Arab News to become first Saudi ‘gender-balanced’ newspaper by 2020 

Saudi media personality Muna AbuSulayman, center, with Arab News staff, from left, Huda Bashatah, Deema Al-Khudair, Lulwa Shalhoub Ana and Aseel Bashraheel. (AN photo: Ghazi Mehdi)
Updated 20 April 2018
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Arab News to become first Saudi ‘gender-balanced’ newspaper by 2020 

  • Initiative announced at KAEC women forum is in line with Kingdom’s reform plans
  • Drive will include active training and recruitment, and progress reports will be published

JEDDAH: Arab News will become the first newspaper in Saudi Arabia to have a gender-balanced newsroom — and it intends to achieve this goal in less than two years.

The announcement was made at the opening on Tuesday of the inaugural Arab Women Forum at King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC). 

Representing Arab News editor in chief Faisal J. Abbas, who is in France covering the visit by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi media personality  Muna AbuSulayman told the audience: “On behalf of Arab News I would like to officially announce its ambitious plan to have a 50-50 gender-balanced newsroom by the year 2020.” The announcement included a recorded video message from Abbas. 

In a statement, Arab News said the gender-balanced newsroom drive — which is referred to internally as the “50:50 by 2020” initiative — will aim to cover all the newspaper’s bureaus and areas of operations. It will involve active recruitment, training and career guidance which the paper — with the help of its publisher, the Saudi Research and Marketing Group — will provide. 

“This initiative is in line with the Kingdom’s reform plans and, as such, we are keen to ensure it succeeds, so we will make sure we announce progress reports regularly,” the statement said. 

The Arab Women Forum was organized by the Dubai publishing and events company Mediaquest. It was held in partnership with Arab News and was attended by a large number of local and visiting dignitaries, diplomats, journalists and business executives.


Shahid, Disney+ and OSN+ launch exclusive streaming bundle across GCC

Updated 24 December 2025
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Shahid, Disney+ and OSN+ launch exclusive streaming bundle across GCC

  • Bundle available exclusively visa Shahid for $25 a month

RIYADH: In a landmark regional collaboration, Shahid, Disney+, and OSN+ have announced an exclusive streaming bundle that brings together world-class hits from the three platforms under a single subscription in a first-of-its-kind offer for audiences in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

The all-in-one entertainment package, available only through Shahid in the GCC for about $25 a month, grants subscribers full access to three leading platforms covering Hollywood blockbusters, Disney+’s expansive range of beloved films, animations and series, OSN+’s library of HBO originals and international hits, and Shahid’s Arabic premium content.

The bundle is designed to simplify subscription management with a unified payment model, allowing viewers to access all three apps at the price of two and offering a streamlined user experience. 

Natasha Matos-Hemingway, chief commercial and marketing officer at Shahid, said the partnership reflects a broader effort to expand digital entertainment offerings in the Middle East, catering to a growing audience seeking diversity, convenience and high-quality programming.

“We are proud to collaborate with OSN+ and Disney+ to offer an unmatched streaming experience to our subscribers,” she said. “With one subscription, one payment, and full access to premium content from all three platforms, we’re delivering unbeatable convenience, value and entertainment.”

With a growing demand for high-quality on-demand content, the bundle is expected to attract a wide range of users seeking comprehensive entertainment without juggling multiple subscriptions.

The move also signals increasing cooperation between global media giants and regional platforms, in a bid to meet the entertainment preferences of Arab audiences while expanding market reach.

Karl Holmes, SVP and general manager at Disney+ EMEA, said the collaboration will bring award-winning series like FX’s “Shogun” and favorites such as “Lilo & Stitch” into a unique bundle with Shahid’s regional hits including “Al Dariya.”

The agreement “reflects a shared ambition between Disney+ and Shahid to shape the future of entertainment in the Middle East,” said Holmes. “The Middle East is young, dynamic and fast-growing, and we’re delighted to give consumers a new and easy way to access extraordinary content at exceptional value.”

Choucri Khairallah, chief business officer at OSN+, said the partnership takes OSN+’s entertainment experience “to the next level.”

He added: “Today’s audiences expect more than great content; they seek seamless access, variety and exceptional value. This all-in-one bundle delivers exactly that.”