Umm Al-Qura

Umm Al-Qura is an Arabic-language Saudi newspaper published in Mecca and recognized as the first Arabic-language daily newspaper established in Saudi Arabia. Its first issue appeared on 12 December 1924, during the period in which Abdulaziz Ibn Saud consolidated control over the Hejaz. The publication followed Al Qibla, the official gazette of the former Kingdom of Hejaz, and became an important state communication channel during the formation of modern Saudi Arabia. The newspaper was established partly in response to hostile or critical coverage of Ibn Saud in the Egyptian newspaper Al Muqattam. In its early years, Umm Al-Qura served not only as a newspaper but also as an instrument of political communication and public advocacy. It published material supporting the religious and political outlook associated with Ibn Saud, including articles aligned with Wahhabi doctrine, and promoted the legitimacy of the emerging Saudi order. One early description of Ibn Saud in the paper referred to him as the “Caesar of the Arabs” after the annexation of the Hejaz. Umm Al-Qura began as a weekly publication consisting of four hand-printed pages. Over time, it developed into the official gazette of the Saudi state. In that role, it has published royal decrees, governmental decisions, regulations, appointments, and other official announcements, alongside state-related news and public information. Its institutional function distinguishes it from a conventional commercial newspaper: the title has historically been closely connected to the state and has operated as an authoritative publication for formal government communication. The paper's early editorial leadership included Yusuf Yasin, an adviser to Ibn Saud and its founding editor-in-chief. Saudi businessman Ghalib Hamza Abulfaraj also served as editor-in-chief, while the British adviser and writer St John Philby was among its early contributors. The publication is associated with the Saudi Ministry of Culture and Information, reflecting its role within the country's official information system. The current editor-in-chief identified in reference material is Ashraf Al-Husseini. Across its long history, Umm Al-Qura has reported or specially covered major milestones in Saudi and regional history. These include the unification of the Hejaz and Najd in 1926, the establishment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932, the discovery of oil in 1938, the 1945 meeting between King Abdulaziz and United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the First Arab-Israeli War in 1948, and the death of King Abdulaziz in 1953. During the financial difficulties affecting newspapers in the Second World War era, several Saudi publications suspended publication between 1941 and 1946, but Umm Al-Qura continued to appear. The title remains active as a government gazette and newspaper published from Mecca.

Umm Al-Qura was founded in Mecca during the political transformation of the Hejaz under Abdulaziz Ibn Saud. Its first issue was released on 12 December 1924. The paper succeeded Al Qibla, which had served as the official gazette of the Kingdom of Hejaz, and inherited the broader function of communicating state policy and official information to an Arabic-speaking public. The newspaper's creation also had a polemical dimension. Critical coverage of Ibn Saud in the Egyptian newspaper Al Muqattam was one of the stated reasons for establishing a publication capable of presenting an alternative account of events. In its formative period, Umm Al-Qura supported Ibn Saud's political authority and frequently published articles reflecting Wahhabi religious doctrine. Following the annexation of the Hejaz, it used strongly favorable language to describe Ibn Saud and the new political order. The publication initially appeared weekly in a four-page, hand-printed format. Its early editorial leadership was provided by Yusuf Yasin, an adviser to Ibn Saud who became the founding editor-in-chief. Ghalib Hamza Abulfaraj, a Saudi businessman, also held the editor-in-chief position. St John Philby was among the newspaper's early contributors. These figures connected the paper to both the emerging Saudi administration and the wider intellectual and political networks surrounding the consolidation of the Kingdom. As Saudi state institutions developed, Umm Al-Qura increasingly functioned as an official gazette rather than solely as a general-interest newspaper. Its pages became a formal channel for royal decrees, governmental decisions, administrative notices, and other state-related material. This role gave the title institutional significance beyond ordinary newspaper circulation: publication in Umm Al-Qura could serve as an authoritative public announcement of government action. The paper's historical record follows major developments in Saudi Arabia and the surrounding region. It covered the unification of the Hejaz and Najd in 1926 and the proclamation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932. It also reported the discovery of oil in 1938, the 1945 meeting between King Abdulaziz and President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the First Arab-Israeli War in 1948, and the death of King Abdulaziz in 1953. These events illustrate the publication's position as a witness to the formation of the Saudi state, its international relationships, and its changing economic importance. During the financial crisis affecting newspapers in Saudi Arabia during the Second World War, Sawt Al Hijaz and Al-Madina Al-Munawara, along with other publications, suspended publication between 1941 and 1946. Umm Al-Qura continued to be issued during that period. Its continuity was consistent with its government-gazette function and helped preserve its role as an official source of state information. Umm Al-Qura is associated with the Saudi Ministry of Culture and Information and remains published from Mecca. In the modern period it continues to combine newspaper functions with the publication of official government material. Reference material identifies Ashraf Al-Husseini as its current editor-in-chief. Its long-running publication history and formal state role make it one of the central archival records of Saudi Arabia's political and administrative development.

• 1953

  Coverage of King Abdulaziz's death

  [1]Umm Al-Qura (newspaper)en.wikipedia.org

  Umm Al-Qura reported the death of the Saudi state's founder, King Abdulaziz.

• 1945

  Coverage of the Abdulaziz–Roosevelt meeting

  [1]Umm Al-Qura (newspaper)en.wikipedia.org

  The paper covered the meeting between King Abdulaziz and U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

• 1941

  Continued publication during wartime newspaper crisis

  [1]Umm Al-Qura (newspaper)en.wikipedia.org

  While other Saudi newspapers suspended publication during the wartime financial crisis, Umm Al-Qura continued to be issued.

• 1938

  Coverage of oil discovery

  [1]Umm Al-Qura (newspaper)en.wikipedia.org

  The publication covered the discovery of oil in Saudi Arabia.

• 1932

  Coverage of the founding of Saudi Arabia

  [1]Umm Al-Qura (newspaper)en.wikipedia.org

  Umm Al-Qura reported the establishment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

• 1926

  Coverage of Hejaz–Najd unification

  [1]Umm Al-Qura (newspaper)en.wikipedia.org

  The paper covered the unification of the Hejaz and Najd under Abdulaziz Ibn Saud.

• 1924

  First issue published

  [1]Umm Al-Qura (newspaper)en.wikipedia.org

  Umm Al-Qura published its first issue in Mecca on 12 December 1924.

A state-affiliated Arabic-language newspaper and official gazette focused on formal publication of Saudi royal, governmental, legal, and national information.

• Official gazette · 1924

  Umm Al-Qura official gazette

  The publication's principal institutional product is its official-gazette edition. It provides a formal publication channel for royal decrees, government decisions, regulations, administrative notices, and other state communications in Arabic.

• Arabic-language newspaper · 1924

  Umm Al-Qura newspaper

  The newspaper began as a weekly four-page hand-printed publication in Mecca. Alongside official notices, it has carried national, political, religious, and international coverage connected to Saudi public life.

1. 1Umm Al-Qura (newspaper)en.wikipedia.org
2. 2Umm Al-Qura official websiteuqn.gov.sa