Doha, May 24 (QNA) - Qatar News Agency (QNA) will celebrate Sunday its Golden Jubilee, marking the 50 years of achievements since its founding on May 25, 1975 that see it hold a prominent regional and international status. Since its establishment, QNA has served as an official platform for broadcasting the country's news, development, and accomplishments domestically and abroad, playing an active role in shaping a modern image of the State of Qatar on regional and international stages.

Launched under Amiri Decree No. 94 of 1975, QNA has embraced a clear mission: to deliver accurate and reliable news content that reflects the state's policies and its approach of transparency and openness to the world. Throughout its development, QNA has remained committed to strong foundations and enduring principles of accuracy, responsibility, credibility, and integrity in reporting and covering events both locally and globally. The agency has consistently worked to strengthen the role of national media as a key pillar of comprehensive development.

As it marks its Golden Jubilee, the State’s official news agency proudly and confidently reflects on the media milestones it has achieved over the past decades. Since its launch 50 years ago, QNA has not remained confined to its founding framework but has embarked on a continuous journey of growth, modernization, and development to keep pace with media and technological advancements, reinforcing its role as a leading news platform that provides timely and comprehensive coverage of both local and global events.

QNA was quick to recognize the challenges posed by the rise of digital media, with its widespread reach and accessibility, attracting vast audiences worldwide. In response to this reality, and as part of its ongoing development plans, the agency entered a significant partnership with global tech giant Microsoft last October, expanding its use of AI tools across its departments. This collaboration aims to align with global advancements in AI usage, particularly in media and journalism, empowering QNA to lead in efficiency, precision, and innovation in media production, and to support its ambition to remain at the forefront of digital transformation in the industry.

Further reinforcing its modernization strategy, QNA launched a revamped website and mobile app in December 2024 to enhance its digital presence and deliver advanced media content utilizing the latest technologies. The new website is user-friendly and technologically up to date, featuring an AI-powered chatbot to provide readers with quick and accurate information. New sections have been added for easier access to local and international news, including dedicated tabs for the activities of HH the Amir, HH the Deputy Amir, HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and HE the Shura Council Speaker. The site also includes links to live local TV channels, and offers useful services like prayer times, 24/7 weather updates, and information on major events and exhibitions hosted in Qatar. 

In keeping with technological advancements in modern digital media, QNA has made it a priority to stay updated with the latest developments in the field. In this context, it has launched its official accounts on various social media platforms, including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Telegram, Snapchat, and WhatsApp.

QNA has also created its own YouTube channel, in addition to its news services available through its mobile application and website. These initiatives continue its pioneering role in providing specialized content of interest to readers, alongside its comprehensive coverage of regional and international events.

QNA has also launched its news bulletins in three new languages: French, German, and Spanish. As a result, it now offers its news services in five major global languages: Arabic, English, French, German, and Spanish. Additionally, it provides news content in 29 languages on its website.

The ongoing updates and development efforts at the agency encompass all departments and editorial units under the News Department. These include Arabic and English editorial sections, local news, economic news, cultural and sports sections, research and studies, and multilingual news services operating around the clock. The agency also features photojournalism and digital content, which has expanded to include infographics, video, and video-graphics units, along with the integration of artificial intelligence technologies across various formats and platforms. This supports the delivery of rapid and comprehensive news services related to events hosted and organized by the state, in text, images, and video, while also offering wide-ranging coverage of political, economic, cultural, sports, and artistic developments worldwide.

The News Department is the engine that runs non-stop, around the clock. It includes the Arabic editorial division, which plays a central and crucial role in QNA by preparing news reports in accordance with professional standards and the state’s general policy. It also includes the foreign language editorial division, and the economic news division, which covers all local, regional, and international economic activities and events in the country. Meanwhile, the local news unit covers political and social events and conferences related to areas such as health, education, and labor. It also produces reports, interviews, and exclusive features with ministers, state officials, visiting dignitaries, foreign ambassadors in Qatar, and Qatari ambassadors abroad.

Digital media platforms are a hallmark of QNA, serving as powerful tools for disseminating news and facilitating instant communication with audiences both locally and internationally. These platforms and digital media channels allow for diverse news formats, such as images, videos, and infographics, which help clarify events and trends.

