MADRID: Arab News, Saudi Arabia’s first English-language daily, has launched the beta version of an artificial intelligence-powered translation service that makes its news, views, and analysis available in 50 languages.
The announcement was made by Editor-in-Chief Faisal J. Abbas during a special event in Madrid, coinciding with the FIPP World Media Congress 2025 and marking the newspaper’s Golden Jubilee.
“Thanks to modern-day technology, Arab News, which launched in 1975 to be a voice for Saudi Arabia in English, will now be the voice of a changing region in 50 languages, reaching a remarkable 6.5 billion people, or 80 percent of the world population,” Abbas told a side event on Wednesday evening.
Attendees included Princess Haifa bint Abdulaziz Al-Mogrin, the Saudi ambassador to Spain, Arab and Spanish diplomats, and senior editors and executives.
Abbas, who has overseen the newspaper’s digital transformation since 2016, told attendees the project reflects both Arab News’ longstanding role as Saudi Arabia’s voice in English and the publication’s commitment to telling the story of a region undergoing rapid change.
“The idea stems from the importance of telling our story, particularly in a region where events influence the whole world and where the beating heart, Saudi Arabia, is undergoing massive transformation and reforms under Vision 2030,” he added.
The cutting-edge translation platform is powered by technology developed by CAMB.AI, a regional startup that has quickly become one of the Arab world’s most promising AI success stories on the global stage.
“The internet was created for English speakers and we decided to redesign it for the world,” said Avneesh Prakash, CEO of CAMB.AI.
“We created CAMB.AI as the most comprehensive localization AI platform in the world, building on top of our foundational AI models.”
Prakash said the technology enables “leading organizations across the world to localize their content — video, audio, text, documents, website — anything to help brands reach the global population beyond language barriers.
“Partnering with Arab News to launch in 50 languages during its 50th anniversary year demonstrates our dedication to breaking down these barriers. Arab News stands for authentic content and now with CAMB.AI technology it can reach billions of people.”
The event also featured a screening of “Rewriting Arab News.”
The documentary chronicles the newspaper’s five-decade journey, from its founding in 1975 by the brothers Mohammad and Hisham Ali Hafez in Jeddah, to its ongoing digital transformation under the paper’s parent company, the Saudi Research and Media Group.
The film, which has been shortlisted for a prestigious 2025 AIB Art and Culture Video Award, highlights how Arab News evolved from a national print publication into a globally recognized digital media platform.
The event was hosted by Juan Senor, media analyst and president of Innovation Media Consulting Group, who underscored the “threats and opportunities” AI presents to the media industry at this pivotal moment.
Senor said AI is a “huge disruption to publishing, storytelling, (and) journalism,” but where “some see a threat,” Arab News sees “an opportunity.”
Just as the publication adopted a digital-first approach, it is now embracing AI “responsibly, creatively, intelligently” with the aim of empowering journalists, instead of replacing them, he added.
“The evolution of Arab News mirrors the transformation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia itself. Two journeys side by side, both rooted in tradition, both driven by ambition, and both embracing change,” Senor said.
Among the attendees were Cristina Juarraz, assistant director and programming coordinator at Casa Arabe; Pedro Gonzalez, journalist and co-founder of Euronews; Ivan Moreno de Cozar y Landahl, secretary-general at Alliance Francaise Madrid; Jaime Barrientos, war reporter and Middle East expert; and Jorge Hevia Sierra, former Spanish ambassador to Saudi Arabia.
The event also drew several Arab diplomats, including Raghad A. Alsaqqa, Jordan’s ambassador to Spain; Hani Shamatli, Lebanon’s ambassador to Spain; Walid Abuabdalla, Libya’s ambassador to Spain; and Husni Abdel Wahed, Palestine’s ambassador to Spain.
Other attendees included Mohammad Alshohomi, Kuwait’s charge d’affaires ad interim in Spain; Ehab Ahmed Badawy, Egypt’s ambassador to Spain; Saleh Ahmad Salem Alzaraim Alsuwaidi, the UAE’s newly appointed ambassador; and Malek Twal, head of the Arab League’s office in Madrid.
The launch of the multilingual platform underscores Arab News’ continued expansion as a major international media outlet and pioneer in bridging cultures through journalism and innovation.
Since its founding, Arab News has built a reputation as the “voice of a changing region,” reflecting the Kingdom’s development, diplomacy, and modernization.
Abbas said the debut of the AI-powered service marks a milestone moment for the newspaper, merging technology and storytelling to share the region’s perspectives with global audiences.
“This year we’re turning 50. And we were adamant that our celebration will not be a farewell party but rather a rebirth,” Abbas said. “We’re proud to be embracing technology, not resisting it.”
