Al Fajr newspaper founder Obaid Humaid Al Mazrouei dies; UAE media mourns a pioneer
Al Mazrouei's career was also a poet and writer deeply interested in culture
The UAE's media community mourned the loss of one of its pioneers in journalism, media, thought, and literature, Obaid Humaid Al Mazrouei, founder and editor-in-chief of the Emirati newspaper "Al Fajr." He died this morning, Monday, after a distinguished career spanning more than five decades.
With the passing of Obaid Humaid Al Mazrouei, Emirati journalism loses a prominent media and cultural figure who contributed significantly to shaping the history of national media. His name is closely linked to the nation's development and progress since the early years of the Union. The deceased also left a clear mark on the cultural and literary landscape of the UAE and the region.
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Born in Ajman in 1935, Al Mazrouei began his career in the oil sector in Saudi Arabia before moving to the banking sector. He ultimately dedicated himself to journalism, choosing it as his calling and mission, firmly believing in the power of the written word and media to serve his nation and society. In 1974, Al Mazrouei obtained a license to publish the newspaper "Al Fajr," the first issue of which appeared on March 17, 1975. It became one of the Emirati newspapers that chronicled the journey of the UAE from its earliest years, its name symbolically representing the dawn of a new era in the nation's history.
"Al Fajr" began as a weekly newspaper before becoming a daily in 1978, and it has maintained a presence in the Emirati media landscape for over five decades.
The late Al Mazrouei's career was not limited to journalism; he was also a poet and writer, deeply interested in culture, literature, poetry, and heritage. Through "Al Fajr," he ensured a platform for these fields, most notably the "Fajr Al Shu'ara" (Dawn of Poets) supplement, which contributed to supporting poetic talent and highlighting the poetic and cultural movement in the UAE, the Gulf region, and the Arab world.
Al Mazrouei also left behind a number of publications, including "Events of Time and Pillars of Construction" and "The Necklace of Pearls in Praise and Eloquence", which, along with his journalistic and literary experience, constitute a part of his intellectual and cultural legacy.
The media community in the UAE remembers the late Al Mazrouei's career and his contributions to journalism and culture, as well as the impact he had on generations of journalists, writers, and intellectuals. He was one of those who helped establish the presence of the national press and keep pace with the development of the federal state from its earliest stages.