The Digital Content Unit at QNA keeps pace with important news and events in Qatar and abroad by producing visually engaging designs that highlight key aspects of stories. For example, the unit creates short videos covering visits, tours, and official receptions of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.

This unit focuses on summarizing information and highlighting main points in a way that combines visual appeal with accuracy and linguistic precision. It also covers festivals and events organized within the country and produces videos featuring exclusive statements for the agency, using both static infographics and dynamic content designed to accompany real-time news.

Additionally, a dedicated sports account has been created on the platform X, featuring all sports events published in the agency's bulletin, as well as other key news curated by the unit's editor. The unit has expanded its digital services by producing more infographics that now cover economic, sports, and political news.

QNA has also continued its commitment to developing national media professionals by launching a series of specialized training courses at the QNA Training Center.

These courses aim to enhance staff competencies and equip them with the necessary skills to keep up with the digital transformation of media.

The agency has contributed to building a new generation of Qatari journalists through its training center, which has recently offered a variety of specialized courses on topics such as artificial intelligence in journalism, news editing techniques, social media monitoring and analysis, photography, interview skills, web content management and analysis, preparation of specialized media reports, and storytelling for new media platforms.

Additional workshops have included cybersecurity awareness for national staff, training workshops on journalistic production, preserving public funds, and a field training program for students from the College of Arts and Sciences Department of Media, Print Journalism track, at Qatar University.

In June 2024, QNA received an award on innovation in the use of AI. It has also garnered numerous other awards and honors, particularly in recent years. These accolades reflect the recognition QNA enjoys both in the Arab world and internationally and affirm its excellence across all areas of media.

At the initiative of the Qatar News Agency, and on the sidelines of the 28th meeting of Their Excellencies the Ministers of Information of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states, held in the State of Kuwait on May 12, the news agencies of the GCC countries jointly launched a trial of a unified application for Gulf news agencies. This application features numerous advantages and incorporates artificial intelligence technologies, enhancing the quality and speed of news dissemination. It also promotes media integration among GCC countries and provides users with a unique experience in following current events. The launch was attended by the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

The application operates in both Arabic and English and is augmented with the feature of aggregating the GCC news agencies in a unified interface to streamline public accessibility to official information and news.

To mark this occasion, HE Director-General of QNA, Ahmed bin Saeed Al Rumaihi, lauded the project, which he considered one of the most consequential Gulf media integration initiatives that strengthens cooperation among the GCC news agencies, culminating in serving their media mission in general.

His Excellency stressed This application represents a paradigm shift in the area of Gulf media and is expected to contribute to boosting cooperation and providing exceptional media content that meets the aspirations of the public, affirming that he is confident this application would mirror the technological advancements of the GCC states in the domain of media.

HE Al Rumaihi noted that the application offers newscasts for official TV, radio channels, and newspapers, alongside newsletters, highlighting that it features a virtual assistant that helps users browse reports and miscellaneous news upon request.

Initiated by QNA, the application offers an opportunity for followers of GCC state news agencies to stay informed on key regional and international developments from trusted sources.

Hailing the significance of this application, HE GCC Secretary-General Jassim Mohammed Albudaiwi said that it is a leading project that epitomizes the spirit of collaboration and integration and represents a paradigm shift in the area of Gulf media.

The application was designed by leveraging cutting-edge technologies and AI-powered tools, thereby offering the opportunity for followers in the region and across the world to stay informed on official news directly from the GCC news agencies, HE Albudaiwi highlighted.

Overall, QNA performs a pivotal role as an official source of news in the State of Qatar, with its proclaimed commitment to credibility and objectivity, operating as a bridge of communication between Qatar and the world by virtue of its active membership in international news organizations and partnerships.

Domestically, QNA has been a reliable source for national news and has capably covered all political, economic, cultural, and sporting events at home. It has contributed to promoting societal awareness and national identity.

By wielding this national media mission, QNA has kept pace with the holistic progression journey of this beloved nation throughout the past years, along with a variety of consequential political and economic events the country has hosted, affirming the State of Qatar’s growing instrumental role at regional, Arab, and global forums.

Furthermore, QNA has been committed to wielding the banner of official media, positioning itself as the credible mirror of the progress of the nation and its citizens, bearing witness to the nation's achievements, along with the events, activities, and initiatives across all fields and sectors at home and abroad.

