LONDON: The Saudi investor who has reportedly taken a stake in the UK-based Independent news site will have no editorial control over the title, a source close to him told Arab News.
It emerged this week that 42-year-old Sultan Mohammed Abuljadayel had acquired a 30 percent stake in Independent Digital News and Media, the website’s parent company which is owned by Evgeny Lebedev, the son of the Russian billionaire Alexander Lebedev.
It is understood to be part of a broader push into the Middle East, with Arabic and Urdu versions of the website being planned.
News of the purchase raised questions by some commentators over the whether the site’s editorial independence would be preserved following the transaction.
But a source close to Abuljadayel said that the deal was purely an investment move and that there was “no editorial control.”
The Independent newspaper was founded 30 years ago to shake up the partisan mainstream media, with a focus on impartial political coverage and creative use of photography.
It went online-only 18 months ago and has more than doubled its online audience since — with a huge increase in its US audience before and after the US presidential elections.
Independent Editor Christian Broughton, in an interview with Financial Times on Saturday, said that the website’s editorial integrity would not be compromised by the deal.
“There is a shareholder agreement which now says in categorical cast iron terms that no shareholders can influence the editor of the Independent,” he told the newspaper.
“You only have to look at the Independent’s editorial line on Saudi Arabia. We take a strong view on these things and report on the whole region as we see fit.”
Saudi investor in Independent news site ‘to have no editorial control’
Saudi investor in Independent news site ‘to have no editorial control’
DCO and Arab News partner to combat digital misinformation, explore AI’s impact on media
KUWAIT CITY: The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) and the international Saudi newspaper Arab News have signed a Letter of Engagement aimed at strengthening knowledge and expertise exchange on the impact of artificial intelligence in the media sector, as well as leveraging expert insights to develop best practices to combat online misinformation amid accelerating technological advancements.
DCO said this step aligned with its efforts to strengthen collaboration with international media institutions to support responsible dialogue around digital transformation and contribute to building a more reliable, inclusive, and sustainable digital media environment.
Commenting on the agreement, Deemah AlYahya, Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization, said: “At a moment when AI is reshaping how truth is produced, distributed, and trusted, partnership with credible media institutions is essential.”
She added that “working with Arab News allows us to bridge technology and journalism in a way that protects integrity, strengthens public trust, and elevates responsible innovation. This collaboration is about equipping media ecosystems with the tools, insight, and ethical grounding needed to navigate AI’s impact, while ensuring digital transformation serves people and their prosperity.”
Faisal J. Abbas, Editor-in-Chief of Arab News, emphasized that the partnership enhances media institutions’ ability to keep pace with technological shifts, noting that engagement with representatives of DCO Member States enables deeper understanding of emerging technologies and regulatory developments in the digital space.
He added: “DCO’s commitment to initiatives addressing online content integrity reflects a clear dedication to supporting a responsible digital environment that serves societies and strengthens trust in the digital ecosystem.”
The Letter of agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Fifth DCO General Assembly held in Kuwait City under the theme “Inclusive Prosperity in the Age of AI”, alongside the second edition of the International Digital Cooperation Forum, held from 4–5 February, which brought together ministers, policymakers, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and civil society representatives from more than 60 countries to strengthen international cooperation toward a human-centric, inclusive, and sustainable digital economy.
