Is Al Arabiya Left-Wing or Right-Wing? Political Bias Explained
Al Arabiya Overview and Political Bias
Observers often characterize Al Arabiya as a primary media vehicle for Saudi foreign policy. Critics, including rival regional outlets, allege the network maintains a staunchly pro-Riyadh editorial line while frequently adopting an adversarial stance toward Iran and the Muslim Brotherhood, though the network's management asserts its commitment to journalistic professionalism.
| Standpoint | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Overall political leaning | Right |
| Estimated number of readers | 35,000,000 |
| Israel support | Neutral to Supportive of Normalization |
| Use of loaded / emotional language | Medium |
| Target Audience | Mass market |
Al Arabiya History
Established in 2003 and originally headquartered in Dubai, Al Arabiya was launched by the MBC Group to provide an alternative to Qatar's Al Jazeera. It focuses heavily on Middle Eastern politics and global affairs. In 2021, the network announced its relocation to Riyadh as part of Saudi media expansion.
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Who owns Al Arabiya?
Al Arabiya is owned by the MBC Group. Following the 2017 anti-corruption campaign in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi government reportedly acquired a controlling interest in the MBC Group. Consequently, analysts generally view the network as being under the significant influence or indirect control of the Saudi state.