Strikingly, the agency has significantly contributed to delivering breaking and high-impact news, in addition to objectively and professionally following critical issues while they are unfolding on the Arab and global stages. Additionally, QNA has strongly advocated for fair Arab, Islamic, and humanitarian causes, positioning itself as the State of Qatar's powerful mouthpiece that espouses truth and justice on the continental stages.

The agency sources its news from a range of outlets and institutional channels, primarily the state ministries, official institutions, as well as field journalists who undertake the mission of tracking official and societal activities across the nation, followed by news exchange agreements between QNA and several Arab and foreign news agencies.

To ensure the media scene is projected in an integrated manner, QNA depends on a network of correspondents deployed to several Arab and global capitals who furnish it with critical foreign news and events when they transpire, along with their details and updates in real time. Thereafter, they cover major events and conferences that are convened either at their duty stations or in proximity to them.

Accordingly, they supply QNA with detailed and holistic reports on these transpired events, with the correspondents conducting interviews with top-rung personalities in the countries in which they operate, in addition to covering Qatari participations and activities abroad, formulating detailed reports, and conducting one-on-one interviews with Qatar's ambassadors in the event capitals.

The agency has been committed to signing a plethora of memoranda of understanding for cooperation and news exchange with Arab, Asian, and international news agencies, with the objective of strengthening relationships in sharing information and streamlining collaboration in the exchange of news content and visual coverage.

Pursuant to the Amiri Decision No. 50 of 2014, pertaining to the organizational restructuring of QNA, the agency has been reconstituted to comprise a comprehensive array of administrative units, namely, the Office of the Director-General, the Internal Audit Department, the Planning and Quality Department, the Legal Affairs Department, the Public Relations and Communication Department, the Shared Services Department, the Data Analysis and Documentation Department, the Editorial and Media Monitoring Department, the News Department, the External Media Affairs Department, and the Technical Affairs Department.

The Editorial and Media Monitoring Department is tasked with a set of critical functions that underpin QNA's editorial integrity and operational responsiveness. These include monitoring local, Arab, and international newspapers and news platforms, particularly in relation to coverage involving the State of Qatar, tracking reports issued by radio and television stations and international news agencies, aggregating, analyzing, and forwarding the information to the News Department, and surveying diverse digital and print news sources to ensure a steady and efficient flow of reliable content into the agency’s editorial pipeline.

Furthermore, the department carries out core journalistic functions, prepares research and analytical studies, and oversees the translation and editorial refinement of incoming foreign-language reports.

The Public Relations and Communication Department, on the other hand, is vested with a broad set of responsibilities, including the issuance of bulletins and media programs designed to highlight the agency’s mandate, as well as its functions and activities, in coordination with the relevant administrative units.

It is likewise tasked with organizing conferences, seminars, and exhibitions convened by the agency, thereby reinforcing its institutional presence and strategic messaging.

The Department of External Media Affairs is charged with monitoring media institutions both at home and abroad, preparing analytical reports thereon for submission to the competent authorities. It is also responsible for organizing and participating in media exhibitions and conferences, maintaining a comprehensive archive of media professionals, monitoring their activities, issuing necessary licenses, and overseeing the implementation of the agency’s foreign media policy.

The Technical Affairs Department is mandated to ensure the broadest possible dissemination of QNA's news output to its recipients and subscribers through the agency’s network, multimedia, and technical operations divisions. This is accomplished through the integration of advanced, industry-recognized systems in broadcasting and media production.

The Shared Services Department manages the agency’s internal financial and administrative affairs in close coordination with the other directorates. It is responsible for the implementation of applicable financial and administrative laws, regulations, and procedures governing the agency’s operations, and it oversees the procurement and provisioning of equipment, supplies, and services required by QNA’s various administrative units to fulfill their assigned functions efficiently.

Since its inception, QNA has not merely functioned as a transmitter of events, but has stood as a witness, chronicler, and genuine partner in cultivating cultural awareness within the State of Qatar. From the 1970s onward, QNA has kept close pace with the evolution of the nation’s cultural and artistic landscape, as followed the early editions of the Doha International Book Fair (DIBF), which was inaugurated in 1972, with its second edition held in 1977, the third in 1980, and subsequently on a biennial basis, until it morphed into an annual event beginning in 2002. QNA has consistently covered this cultural milestone with on-the-ground coverage and the production of in-depth press reports, including analytical features on Qatari publishing houses. Among these is a feature report issued in conjunction with the 34th DIBF, concluded on May 17, 2025, entitled 'Qatari Publishing Houses: Cultural Platforms Illuminating the Corridors of the Doha International Book Fair'.

