Licences of Kuwait's Al Sabah newspaper, TV Channel revoked

Dubai:  Kuwait’s Ministry of Information announced two administrative decisions to revoke the licences of Al Sabah Arabic-language newspaper and Al Sabah satellite television channel, just three days after the government withdrew the citizenship of their owner.

According to Asharq Al Awsat Arabic daily, following the rulings, the channel immediately ceased broadcasting, while the newspaper, founded on March 30, 2008, suspended all publication activities.

On Sunday, an Emiri decree issued, stripping Dr. Barakat Hudaiban Al Rashidi, the editor-in-chief of Al Sabah, owner of the channel, and chairman of the Board of Trustees at the International University for Science and Technology, of his Kuwaiti nationality. The decree also affected several members of his family and those who had acquired citizenship through him.

Reports in Kuwait suggest that a local investor is seeking to acquire the media organisation that publishes both the newspaper and the channel. If the transaction proceeds, it is expected to bring significant changes to their leadership structures, potentially reshaping one of Kuwait’s longstanding media institutions and influencing the country’s media landscape.