Salman Al-Dossary: From a Prestigious Career in Journalism to Saudi Media Minister

Saudi Arabia new Media Minister Salman bin Yousef Al-Dossary.
Saudi Arabia new Media Minister Salman bin Yousef Al-Dossary.
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Salman Al-Dossary: From a Prestigious Career in Journalism to Saudi Media Minister

Saudi Arabia new Media Minister Salman bin Yousef Al-Dossary.
Saudi Arabia new Media Minister Salman bin Yousef Al-Dossary.

Salman bin Yousef Al-Dossary was named Saudi Media Minister in a Royal Order by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz on Sunday.

Al-Dossary will be embarking on his new journey after have spent 12 years at Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper. He will now forge the Kingdom’s media policies after decades in drafting editorial policies.

He is Saudi Arabia’s second ever media minister, succeeding Adel al-Turaifi who was named to the post in 2015.

Al-Dossary holds a degree in management and economy. He kicked off his career at the Saudi Research and Publishing Company in 1998. He started as a journalist at Al Eqtisadiah, Asharq Al-Awsat's affiliate publication, before joining Asharq Al-Awsat itself.

At his new position, he continued his dedication to his profession, covering various local, regional and international developments. He has carried out numerous interviews with significant figures, including presidents and heads of state, enriching his career.

After spending 12 years at Asharq Al-Awsat, he was promoted to editor of its United Arab Emirates’ office in 2006 and later became assistant to its editor-in-chief at its London office. He also became editor-in-chief of Al Eqtisadiah.

In mid-2014, Al-Dossary was named editor-in-chief of Asharq Al-Awsat, drawing up its editorial policies from its London headquarters. He also rose to the helm of Al-Majalla and Arrajol magazines.

As editor-in-chief at Al-Majalla, he developed it so that it touched on the issues that concern the Arab world and developed Arrajol to become the Arab world’s top men’s magazine.

In 2016, Al-Dossary returned to Riyadh, completing his tenure as editor-in-chief at Asharq Al-Awsat. He remained as a columnist, becoming a beacon in defending the nation.

Ever the first choice for any challenge, due to his high dedication and loyalty, he was appointed to the editorial boards at Al-Arabiya and Al-Hadath renowned television channels. There, he helped shape their editorial identity and general policies.

Throughout, he kept his column at Asharq Al-Awsat, writing articles that reflect national awareness of the circumstances the region was enduring. He understood the challenges and how to address them, offered rational rhetoric against the winds of extremism, and supported development and revival against backwardness.

Now, as media minister, Salman bin Yousef Al-Dossary takes on a new mission to lead Saudi media policies to build a modern media sector that would follow the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and its ambitious programs.



Gulf-EU Summit Calls for ‘Immediate Ceasefire’ in Gaza, Lebanon

European Council President Charles Michel, French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud stand as they pose for a family photo during the joint European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit, in Brussels, Belgium October 16, 2024. REUTERS/Johanna Geron
European Council President Charles Michel, French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud stand as they pose for a family photo during the joint European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit, in Brussels, Belgium October 16, 2024. REUTERS/Johanna Geron
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Gulf-EU Summit Calls for ‘Immediate Ceasefire’ in Gaza, Lebanon

European Council President Charles Michel, French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud stand as they pose for a family photo during the joint European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit, in Brussels, Belgium October 16, 2024. REUTERS/Johanna Geron
European Council President Charles Michel, French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud stand as they pose for a family photo during the joint European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit, in Brussels, Belgium October 16, 2024. REUTERS/Johanna Geron

The leaders of the European Union and six Gulf nations held an inaugural summit Wednesday, encompassing everything from visas and trade to the situation in the Middle East.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was in Brussels for the summit.

A joint statement said the leaders committed to the EU-GCC Strategic Partnership and pledged to elevate it to the next level. “We agree to build our Strategic Partnership, based on mutual respect and trust, for the benefit of the people of our regions and beyond,” it said.

On Gaza, the EU and Gulf leaders called for “an immediate, full and complete ceasefire, the release of hostages, the exchange of the Palestinian prisoners as well as immediate and unimpeded humanitarian access to civilian population, including the safe and effective distribution of humanitarian assistance at scale throughout the Gaza strip to all Palestinian civilians who need it.”

They also reaffirmed their “unwavering commitment to the realization of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination through the Two-State solution where Israel and Palestine live side by side in peace within secure and recognized borders, along the 1967 lines, consistent with international law and relevant UN resolutions and the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative.”

The leaders expressed deep concern over the Israeli military operations in the West Bank, and called for their immediate end. They also strongly condemned the ongoing extremist settler violence in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

On Lebanon, they called for an “immediate ceasefire” and stressed the need to implement Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls on Hezbollah to withdraw to the north of Litani river.

They condemned all attacks against UN missions and expressed particularly “grave concerns” regarding the recent Israeli attacks against peacekeepers in southern Lebanon.

At the summit, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi said: “Reviving the peace process in the Middle East to fulfil the Palestinian people's aspirations for establishing an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on the 1967 borders, remains the sole path to achieving security and stability in the region.”

"While we express our deep sorrow and frustration over the atrocities inflicted upon our Palestinian brothers and sisters, we reaffirm the GCC's long-standing position advocating for an immediate and complete cessation of hostilities and the unrestricted entry of humanitarian relief teams” to the Gaza Strip.

“We categorically reject the forced displacement of civilians in Gaza and stress the need to adhere to international law and humanitarian law. This mandates that we take necessary measures to advance collective efforts to halt this war and pressure Israel to permit humanitarian aid to reach the Palestinian people," Albudaiwi said.

He added that the failure to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza has led to escalating tensions in Palestinian territories and a spillover of conflict into Lebanon.

On Iran, the summit’s statement called on the country “to pursue regional de-escalation” and said: "We share a clear determination that Iran must never develop or acquire a nuclear weapon.”

The leaders also demanded that the Iran-backed “Houthis halt attacks against vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, release crew and avoid any further escalatory measures that threaten global security and stability.”