Third English daily launched in Qatar

Doha: Qatar's third English daily, Qatar Tribune, was launched yesterday on the occasion of the country's 35th independence anniversary.

The daily, a sister publication of Arabic daily Al Watan, will cater to the information needs of Qatar's growing multi-ethnic and multi-cultural community, the editors said yesterday from the paper's front page.

"In Qatar Tribune we believe it is our main responsibility to build bridges across civilisations … We believe in tolerance, dialogue and moderation. We will strive to provide news from all perspectives," an editorial article said.

Hamad Bin Suhaim Al Thani, chairman of the Board of Directors of Dar Al Watan Publishing, said the paper will be "an English daily with a Qatari heart".

Ajit Kumar Jha, Qatar Tribune's editor, said the new publication will play a leading role in the local printed press in English language, with cutting edge and independent reporting.

Qatar Tribune will be the third English daily distributed in Qatar, after Gulf Times and The Peninsula, both affiliated to Arabic publications. The three dailies target a growing population of English-speaking foreigners.