Al-Musawar
Al-Musawar is an Egyptian weekly current-affairs magazine published in Cairo by Dar Al Hilal Publishing House.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Al-Musawar, whose Arabic name means “The Illustrated,” is an Egyptian weekly current-affairs magazine published by Dar Al Hilal Publishing House. Established in 1925, it is one of Egypt’s long-running periodical titles and has historically combined political and social reporting with photographs, interviews, commentary, and magazine-style coverage of national affairs. The publication appears weekly, traditionally on Saturdays, and is headquartered in Cairo. The magazine was founded by George Bey Zidan, with Emil Zidan and Shukri Zidan also identified with its founding. Its early development took place during a period in which illustrated periodicals were becoming important vehicles for public debate and mass communication in Egypt. On 17 December 1932, Al-Musawar expanded its editorial offering by introducing Al Abtal, a sports supplement whose name translates as “Champions.” This supplement marked an early effort to broaden the title’s appeal beyond political and current-affairs coverage. A significant institutional turning point came in 1960, when Al-Musawar became owned by the Egyptian government. Since then, the magazine has operated within Egypt’s state publishing structure, with its editor-in-chief and the head of its publishing house appointed by the state. This ownership model has linked the title closely to the country’s public media system while preserving its identity as a weekly magazine rather than a daily newspaper. In descriptions of its editorial character, Al-Musawar was cited as liberal as of 2011, although its state ownership and appointment structure have remained central to understanding its position in Egypt’s media landscape. The publication has been associated with a number of prominent Egyptian journalists and editors. Fekry Abaza was one of its longest-serving editors-in-chief, holding the position from 1926 until 1961. He was dismissed after an article published on 17 August 1961. Other former editors-in-chief include the writer Amīnah al-Saʿīd, Hamdy Rizq, Makram Mohammed Ahmed, Abdul Qadir Shuheib, and Fatema Sayed. Makram Mohammed Ahmed led the magazine from the mid-1980s until 2005; Abdul Qadir Shuheib was appointed in July 2005; and Fatema Sayed became editor-in-chief on 28 June 2014. Al-Musawar has also used interviews with high-profile political figures as part of its editorial offering. Its reported interview subjects include Saudi King Faisal, interviewed in August 1972, and former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, who appeared in several interviews. These engagements illustrate the magazine’s role as a platform for political access and public discussion, particularly during periods when state-linked publications were important channels for presenting official and elite perspectives. Today, Al-Musawar remains associated with Dar Al Hilal and is represented through the publisher’s online platform. Its core offering is still the weekly magazine, supported by the title’s historical archive and its long association with Egyptian political, cultural, and media life. Publicly available reference material does not establish current circulation, revenue, current editor-in-chief, or a detailed corporate ownership structure beyond its state ownership and Dar Al Hilal publishing relationship.
History
Al-Musawar is an Egyptian weekly current-affairs magazine published in Cairo by Dar Al Hilal Publishing House. Its name is derived from the Arabic word for “the Illustrated.” The title was launched in 1925 by George Bey Zidan, with Emil Zidan and Shukri Zidan also identified as founders. It was established as a weekly publication and has traditionally appeared on Saturdays. The magazine emerged as part of Egypt’s long-standing illustrated periodical tradition. Its format allowed it to combine current-affairs reporting with photographs, political commentary, interviews, social features, and broader cultural coverage. The publication expanded its editorial scope on 17 December 1932 by launching Al Abtal, a sports supplement meaning “Champions.” This supplement provided a dedicated sports offering while remaining connected to the main magazine brand. Fekry Abaza became one of Al-Musawar’s most important early editors. He served as editor-in-chief from 1926 to 1961, making his tenure one of the longest in the magazine’s history. His editorship ended after he was dismissed in connection with an article published on 17 August 1961. The episode occurred during a period of major political and institutional change in Egypt’s press environment. In 1960, Al-Musawar came under ownership of the Egyptian government. It subsequently operated as a state-owned publication within the country’s public publishing framework. Its editor-in-chief and the head of the publishing house have been appointed by the state, a governance arrangement that distinguishes the title from privately controlled magazines. At the same time, reference material described Al-Musawar as a liberal magazine as of 2011, indicating that its editorial characterization cannot be reduced solely to its ownership structure. The magazine’s later editorial history includes several notable journalists. Amīnah al-Saʿīd and Hamdy Rizq are identified as former editors-in-chief. Makram Mohammed Ahmed served as editor-in-chief from the mid-1980s until 2005. Abdul Qadir Shuheib was appointed to the role in July 2005, followed by Fatema Sayed, who became editor-in-chief on 28 June 2014. The available reference material does not establish the current editor-in-chief. Al-Musawar has maintained a profile based partly on political interviews. It published an interview with Saudi King Faisal in August 1972 and conducted several interviews with former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak. Such coverage placed the magazine within Egypt’s wider political media ecosystem and demonstrated its access to senior regional and national figures. The title remains associated with Dar Al Hilal Publishing House and has an online presence through the publisher’s Al-Musawar website. Publicly available material confirms its Cairo base, its state ownership, and its long publication history, but does not provide reliable current figures for circulation, advertising, revenue, staffing, or digital readership. The magazine’s present editorial leadership and detailed corporate reporting lines are also not established by the supplied sources.
