''Akhbar Al Dhahran'' ( ar, Dhahran News) was a weekly nationalist newspaper published in

Dammam Dammam ( ar, الدمّام ') is the fifth-most populous city in Saudi Arabia after Riyadh, Jeddah, Mecca, and Medina. It is the capital of the Eastern Province. With a total population of 1,252,523 as of 2020. The judicial and administrative ...

between 1954 and 1957. It was the first newspaper published in the Eastern Province of the country.

History and profile

''Akhbar Al Dhahran'' was first published on 26 December 1954. Early issues of the paper were printed in

Beirut Beirut, french: Beyrouth is the capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, which makes it the third-largest city in the Levant region. The city is situated on a peninsula at the midpoint o ...

and shipped to Dammam. The paper covered critical news in the country and attempted to raise an awareness among the people. It was known for its coverage of the nationalist articles and news on the corruption and maladministration in Saudi municipalities. Over time the weekly became a platform for

nationalist Nationalism is an idea and movement that holds that the nation should be congruent with the state. As a movement, nationalism tends to promote the interests of a particular nation (as in a group of people), Smith, Anthony. ''Nationalism: The ...

Saudis to discuss the developments in the region. Muhammad Abdullah Al Mana‘, a

merchant A merchant is a person who trades in commodities produced by other people, especially one who trades with foreign countries. Historically, a merchant is anyone who is involved in business or trade. Merchants have operated for as long as indust ...

and philanthropist, was among the frequent contributors of ''Akhbar Al Dhahran''. The paper featured the nationalist poems by Hasan Faraj Al Umran, a

Shia cleric In Shi'a Islam the guidance of clergy and keeping such a structure holds a great importance. The clergy structure depends on the branch of Shi'ism is being referred to. Twelver Usooli and Akhbari Shia Twelver Muslims believe that the study ...

and native of

Qatif Qatif or Al-Qatif ( ar, ٱلْقَطِيف ''Al-Qaṭīf'') is a governorate and urban area located in Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. It extends from Ras Tanura and Jubail in the north to Dammam in the south, and from the Persian Gulf in the ...

. Abdullah bin Abdul Rahman Al Malhooq served as the

editor-in-chief An editor-in-chief (EIC), also known as lead editor or chief editor, is a publication's editorial leader who has final responsibility for its operations and policies. The highest-ranking editor of a publication may also be titled editor, managing ...

. Abdul Karim Al Juhaiman was the last the editor-in-chief of the newspaper. His articles on the necessity of education for girls' and on gambling caused tension, and soon after this incident the last issue of the paper appeared on 29 April 1957. He was also arrested and released after 20-day detention.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Akhbar Dhahran 1954 establishments in Saudi Arabia 1957 disestablishments in Saudi Arabia Defunct Arabic-language newspapers Censorship in Saudi Arabia Defunct newspapers published in Saudi Arabia Defunct weekly newspapers Mass media in Dammam Newspapers established in 1954 Publications disestablished in 1957 Newspapers disestablished in the 1950s