Middle East News Agency
Egypt's state-run news agency, providing Arabic, English, and French news services from Cairo.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
The Middle East News Agency, commonly known as MENA, is Egypt's national news agency and a state-controlled provider of domestic, regional, and international news. Based in Cairo, it was established on 15 December 1955 as a joint-stock company owned by Egyptian press establishments and began operating on 28 February 1956. The agency was created to provide a centralized Egyptian news service and to distribute reporting to newspapers, broadcasters, institutions, and other subscribers. MENA's ownership and institutional structure changed several times during its history. The Egyptian government became the agency's owner in 1962. In 1978, ownership was transferred to the Shura Council, and in 1980 a board of directors was established to manage the organization. The agency was later attached to Egypt's Ministry of Information. These changes reflected the close relationship between MENA and the Egyptian state, with the agency functioning both as a news provider and as an official channel for Egyptian public information. Its principal output is Arabic-language domestic and international news. Coverage includes Egyptian political, social, economic, cultural, and sports developments, together with reporting from the Arab world, the wider Middle East, and other international regions. MENA also produces press features, news analysis, photographs, and material organized around international subjects such as culture, art, science, sport, and history. Its multilingual services extend to English and French, allowing the agency to distribute Egyptian and regional reporting to foreign-language audiences. In addition to wire services, MENA has produced several specialized publications and review products. These have included print-oriented daily, biweekly, and weekly publications; Cairo Press Review, an English-language daily digest of material appearing in Egyptian newspapers; Party Press Review, an English-language biweekly summary of reporting in Egyptian party newspapers; and the MEN economic magazine, a weekly English-language publication focused on Egyptian economic affairs. The agency also launched Bawabet Sharq Al Awsat, a news website, on 5 February 2014. MENA operates within regional and international news-exchange networks. It is a member of the Federation of Arab News Agencies, which brings together national news agencies from 18 Arab countries, and the Alliance of Mediterranean News Agencies. During the 1990s, it maintained cooperation with approximately 25 news agencies, supporting the exchange and distribution of international reporting. The agency's identity is therefore defined by three connected roles: a national news wire for Egypt, a distributor of Arabic and foreign-language reporting about the Middle East, and an official state media institution. Its historical significance lies less in consumer-facing branding than in its position within Egypt's information infrastructure and the regional network of public news agencies.
History
The Middle East News Agency was founded in Egypt on 15 December 1955 as a joint-stock company owned by Egyptian press establishments. It began operations on 28 February 1956 from Cairo. Its creation established a dedicated Egyptian news wire capable of gathering and distributing reporting for the country's press and other institutional subscribers. In 1962, ownership of MENA became vested in the Egyptian government. This change placed the agency more directly within the country's state media structure. In 1978, ownership passed to the Shura Council. Two years later, in 1980, a board of directors was established and began managing the agency. MENA was subsequently attached to the Ministry of Information, reinforcing its role as an official national information and news organization. The agency's output developed beyond a basic domestic wire. Its Arabic service covered political, social, economic, cultural, and sports news in Egypt, while also reporting on the Arab world, the Middle East, and international affairs. MENA supplemented this core service with features, analysis, photographic material, and specialist coverage of culture, art, science, sport, and history. It also operated in English and French, broadening the international distribution of Egyptian and regional news. MENA's publication activities included daily, biweekly, and weekly print products. Cairo Press Review provided an English-language daily summary of news published in Egyptian newspapers. Party Press Review offered an English-language biweekly overview of reporting in Egyptian party newspapers. The MEN economic magazine was a weekly English-language publication focused on economic news relevant to Egypt's economy and its participants. The agency also maintained regional and international relationships. It belonged to the Federation of Arab News Agencies, a network comprising the national news agencies of 18 Arab countries, and to the Alliance of Mediterranean News Agencies. During the 1990s, MENA cooperated with approximately 25 news agencies, participating in the exchange of news and supporting its role as an intermediary between Egyptian, Arab, and international media systems. MENA continued adapting its distribution model as online publishing expanded. On 5 February 2014, it launched Bawabet Sharq Al Awsat, a news website that extended the agency's digital presence. Editorial leadership also changed over time. Mustafa Naguib and Mahfuz Al Ansari are identified among its former chiefs. Al Ansari was replaced by Abdullah Hassan as editor-in-chief in July 2005, and Alaa Heidar was appointed to the position in June 2014. Across its history, MENA has remained closely associated with the Egyptian state. Its principal function has been to provide authoritative national news coverage and to distribute reporting about Egypt and the region in multiple languages. The available reference material does not establish a current chief executive, current editor-in-chief, current website address, or a more recent ownership arrangement than its historical connection with the Egyptian government and Ministry of Information.
