Thaqafiya

Thaqafiya (Arabic: القناة الثقافية, 'The Cultural Channel') is a Saudi cultural satellite television channel broadcasting in Arabic. It is one of the channels affiliated with the Saudi Ministry of Culture. The channel was inaugurated alongside the signing of an agreement between the Minister of Culture, Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, and the chairman of MBC Group, Waleed Al-Ibrahim, in August 2023. It launched on 23 September 2023, coinciding with the anniversary of Saudi National Day. Malik Al-Ruqi was appointed as the channel's general manager. The channel was launched as a successor to the earlier Cultural Channel that belonged to the government Saudi Television channels, which was managed by Abdulaziz Al-Eid and began broadcasting in 1431 AH / 2009 AD, operating 24 hours a day until it ceased broadcasting in April 2018. In addition to the television channel, a specialized digital media platform was launched to produce video clips, as well as articles, podcasts, and documentary production. In April 2026, the Saudi Research and Media Group (SRMG) announced that it had won the contract to operate and manage the 'Thaqafiya' channel of the Ministry of Culture, and to manage and produce media content and marketing for the channel for a period of three years. The channel's programming includes a variety of cultural shows such as 'Qawl 'ala Qawl' with Jassim Al-Sahih, 'Mu'allaqa' (a poetry competition program), 'Masa' Al-Thaqafiya' with Abdullah Al-Jum'ah, 'Kitab wa Muntataf' with Saad Al-Baz'i, 'Al-Muhawara' (featuring dialogues of Nabati poets), 'Lamiyyat Al-Arab' with Eid Al-Yahya, 'Hiss' with Mohammed Al-Sakran, 'Studio Stylish', 'Simat' with Rakan Al-Oraifi, 'Ithnainiyat Al-Riyadh' (hosting elite intellectuals to discuss cultural issues), 'Al-Sajjad Al-Ahmar' (covering Saudi, Arab, and world art news), 'Shaqqat Al-Malaz' with Abdul Khaliq bin Rafi'ah, 'Tilka Shahadati' (a documentary program directed by Ibada Al-Hammami), and 'Wainak' with Mohammed Al-Khamisi.

Thaqafiya is the successor to an earlier Saudi Cultural Channel that was part of the government-owned Saudi Television. That earlier channel was managed by Abdulaziz Al-Eid and began broadcasting in 1431 AH / 2009 AD, operating 24 hours a day until it ceased broadcasting in April 2018. The current Thaqafiya channel was established under the Saudi Ministry of Culture. It was inaugurated alongside the signing of an agreement between the Minister of Culture, Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, and the chairman of MBC Group, Waleed Al-Ibrahim, in August 2023. The channel officially launched on 23 September 2023, coinciding with the anniversary of Saudi National Day. Malik Al-Ruqi was appointed as its general manager. In addition to the television channel, a specialized digital media platform was launched to produce video clips, articles, podcasts, and documentary production. In April 2026, the Saudi Research and Media Group (SRMG) announced that it had won the contract to operate and manage the 'Thaqafiya' channel of the Ministry of Culture, and to manage and produce media content and marketing for the channel for a period of three years.

• Earlier Saudi Cultural Channel begins broadcasting (1431 AH), operating 24 hours a day.

• Earlier Cultural Channel ceases broadcasting.

• Agreement signed between Saudi Minister of Culture and MBC Group chairman to launch Thaqafiya.

• Thaqafiya channel launches on Saudi National Day anniversary.

• SRMG wins contract to operate and manage Thaqafiya channel for three years.

A state-backed cultural satellite channel and digital platform promoting Saudi and Arab culture, literature, and arts.

• Qawl 'ala Qawl

  Program hosted by Jassim Al-Sahih.

• Mu'allaqa

  Poetry competition program.

• Masa' Al-Thaqafiya

  Program hosted by Abdullah Al-Jum'ah.

• Kitab wa Muntataf

  Program hosted by Saad Al-Baz'i.

• Al-Muhawara

  Program presenting dialogues of Nabati poets.

• Lamiyyat Al-Arab

  Program hosted by Eid Al-Yahya.

• Hiss

  Program hosted by Mohammed Al-Sakran.

• Studio Stylish

  Program.

• Simat

  Program hosted by Rakan Al-Oraifi.

• Ithnainiyat Al-Riyadh

  Program hosting elite intellectuals to discuss cultural issues.

• Al-Sajjad Al-Ahmar

  Program covering Saudi, Arab, and world art news.

• Shaqqat Al-Malaz

  Program hosted by Abdul Khaliq bin Rafi'ah.

• Tilka Shahadati

  Documentary program directed by Ibada Al-Hammami.

• Wainak

  Program hosted by Mohammed Al-Khamisi.

1. 1Thaqafiya - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2القناة الثقافية - Wikipedia (Arabic)ar.wikipedia.org