Al-Watan (Arabic: الوطن), also known as Al Watan Newspaper, refers to two distinct Arabic-language newspapers, one in Egypt and one in Syria, each with its own unique history, political affiliations, and impact on the media landscape.
Al-Watan News (Egypt)
El Watan News (Arabic: الوطن) is an Egyptian daily news portal published online by Future Publishing, Distribution, and Press. The portal provides breaking news reports, political analyses, and other general economic and entertainment coverage to an audience of Arabic speakers worldwide.
Live, on-site video coverage and advertisements curated by Bawabat Al-Watan (the in-site ad agency) are as important to its journalistic mix as written articles. Journalist Mahmoud Muslim serves as the editor, and Mohamed Al-Amin owns Future Media.
A selection of Egyptian newspapers.
Al-Watan Gate combines breaking news, political reports and analyzes, and articles by senior writers, along with services and entertainment, in order to satisfy its audience with its diverse interests in Egypt and the Arab world, and Arabic speakers around the world. In addition to news materials that are consistent with the principles of objectivity and journalism ethics, Al-Watan Gate relies on innovation and modern journalistic forms based on interaction and converting information into visually attractive materials, in addition to distinguished video journalism that goes beyond news clips, to convey live faces and images from within events.
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Response to Controversial Publications
After the release of Innocence of Muslims and the publication of caricatures of Muhammad in the French weekly Charlie Hebdo, El Watan News published a special issue including 15 five-panel cartoons in response.
Al-Watan's Stance on British Presence in Early 1900s Egypt
In the early 1900s, Egyptian newspapers played a crucial role in shaping public opinion regarding the British presence in Egypt. One particular article from Al-Watan criticized a news story published in other native newspapers (referred to as the “Opposition Press”). The editor of Al-Watan defended the "Ministers of his Highness," who were accused of trying to persuade important people in Cairo to honor Lord Cromer, a prominent British figure. Al-Watan portrayed the British as gentlemen and criticized the Opposition Papers, calling their news story a "bare-faced fabrication without a shadow of truth."
This indicates that Al-Watan supported the British presence, contrasting with other native newspapers that demanded increased political participation for Arabophone Egyptians. While some papers advocated for continued Ottoman Sovereignty, Al-Watan's pro-British stance was notable, as most of the native press opposed Lord Cromer and his government.
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Recognition for Cybersecurity Awareness
Al-Watan newspaper won first place for its feature “Victims of the Digital Age- Trapped by Cybercrime” which also launched Al-Watan’s “Your Data is Not a Game” Campaign by journalists Mohamed Said Al-Shamma and Menna El-Ashmawy.
In September 2025, MCS, in collaboration with 30N Group, the Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC) of the Egyptian Cabinet, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Egypt, announced the winners of their joint specialized training programme on media coverage of cybersecurity issues. Al-Watan newspaper won first place for its feature “Victims of the Digital Age- Trapped by Cybercrime” which also launched Al-Watan’s “Your Data is Not a Game” Campaign by journalists Mohamed Said Al-Shamma and Menna El-Ashmawy.
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Dr. Osama El-Gohary, Assistant to the Prime Minister and Chairman of the IDSC, congratulated the winners, highlighting the competition as an important step in advancing awareness on cybersecurity-an area that the Egyptian government prioritizes as part of its digital transformation strategy. He emphasized that professional media coverage of cybersecurity issues helps mitigate risks while ensuring optimal use of modern digital tools to advance development goals.
CEO of MCS Eng. Tarek Shabaka, expressed deep appreciation for the journalists’ contributions, noting that the submissions reflected the significant impact of the training programme. He affirmed that Egyptian media has demonstrated remarkable ability to cover cybersecurity with depth and strategic perspective. He added that the programme, developed in partnership with key stakeholders, has built the capacity of participating journalists to highlight strategic cybersecurity issues tailored to the Egyptian context-underscoring the success of this initiative as part of MCS’s corporate social responsibility to raise public awareness of cybersecurity as a vital pillar of Egypt’s national security.
