Al-Ahram
Egypt's oldest surviving daily newspaper of record.
Al-Ahram (Arabic: الأهرام, lit. It is majority owned by the Egyptian government and is considered a newspaper of record for Egypt, as well as an influential source of writing style in Arabic.
- Founders
- Bishara Takla and Salim Takla
Lore & Background
Early writers included religious innovator Muhammad Abduh. On 24 May 1960, it was nationalized when Nasser passed a law eliminating private newspaper ownership. Under Nasser, al-Ahram became an internationally respected paper.
Reader's Guide
Al-Ahram's significance lies in its role as Egypt's newspaper of record and its influence on Arabic writing style. The paper is majority owned by the Egyptian government, which appoints its editors. Under President Hosni Mubarak, Al-Ahram largely ignored and trivialized opposition parties and did not publish much direct criticism of the government. president Barack Obama to place Egyptian president Mubarak in the front.
Origins in Alexandria and the Birth of a Daily
The name, meaning "The Pyramids," immediately anchored the paper in Egyptian identity. The paper's early pages attracted prominent religious and intellectual voices, including Muhammad Abduh and Jamal al-Din al-Afghani, whose contributions helped shape its editorial character. Distribution stretched across Egypt and the Levant, giving it a regional reach uncommon for its era.
The Heikal Era and the Road to Nationalization
Two years later, on 24 May 1960, Nasser's law eliminating private newspaper ownership formally nationalized the paper, cementing its government-aligned status. Under Heikal's stewardship, the publication earned international respect and relocated to a new headquarters in Bulaq during the 1960s.
A Global Publishing Ecosystem
Beyond its Egyptian daily, Al-Ahram has built a sprawling multilingual publishing operation that reaches readers across the Arab world and the broader international community. The pan-Arab edition, Al Ahram Al Arabiya, is published daily in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE, and distributed throughout Egypt and the Persian Gulf states, targeting both Arab readers and Egyptian expatriates.
State Influence, Censorship, and Controversy
Al-Ahram's ownership structure places it firmly under Egyptian government control. The paper is held by the Al-Ahram Foundation, managed by the state's Supreme Council of Press, and the government holds a controlling share of its stocks while appointing its editors. Because these editors are state appointees, formal censorship is minimal; their loyalty to the government is assumed. Under President Hosni Mubarak, the paper largely ignored and trivialized opposition parties to the ruling National Democratic Party, offering little direct criticism of the regime. President Barack Obama, repositioning Mubarak from the rearmost spot to the front. Editor-in-chief Osama Saraya defended the edit as an "expressionist" nod to Egypt's role in the Palestinian peace process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns Al-Ahram?
The Egyptian government holds a majority ownership stake in the newspaper, which gives it an official status within the country's media landscape.
Why is Al-Ahram important to Arabic-language journalism?
Beyond its circulation, Al-Ahram has long set the benchmark for formal Arabic prose and editorial style. Its influence extends well beyond Egypt, shaping how serious Arabic-language writing is structured and phrased.
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