The Agency also delved into the challenges and prospects of the publishing industry through reports featuring commentary from senior publishing officials. One such report, titled 'Publishing Officials Commend State’s Support for the Publishing Industry and Cultural Dynamism in Qatar', underscored their acknowledgement of the national efforts spearheaded by the Ministry of Culture to foster the domestic publishing sector, thereby invigorating the country’s cultural movement and promoting the presence of Qatari intellectual, academic, and creative output in public discourse.

DIBF has consistently served as a valuable platform for engaging in dialogue with senior officials at home and abroad, with QNA conducting interviews with prominent cultural organization leaders, chiefly, HE Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), Dr. Salem bin Mohammed Al Malik who underlined that Qatar’s contributions to ICESCO’s programs were both consequential and commendable. QNA likewise held conversations with a substantial number of ministers of culture from across the Arab and Islamic worlds, providing comprehensive coverage of the activities staged by youth centers, sports clubs, and social institutions. Chief among these is the venerable Al Jasra Cultural and Social Club, which occupies an exceptional place in Qatar’s cultural history. Throughout its storied journey, the club has played host to leading voices in poetry, literature, and intellectual thought, including iconic poets such as Nizar Qabbani, Badr Shakir Al Sayyab, and Mahmoud Darwish, alongside a constellation of eminent Arab thinkers, foremost among them the late scholar Dr. Abdelwahab Elmessiri.

Qatar News Agency was also present for the country’s first coverage of World Theatre Day celebrations in the early 1980s. It closely followed the inauguration of the Qatar National Theatre, marking a pivotal milestone in the development of the country’s cultural infrastructure. Qatar became the first Gulf country to celebrate World Theatre Day, observed annually on March 27, and has continued to mark the occasion, now reaching its 36th edition.

The agency has published dozens of reports on the event. QNA also documented the golden era of radio and television drama, which at the time presented high-quality productions addressing social issues with awareness and depth.

Numerous were the chapters that laid the foundation for the State of Qatar to evolve and radiate a vivid social and cultural life, bringing it to the forefront of global attention and rendering it an international cultural hub and one of the world’s most prominent sporting capitals.

Embracing world cultures and peoples while remaining true to the traditional values of Qatari society, Doha today stands as a capital of Arab culture and a hub for all forms cultural creativity, with a remarkable presence in the Arab cultural scene, thanks to its evolved and unique array of cultural events.

Qatar News Agency (QNA) accompanied the reopening of Souq Waqif after its renovation in 2004, becoming one of Qatar’s most important touristic and heritage landmarks. It also covered the inauguration of the Museum of Islamic Art in 2008, the Cultural Village Foundation - Katara, the Qatar National Library in 2017, the National Archives of Qatar, as well as the reopening of the National Museum of Qatar in 2019, along with Dar Al Kutub Al Qatariya.

Furthermore, QNA followed the establishment of several cultural forums and platforms, the most prominent of which were the National Archives of Qatar as well as the Qatari Forum for Authors and the Qatari Publishers and Distributors Forum among others.

The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 was one of the most historic events covered by QNA, going above and beyond to showcase all aspects of this global event, from the football field all the way to the cultural, social, and human dimensions of the event.

On daily basis, QNA would follow the wide spectrum of activities and events held by Qatar’s cultural institutions, introducing visitors to Qatar’s history, heritage, and identity through dozens of reports and news pieces.

Through this comprehensive coverage, the international community got to see firsthand how culture can be an essential part of global sporting events, whereby the tournament became a platform for Qatar to act as a cultural ambassador of the Islamic and Arab worlds, inviting the global public to explore the depth of its civilization, culture, and heritage, with the entire world experiencing up close the true meaning of hospitality, generosity, tolerance, fraternity, and the nobility and refinement of Qatari values.

Even after the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 was over, QNA did not relent in keeping pace with the national scene and its developments, encourages an objective approach to the State of Qatar and its rich heritage.