From her side, UNDP Egypt Resident Representative Chitose Noguchi said, “I am delighted to acknowledge the achievements of Egyptian media in raising awareness on cybersecurity. At a time when cyber threats are becoming more complex - and more dangerous - their role is more vital than ever. By recognizing their outstanding reporting, we are highlighting the value of responsible journalism in empowering citizens and supporting national efforts to build a secure and resilient digital society. UNDP is proud to partner with MCS and 30N, under the auspices of the IDSC, demonstrating the power of collaboration in advancing Egypt’s digital transformation journey.”
Noha El-Nahhas, CEO of 30N Group, stressed that such training programmes enhances the skills of journalists and enables them to perform their roles professionally in a rapidly changing world where digitization and cybersecurity are among the most pressing issues. She expressed her pride in working with the IDSC, UNDP, and MCS on this initiative, stating: “Professional media that is equipped with modern tools and attuned to digital developments is essential for building a safe digital society and safeguarding the future of institutional journalism.”
Dr. Yasser Abdel Aziz, Chair of the Competition’s Award Committee, praised the quality and diversity of the submitted stories, noting that participants made the most of the training sessions, discussions, and technical tools provided. He emphasized that selecting the winners was not easy given the strength and alignment of the entries with the judging criteria.
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Important to note that the programme engaged over 60 journalists from more than 20 Egyptian media organizations.
Al Watan (Syria)
Al Watan (Arabic: الوطن), also known as Al Watan Newspaper, is a Syrian Arabic-language daily newspaper. The newspaper was established and owned by Rami Makhlouf, a prominent Syrian businessman and cousin of former President Bashar al-Assad. The publisher of Al Watan is the Syrian Arab Publishing and Distributing Company.
Map of Syria.
Sanctions and Role in the Syrian Civil War
Al Watan was first listed on 2 December 2011. The UK government imposed sanctions on Al Watan due to its role in spreading disinformation and inciting violence against demonstrators during the Syrian civil war. Al Watan was listed under the UK’s Syria regime-related sanctions programs, specifically targeting entities that support or are involved with the Assad regime’s repressive activities.
The UK government sanctioned Al Watan because the newspaper participated in campaigns to spread disinformation and incite violence against demonstrators in Syria. Al Watan was identified as a daily newspaper that actively participated in disseminating state propaganda. It spread disinformation designed to delegitimize opposition groups and justify the Assad regime’s use of extreme force against civilians and demonstrators.
The sanctions against Al Watan aimed to restrict its financial operations and limit its ability to function internationally, particularly in jurisdictions under UK control. By freezing assets and prohibiting transactions, the UK government sought to curtail the newspaper’s capacity to support the Assad regime’s repressive apparatus.
Lifting of Sanctions
As of 24 April 2025, the UK government lifted sanctions against Al Watan, along with other Syrian entities, following the ousting of former President Bashar al-Assad. The move aimed to support Syria’s reconstruction after nearly 14 years of civil war. Despite the lifting of sanctions, Al Watan’s reputation remains tied to its role during the Assad regime. Al Watan played a significant role in the Syrian media landscape, serving as a mouthpiece for the Assad regime and participating in campaigns that spread disinformation and incited violence against demonstrators. Its close ties to Rami Makhlouf and the Syrian government led to its inclusion in UK sanctions lists.
Following the fall of the Assad regime, the UK lifted sanctions against Al Watan, allowing the newspaper to operate without restrictions.
| Aspect | Al-Watan (Egypt) | Al-Watan (Syria) |
|---|---|---|
| Language | Arabic | Arabic |
| Publishing Type | Online News Portal | Daily Newspaper |
| Ownership | Future Publishing, Distribution, and Press (Mohamed Al-Amin) | Rami Makhlouf (formerly), Syrian Arab Publishing and Distributing Company |
| Political Affiliation | Varies; aims for objectivity | Strongly aligned with the Assad regime (formerly) |
| Role/Impact | Provides news, analysis, and entertainment to Arabic speakers worldwide. Recognized for cybersecurity awareness campaigns. | Served as a mouthpiece for the Assad regime, spread disinformation, and incited violence during the Syrian Civil War. |
| Sanctions | None | Subject to UK sanctions due to role in Syrian Civil War (sanctions lifted in 2025) |
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