Prominent businessman Abdul Rahman Al-Rashid, who is chairman of the Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has commended the “distinctive performance” of Arab News over the last 30 years.

He attributed the paper’s success to its excellent presentation of news and views and its constructive and objective reporting.

“It’s not surprising if Arab News has become the largest circulating English newspaper in Saudi Arabia and one of popular international dailies,” Rashid said.

“In my personal view, Arab News has won the top position among newspapers in the region and has been maintaining that position for quite a long time. The credit goes to its professional staff and their journalistic spirit,” he added.

He said he believed that most English-speaking people in the Kingdom liked to read Arab News daily. “This again proves the paper’s credibility and its wide readership as a result of a variety of attractive news and features it presents and its coverage of economic, political, social and sporting events,” he said.

Everybody can see the tremendous development achieved by Arab News within a short span of 30 years, Rashid said.

He also noted the constructive policies adopted by the paper’s management to make it a leading international newspaper.

On his part, Abdul Aziz ibn Jassem Kanoo, deputy chairman of Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo Group, also commended Arab News for its outstanding reports and features.

“It’s a paper everybody wants to read, not only by English-speaking expatriates but also by a lot of Saudis,” he said. He also underscored the paper’s credibility and its insistence to report only the facts and reality.

“I am very happy to see Arab News following its journalistic principles ever since its inception.

This has strengthened its reputation at the global level and we, the citizens of this country, are proud of watching Arab News compete with many international dailies,” he added.

Yaseen ibn Saeed Al-Suroor, executive president of Arab Economics and Business Group, said Arab News achieved its name and fame by covering major issues at local, regional and international levels.

“It gives importance to all areas, especially economic matters,” he said and commended the paper’s popularity in many countries, especially in Europe, America and East Asia.

“Those who read this paper regularly can easily notice the great strides it made. Its coverage of news concerning all expatriate communities is just fantastic,” Suroor said.

He also noted Arab News’ desire to publish the latest news and cater to the requirements of all its readers, irrespective of their social and educational levels.

In his comment, Haithem Abu Aysha, director general of Saharanet, noted the big role being played by Arab News and its comprehensive coverage of major national and international events.

“Arab News has been playing a vital role in projecting a good picture of this country at the global level especially after a series of terrorist attacks that hit the Kingdom in recent months. It has published several stories and reports highlighting the tolerant nature of Saudis and their cohesion with the leadership,” he pointed out.

Lawyer Abdul Aziz Al-Hoshani said he was a regular reader of Arab News, which has become a leading newspaper in the region.

“I take this opportunity to congratulate Arab News on its successes and achievements,” he said, and commended the paper for its role in preserving the Kingdom’s reputation at the global level.