In the field of heritage, cultural journalism has contributed to documenting popular heritage through its close coverage of events such as the Marmi Festival for Falcons since its first edition. Similarly, the Qalayel Championship, which has today become one of the most prominent traditional hunting competitions in the region, was covered by the Qatar News Agency through reports and videos documenting various aspects of the championship.

The role of QNA stands out clearly in highlighting authentic Qatari heritage, raising awareness of its depth, and reminding generations of it by documenting it through diverse journalistic topics characterized by depth and professionalism, as is the agency's approach in all its journalistic production.

Through these foundations, QNA's vital role comes in preserving and spreading Qatari heritage as part of its media and cultural mission, across all elements of journalistic work, aiming to document the Qatari scene in all its cultural dimensions, contributing to reinforcing national memory and enhancing cultural belonging.

By undertaking this role, QNA has played a central role in covering heritage-themed activities, events, and occasions organized by the relevant state institutions, reflecting the authenticity of Qatari heritage by presenting it with balanced content that integrates event reporting, documenting its cultural and historical dimensions, and adhering to professional standards that characterize reputable media outlets.

In its coverage of Qatari heritage, Qatar News Agency has relied on two integrated tracks. The first of them was the informative and documentary track. It involves coverage of various heritage events, including exhibitions, competitions, and festivals, presented in accurate and reliable language, allowing for archiving this wealth of Qatari heritage activity.

The second track was educational, highlighting the various components of heritage, whether tangible, such as traditional architecture and archaeological sites, or intangible, such as traditional crafts, oral narratives, and Qatari customs. Such coverage created a complement that enhanced Qatari identity in all its components.

QNA’s engagement with digital transformation in the media field has been remarkable in this context as well. Its engagement allowed it to reach broader audiences both inside and outside Qatar. That in turn helped promoted Qatari heritage further and helped it reach new generations, particularly digital natives. QNA did so without compromising accuracy, making it an effective partner in the Qatari cultural scene, and a preserver of the nation's, presenting heritage with awareness and professionalism.

Through this balanced performance, QNA has become an effective media platform in the Qatari cultural scene, presenting heritage as one of the main components of national identity, helping preserve national memory across generations.

QNA’s mission and responsibilities include obtaining reliable news from various internal and external sources, redistributing and marketing it locally and globally, analyzing news and information, preparing commentaries and studies of interest to local, Arab, and international public opinion, and publishing, distributing, and marketing them.

QNA is also specifically tasked with developing and implementing an external media strategy and contributing to raising media awareness, thereby helping to enhance and elevate the state's media message. It is also charged with training and qualifying media professionals, and raising their professional level through continuous training and development programs. It also works to promote Qatar's image in Arab and international arenas, strengthen and document relations with various international media bodies and figures, organize visits of foreign journalists to the country, monitor the implementation of media agreements to which the state is a party, and prepare reports with the necessary results, observations, and proposals in this regard.

QNA also handles the exchange and transmission of services and cooperation with local, Arab, and international media outlets. It conducts opinion polls, extracts trends in local, Arab, and global public opinion, classifies, publishes, distributes, and markets them through the issuance of specialized bulletins in various languages. QNA also conducts journalistic investigations covering topics of interest to domestic and foreign public opinion, distributes and markets them, photographs local and global events, and prepares studies, research, and specialized bulletins of interest to local, Arab, and international public opinion. These are then issued, distributed, and marketed. It also provides visual and written news services, prepares media content including key news of the state, and works to publish them through the media. QNA also participates in media exhibitions, press conferences, and provides media coverage for conferences and events both domestically and abroad.

Today, on the 50th anniversary of its establishment, QNA stands with greater confidence in the success of its well-crafted strategy and its keenness to remain at the forefront of the media landscape in the country with word, voice, and image, driven by sincere effort, dedicated staff, and outstanding competence.

There is no doubt that the prestigious and distinguished position of Qatar News Agency would not have been realized without the unlimited support it has received, along with other Qatari media institutions, from HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and the wise government, in addition to the environment of media freedom Qatar enjoys. This success is also owed to the diligent and sincere work of QNA’s staff across all roles and levels, and their deep commitment to the continuous development of QNA’s services and various departments, equipping them with the latest communication technologies, and the relentless training ensure that its product remains professional and of high quality, all efforts made to ensure Qatar News Agency remains a leading brand bolstering the identity of the nation across platforms. (QNA)