Most popular daily newspapers in Dubai

In the last couple of decades, Dubai has become a symbol of economic development in the UAE. The emirate’s alignment with the global economy since the 1970s also resulted in an increase of Arabic and English newspapers in Dubai.

Today, we discuss major newspapers in Dubai for both locals and expatriates. Kindly note that we have restricted the list to newspapers that function as daily broadsheets with a physical print edition. 

DUBAI NEWSPAPERS AT A GLANCE

News publishing in the emirates began in the 1920s when a shopkeeper in Al Ain, Musabbah Bin Obeid Al Dhahiri posted local bulletins on the walls of his shop. These bulletins covered everything from marriages to the resolutions announced by His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The first printed newspaper in the region was The Recorder, which was published by an Indian expatriate to feature the latest local updates. As the emirates consolidated and the UAE gained its independence, there was a need for a more formalised approach to press that could promote nationalist feelings among the populace. 

The UAE has rapidly emerged as a  global market player in the last couple of decades. And with significant political developments in the region, newspapers in Dubai had an important task on their hands of recording history as it happened.

Since these early days, newspapers in the UAE today, have evolved from largely printing official announcements and business listings to keeping a finger on the pulse of latest events and updates, whether its politics, sports or movies. 

Here are the top Dubai newspapers with the widest circulation and online presence. 

ENGLISH NEWSPAPERS IN DUBAI

Catering to both locals and expats in the UAE as well as international readers, these are the major English newspapers in Dubai. 

GULF NEWS

Gulf News is a Dubai-based English daily newspaper. Launched in 1978, it is now the most widely sold English newspaper in the UAE. Its online edition, gulfnews.com, likewise is the most visited local news website. Starting with a small circulation of 3,000 newspapers in the early years, this daily Gulf newspaper Dubai remains one of the most popular news sources in the emirate, especially among expatriates. Al Nisr Publishing owns the paper and its associated services. The editorial staff consists of staff from nearly 30 nationalities. Gulf News is also known for its special supplements including the highly popular Friday magazine. They also feature articles from students, reputed leaders and political influencers in addition to content published by their regular editorial team.  

KHALEEJ TIMES

Khaleej Times was also launched in the same year as Gulf News and has since then grown to be one of the most reliable newspapers in Dubai and the rest of the UAE. Owned by Galadari Printing and Publishing Company, Khaleej Times has widespread circulation throughout the UAE, as well as in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The Khaleej Times e-paper (khaleejtimes.com) is also one of the top online news sources in the region.

This Dubai newspaper also has a multi-cultural staff that mainly consists of Indian and Pakistani journalists and executives. The broadsheet is particularly liked by its readers because of its business section. The Khaleej Times also publishes a daily tabloid by the name of City Times.  

GULF TODAY

Launched in 1996, Gulf Today is the third oldest English newspaper in the UAE. Sharjah-based Dar Al Khaleej owns and publishes the broadsheet. The company also publishes Arabic newspapers and magazines. You can also get the Gulf Today e-paper at gulftoday.ae. 

EMIRATES BUSINESS 24/7 (FORMERLY EMIRATES TODAY)

Emirates Today was the fourth English-language daily in the emirate. The Arab Media Group (AMG) launched Emirates Today in 2004. AMG is involved with both Arabic and English print and electronic media (including MTV Arabia). The paper was folded only a couple of years later and the staff was turned over to the new entity of Emirates 24/7. However, soon after, Emirates 24/7 news closed its print edition and become an e-paper (emirates247.com) to save printing and distribution costs. 

THE NATIONAL

This Abu Dhabi based newspaper deserves a place on our list, as it has quickly risen to regional prominence since it first came out in 2008. The National newspaper Dubai also has a growing online presence with its website (thenational.ae). The staff consists of both experienced columnists as well as fresh talent, which gives this relatively new paper a significant edge in the market. 

ARABIC NEWSPAPERS IN DUBAI

Arabic readers also have several choices when it comes to daily news. Top Arabic circulations include: 

• Al Bayan (albayan.ae)
• Al Ittihad (alittihad.ae)
• Al Khaleej (alkhaleej.ae)
• Emarat Al Youm (emaratalyoum.com)
• AlRoeya(www.alroeya.com)

NEWSPAPERS IN OTHER LANGUAGES

Along with Arabic and English, there are several publications and websites in Dubai’s catering to the needs of various nationalities residing in the emirate. 

• Gulf Madhyamam (Malayalam)
• Manorama Daily (Malayalam)
• Siraj Daily (Malayalam)
• Dailythanthi (Tamil)
• The Filipino Times (Filipino/English)
• Kabayan Weekly (Filipino/English)
• Nihao (Chinese)

Online Newspapers in Dubai 

Similar to patterns observed in other parts of the world, the small print media market of the UAE is slowly losing its share to electronic and digital platforms. Expats, in particular, prefer online newspapers in Dubai. 

One of the oldest online news sources is AMEinfo.com, which was founded in 1993. Since then, it is one of the popular sources of daily news, especially popular for its business directory and event listings. Based in Dubai Media City, AME is especially followed by business professionals in the emirate.  

Other popular online newspapers in Dubai include Dubai Chronicle,  and Al Arabiya English. Sports enthusiasts enjoy the daily features on Sport 360, while MENA Herald and Arabian Business cater to those looking for the latest business news. 

This wraps our Dubai newspapers guide. Along with getting the latest news, residents and expats in the emirate also subscribe to these papers for business listings and to search for job prospects. If you are looking for the latest openings in the employment sector, you may also want to know about the top job searching sites in the UAE.

And of course, you can always subscribe to MyBayut and stay updated on property trends, lifestyle and tips for living in the UAE.