BEIRUT: Prestigious pan-Arab newspaper Al-Hayat closed its offices in birthplace Lebanon Saturday, as the Saudi-owned publication continued to downsize its operations.
The newspaper closed its bureau in the Lebanese capital seven decades after it was founded there, with a source at the paper citing “financial reasons.”
“This closure is part of a decision to close all foreign bureaus for financial reasons and transfer the headquarters to Dubai,” the source said.
In January, the newspaper closed its head office in London ahead of moving to the Gulf emirate.
And the printing presses stopped earlier this month in Beirut, several sources said, leaving the international edition only available online until further notice.
It could soon be printed in the Gulf only for readers in that region, they said.
The Beirut bureau employed around 100 people, around half of them journalists writing for the international edition and a variety magazine.
It is unclear what will happen to these employees.
Lebanese journalist Kamel Mrowa founded the newspaper in 1946 before he was assassinated two decades later.
The newspaper closed its doors in Lebanon for the first time in 1976, a year after Lebanon’s 15-year civil war broke out.
It reopened in London in 1988, and was bought up two years later by Saudi Prince Khaled bin Sultan.
Traditionally liberal, Al-Hayat has published opinions pieces by some of the Arab world’s greatest intellectuals.
The press in Lebanon has been in crisis for several years, both as it struggles to adapt to the digital era and faces economic difficulties.
In late 2016, Lebanese newspaper As-Safir shuttered 42 years after it published its first edition, with the founder saying they had run out of funds.
Pan-Arab paper Al-Hayat closes bureau in birthplace Lebanon
Pan-Arab paper Al-Hayat closes bureau in birthplace Lebanon
- Al-Hayat closed its offices in birthplace Lebanon Saturday, as the Saudi-owned publication continued to downsize its operations.
- In January, the newspaper closed its head office in London ahead of moving to the Gulf emirate.
Saudi gaming industry has promising future, says Qiddiya executive
- Mike Milanov said that the industry had surpassed the combined industries of film, television, music and sports worldwide
- Milanov added that Saudi Arabia had talented teams with strong skills in esports and game development
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is uniquely positioned for a highly promising future in the gaming sector, which is valued at $323 billion globally, according to the head of gaming at Saudi entertainment megaproject Qiddiya.
Mike Milanov, the company’s head of gaming and esports, spoke during the session “The Global Era of Gaming: How It Became the New Frontier for Media and Entertainment” at the Saudi Media Forum 2026 in Riyadh.
The industry, he said, had surpassed the combined industries of film, television, music and sports worldwide and was growing globally at an annual rate of 3 percent to 9 percent, expected to reach about $623 billion by 2035
He added that future generations held different perspectives and levels of engagement, as gaming represented a form of digital advancement and a powerful tool for connection.
Milanov also highlighted how Saudi Arabia had talented teams with strong skills in esports and game development, along with significant creative and innovative energy that supported building relationships both locally and globally.
He further noted that Qiddiya City spanned nearly 330 sq. km, and that more than 86 percent of Saudis identified themselves as gamers, reinforcing the Kingdom’s position as one of the world’s largest gaming and esports markets.
Karen Starr, vice president of marketing, branding and creative at Activision Publishing, also spoke during the panel and emphasized the major role gaming played across social media platforms.
She described this influence as positive for brand building, especially given the young audiences that followed gaming brands.
Starr added that the sustainability of major gaming brands depended on continuous engagement, community-building, and adapting content locally to maintain cultural relevance.
She explained that gaming had evolved into an ongoing media experience based on constant interaction and long-term audience connection.
She also said that gaming today had become a global media force that had surpassed traditional channels, shaping culture, content and audience engagement over time.
Meanwhile, Shelley Williams, executive vice president of sales at F1 Arcade Simulation, spoke about how gaming experiences were built on a sense of belonging and participation, which helped to create stronger infrastructure and extended media experiences.
She said that shared audience experiences opened the door to new ecosystems and further game development, supporting long-term content sustainability.
