For someone that spends so much time trying to dig up stuff on Kuwait I don’t know how I just found out there was an English newspaper back in the 60s and 70s in Kuwait called “The Daily News”. I found two copies of the newspaper this weekend while sifting through a pile of old newspapers at an old books and magazines sale in Sulaibiya and was completely caught by surprise since I didn’t know this paper ever existed.
One copy is dated Wednesday August 16, 1972 while the other Wednesday October 17, 1973. The newspaper is described as “Leading Political Daily Newspaper in Arabian Gulf” and Edititor-in-Chief was Fahed Al Massaeed. The newspaper was published by Al Rai Al Aam and was launched in 1963. I’ve found no information about it online which is why I never knew about it.
Both issues mostly covered international news but there were a few articles and ads in the papers that were super interesting. For example, one paper had a TV guide while the other one had a radio guide. Then one of the issues had a section called Kuwait Dateline which must be equivalent to a 1970s version of Twitter. Actually, I thought Dateline was really bizarre, why would random people reading the newspaper be interested in this info I have no idea, and they’re so detailed! For example:
Al Haj Nicola Abu Khater, Bristol Hotel Manager flew for one day – stay in Lebanon which he spent with his children in Aljtoun.
It must have been a thing they did back then because traveling wasn’t so common?
Another interesting article I found was regarding the acquittal of the editor-in-chief of the Al-Siyassa newspaper Ahmad Jarallah from the charges brought against him. I only know of Ahmad Jarallah because he’s constantly in the news, always being referred to the public prosecution or always having charges against him dropped. So seeing this article from 1973 which wouldn’t seem out of place today put a smile on my face. He’s STILL the editor-in-chief of the Al-Siyassa newspaper today and he’s STILL getting in trouble with the courts, I love that!
Anyway, I’ve uploaded all the interesting bits from both papers and you can check them out above and in the post below (click on more).
15 replies on “The Daily News – English Kuwaiti Newspaper Launched in 1963”
Wasn’t there a pin up picture on the back page ?
Nope
What is up with the stock prices!!
When NBK was established in 1952, the share price was 1,000 Indian Rupees (equivalent to 100 KD I think at the time, 75 KD today). Must of been the case with the rest as well, for shares to be issued at 100 KD at establishment. At one point that was changed to be 100 fils and these older companies surely had many splits to allow for smaller investors I guess. Or something along those lines, I am only sure of the first sentence of this statement. 🙂
Stock prices shown were before the Manakh Stock Market crash in August 1982. After that crash stock prices dropped to about 1/10th of the listed prices (even lower), devastating the Kuwait banking system and causing a recession in Kuwait and the Gulf. Listed bank prices before the crash is quite interesting.
Love how the TV channels took a 6 hour break lol.
That “Termination of Service” notice was just brutal!
KTV2 the English Channel when it eventually launched would only start in the evening.
Fantastic find, Mark!
My father works at the modern day Al-Rai, let me know if you’d like more of this kind of stuff or if there’s anything specific you’d like to see and I can see how I can help.
I need more copies!
Me, too!
Hi Jimmy, I’m looking for old articles about The English School (TES). I don’t know when this newspaper was founded, but the school was opened in 1953 so articles from that time would be extra cool!
Original, copies or even digital articles would be greatly appreciated
Many thanks
Reading through Al-Jarrallahs page was a ride for sure. He sounds really cool
Jarallah*
TV KUWAIT (ABOVE)
At 6:10 to 6:35 Cartoons was “POPEYE the Sailor Man”
6:35 to 7:05 Serial was “Adventures in Paradise”