It gives me immense pleasure to be part of the celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of Arab News, one of the leading English-language dailies in the Arab world, busy making headway to meet the need of the hour.

It so happens that Times of Oman, which I founded in 1975, celebrated its 30th anniversary last February and I looked for words to describe my feelings overwhelmed as I was by the enormity of the occasion.

“Today is the happiest day of my life. I am thrilled to say that three decades of grind and toil have borne fruit,” I said, to put it briefly.

This must be more true for those at the helm of Arab News and others running the prestigious daily about to cross another milestone in its mission to project not only the cause of the all-important Kingdom but the cause of the entire Muslim and Arab world. The newspaper is busy countering, forcefully and meaningfully, the anti-Islamic and anti-Arab propaganda launched by the biased and prejudiced Western media and accelerated after 9/11.

Those who read Arab News (and the number I am sure increases by the day) must be impressed by its impartiality and objectivity in keeping with the best traditions of journalism — a sacred link between the ruler and the ruled. The job of a journalist is to present the facts and figures to the readers justly and judiciously without fear or favor.

Journalism also means to say the maximum in the minimum number of words for the obvious reason of space.

Brevity is the soul of wit. Arab News, of which I remain a keen, avid reader, represents these virtues. I have been to Saudi Arabia, a role model for the Muslim and Arab world, many a time.

My last professional visit took place in 2004 to attend a GCC conference of newspaper editors in Jeddah, which turned out to be a big success thanks to the dual role played by the hosts and others involved in the exercise.

A cohesive and coordinated GCC media remains a top priority.

I am pleased to say that Arab News and Times of Oman are busy forging closer links to promote togetherness for a common cause.

We share newsworthy material other than Viewpoint, my weekly article, which is printed by Arab News, and discerning columns, written by Khaled Almaeena, my counterpart at Arab News, which are published by Times of Oman.

We also distribute Arab News Pinoy Xtra, the Filipino publication growing in popularity. Our partnership is bound to grow further, committed as we both are to the ideals of journalism.

Recently, I enjoyed the opportunity to host a well-attended lecture by Almaeena, who I have known for the past 15 years.

He shed light on Saudi Arabia pre- and post-9/11 at the prestigious Press Club in his own inimitable style. It turned out to be a highly educational and lively exercise climaxed by a candid and frank question-answer session.

Needless to say, the speaker won the hearts of the knowledgeable audience, much to my delight.

Finally, let me again offer my heartfelt congratulations to all those who have toiled to make Arab News the great newspaper that it is today.

Long live Arab News!

Essa bin Mohammed

Al Zedjali

Editor in Chief

Times of Oman