arab world to do so, making the website an unusually early digital extension of a traditional Arabic daily. The official site remains the brand’s principal online destination, although the supplied material does not provide current information about its digital business model, audience, or publication frequency. Circulation estimates indicate that the newspaper reached a substantial readership, with approximately 90,000 copies reported in 2003 and a later estimate of approximately 40,000 copies. Because the sources do not provide dates and methodologies for all estimates, these figures should not be treated as a continuous audited trend. In 2020, Industry Arabic named Ad-Dustour the most influential Arabic newspaper. This external recognition supports the newspaper’s continuing relevance within Arabic-language media, while the available references do not explain the criteria used. Today, Ad-Dustour is an active Jordanian newspaper brand headquartered in Amman. It combines a daily Arabic news product with sports, cultural, lifestyle, and youth coverage and maintains an online publishing operation. Detailed current ownership, financial performance, circulation, and executive information remain undocumented in the supplied sources.
- 2020
Recognized by Industry Arabic
[1]Industry Arabic named Ad-Dustour the most influential Arabic newspaper in its 2020 assessment.
- 2009
Nabil Sharif’s editorial tenure ends
[1]Nabil Sharif was reported as editor until February 2009.
- 2003
Circulation estimate reaches 90,000 copies
[1]The newspaper’s estimated circulation was reported at approximately 90,000 copies.
- 1998
Website launched
[1]Ad-Dustour launched an Arabic-language website and was described as an early pioneer of newspaper websites in the Arab world.
- 1991
Musa Keilani begins editor-in-chief tenure
[1]Musa Keilani became editor-in-chief, serving through 1995.
- 1986
Jordanian government acquires a stake
[1]The newspaper ceased to be entirely private when the Jordanian government bought a share of the company.
- 1967
First issue published
[1]Ad-Dustour published its first issue on 28 March 1967 after the merger of Filastin and Al Manar.
Products and positioning
A long-established Jordanian Arabic-language newspaper positioned around comprehensive national, regional, international, economic, sports, cultural, health, lifestyle, and youth coverage.
Print newspaper · 1967
Ad-Dustour daily newspaper
The core Arabic-language daily publication, covering major headlines, Jordanian domestic affairs, international news, business, economics, sports, culture, health, lifestyle, and youth topics. It is the central product around which the Ad-Dustour brand is organized.
Sports section
Addustour Alriyadi
A sports-focused section covering domestic and international sporting events. Its content forms a dedicated part of the newspaper’s editorial offering and may receive increased attention during major competitions.
General interest and lifestyle section
Doroob
A section devoted to miscellaneous subjects, including health and lifestyle coverage. It broadens the newspaper beyond hard news and provides service-oriented and general-interest material for everyday readers.
Cultural journalism
Cultural Section
A Friday section reporting on cultural events and activities in Jordan, the surrounding region, and internationally. Its weekly placement gives the newspaper a recurring platform for arts and cultural coverage.
Youth section
Al-Shabab
A youth-oriented section normally published on Wednesdays. During major sports competitions, including the FIFA World Cup, it may be issued daily and provides coverage of domestic and international youth-related events.
Digital news platform · 1998
Ad-Dustour official website
The newspaper’s Arabic-language online publishing platform, established in 1998. It extends the brand’s reporting and section-based content beyond the printed daily and serves as its primary official digital presence.
Brand decisions
1998
Launch of the official websiteProduct launchBackground
Ad-Dustour was an established print daily seeking a digital publishing presence.
Action taken
The newspaper launched an Arabic-language website.
Aftermath
The move gave Ad-Dustour an early online distribution channel and was described as a pioneering newspaper website launch in the Arab world.
1986
Government stake acquisitionStrategyBackground
Ad-Dustour had operated as a private company since its launch in 1967.
Action taken
The Jordanian government purchased a share of the newspaper.
Aftermath
The transaction altered the newspaper’s ownership structure. The available sources do not specify the size of the stake or its later disposition.
Recent events
- 2020
Industry Arabic names Ad-Dustour the most influential Arabic newspaper[1]
Other
Industry Arabic included Ad-Dustour as the most influential Arabic newspaper in its 2020 assessment.
- 1998
Ad-Dustour launches its newspaper website[1]
Product launch
The newspaper established its online presence, an early digital publishing move described as the first website launch by a newspaper in the Arab world.
Mustafa Riyalat identified as editor-in-chief[1]
Leadership change
The reference material identifies Mustafa Riyalat as the newspaper’s current editor-in-chief.
Sources2 sources
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