- 2014
Fatema Sayed becomes editor-in-chief
[1]Fatema Sayed assumed the editor-in-chief position on 28 June 2014.
- 2005
Editorial leadership changes
[1]Makram Mohammed Ahmed’s editorship ended, and Abdul Qadir Shuheib was appointed editor-in-chief in July.
- 1972
Interview with King Faisal
[1]Al-Musawar published an interview with Saudi King Faisal in August 1972.
- 1961
Fekry Abaza’s editorship ends
[1]Fekry Abaza was dismissed after an article published on 17 August 1961, ending an editorship that had begun in 1926.
- 1960
Government ownership begins
[1]Al-Musawar became owned by the Egyptian government and entered the state publishing structure.
- 1932
Al Abtal sports supplement introduced
[1]The publication began issuing the Al Abtal sports supplement on 17 December 1932.
- 1925
Weekly magazine launched
[1]George Bey Zidan, together with Emil Zidan and Shukri Zidan, launched Al-Musawar as an Egyptian weekly magazine.
Products and positioning
A long-established Egyptian weekly current-affairs title combining political journalism, interviews, social coverage, photography, and magazine-style features. It has been described as liberal in some reference material while operating under state ownership and within the Dar Al Hilal public publishing structure.
Weekly current-affairs magazine · 1925
Al-Musawar
The core Al-Musawar title is an Egyptian weekly magazine covering current affairs, politics, society, culture, interviews, and illustrated journalism. It has been published from Cairo since 1925 and traditionally appears on Saturdays. The magazine is published by Dar Al Hilal Publishing House and has operated under Egyptian government ownership since 1960.
Sports supplement · 1932
Al Abtal
Al Abtal was introduced as a sports supplement to Al-Musawar on 17 December 1932. Its name translates as “Champions.” The supplement broadened the publication’s subject coverage and gave the weekly a dedicated sports component.
Brand decisions
2014
Appointment of Fatema SayedOtherBackground
Al-Musawar underwent another editorial leadership transition after Abdul Qadir Shuheib’s appointment.
Action taken
Fatema Sayed became editor-in-chief on 28 June 2014.
Aftermath
She became one of the documented leaders of the long-running weekly; the supplied sources do not identify a subsequent editor.
2005
Appointment of Abdul Qadir ShuheibOtherBackground
Makram Mohammed Ahmed’s editorship ended in 2005 after leading the magazine from the mid-1980s.
Action taken
Abdul Qadir Shuheib was appointed editor-in-chief in July 2005.
Aftermath
The appointment continued the state-appointed editorial succession system associated with the publication.
1961
Removal of Fekry AbazaOtherBackground
Fekry Abaza had served as editor-in-chief since 1926.
Action taken
He was dismissed after an article published on 17 August 1961.
Aftermath
The dismissal ended one of the longest editorial tenures in the magazine’s history; the supplied material does not identify the immediate successor.
1960
Transition to Egyptian government ownershipStrategyBackground
Egypt’s press and publishing system underwent institutional changes that brought Al-Musawar into state ownership.
Action taken
The Egyptian government assumed ownership of the weekly through the state publishing structure.
Aftermath
The magazine continued under state ownership, with senior editorial and publishing appointments made by the state.
1932
Launch of Al Abtal sports supplementProduct launchBackground
The weekly expanded beyond its general current-affairs format by adding a dedicated sports supplement.
Action taken
Al-Musawar began publishing Al Abtal on 17 December 1932.
Aftermath
The launch established a sports-focused extension of the magazine brand, although later circulation or commercial results are not documented in the supplied sources.
Sources2 sources
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