- 2014
Bawabet Sharq Al Awsat launched
[1]MENA launched the Bawabet Sharq Al Awsat news website on 5 February 2014.
- 1980
Board of directors established
[1]A board of directors was created to run the agency.
- 1978
Ownership transferred to the Shura Council
[1]Ownership of the agency became associated with Egypt's Shura Council.
- 1962
Government ownership
[1]The Egyptian government became the owner of MENA.
- 1956
Operations begin
[1]The agency began operating from Cairo on 28 February 1956.
- 1955
Agency founded
[1]MENA was established on 15 December 1955 as a joint-stock company owned by Egyptian press establishments.
Products and positioning
A national, state-controlled Egyptian news agency serving government, media, institutional, and professional subscribers with multilingual reporting on Egypt, the Arab world, the Middle East, and international affairs.
News wire
Local Arabic news service
MENA's core Arabic service covers Egyptian political, social, economic, cultural, and sports news, while also distributing reporting from the Arab world, the Middle East, and international locations. It is intended for subscribers and professional media users rather than primarily for direct consumer sales.
Editorial and photo services
Press services
The agency provides features, news analysis, photographs, and subject-focused material covering areas such as culture, art, science, sport, and history. These services extend MENA's role beyond rapid news transmission into packaged editorial content.
Press review
Cairo Press Review
Cairo Press Review is an English-language daily publication that summarizes or presents news appearing in Egyptian newspapers, giving foreign-language readers and institutional subscribers a consolidated view of Egyptian press coverage.
Press review
Party Press Review
Party Press Review is an English-language biweekly review focused on the principal news published in Egyptian party newspapers. It forms part of MENA's specialized publication and monitoring services.
Economic publication
MEN economic magazine
The MEN economic magazine is described as a weekly English-language publication presenting major economic news concerning participants in Egypt's economy. It complements MENA's general news output with a specialist economic focus.
Digital news website · 2014
Bawabet Sharq Al Awsat
Bawabet Sharq Al Awsat is a digital news website launched by MENA on 5 February 2014. Its introduction represented an expansion of the agency's distribution into a dedicated online publishing format.
Brand decisions
2014
Launch of Bawabet Sharq Al AwsatProduct launchBackground
MENA had historically distributed news through wire services and print-oriented publications.
Action taken
The agency launched a dedicated news website called Bawabet Sharq Al Awsat on 5 February 2014.
Aftermath
The launch extended MENA's publishing activity into digital distribution; the available source does not provide audience or financial results.
1980
Creation of a board of directorsStrategyBackground
MENA's ownership had been associated with the Shura Council since 1978.
Action taken
A board of directors was established to manage the agency.
Aftermath
The agency gained a formal board-based management structure, although later institutional changes connected it with the Ministry of Information.
1962
Transfer to Egyptian government ownershipStrategyBackground
MENA was initially owned by Egyptian press establishments after its 1955 formation.
Action taken
The Egyptian government became the agency's owner.
Aftermath
The change established MENA as a more directly state-controlled national news institution.
Sources1 sources
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