The 5 Best Newspapers in Dubai
Whether you’re looking to get a gist of today and yesterday’s happenings, or hone in on an editorial opinion about a current issue, newspapers are your best friend.
So we scoured the city for the best newspapers in Dubai. We’re also sharing with you the factors we considered in choosing, and also answered some FAQs about newspapers in Dubai.
How much do newspapers in Dubai cost?
The cost of a newspaper in Dubai varies on the publication, whether it’s a digital copy or a physical one, and the pricing structure of the publication.
Nowadays, it’s common to see newspapers in a digital format sent via emails to their subscribers. To give you a starting point, we made a table of the cost of a newspaper from our picks.
The Best Newspapers in Dubai
Before we get right into our top picks for the best newspapers in Dubai, here are the factors we considered for our entries on this list:
1. Gulf News
| Criteria | Rating |
| Appeal | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Background | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Products | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Achievements | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Gulf News is the biggest selling newspaper in UAE, and the most visited news website in the country, as well.
The great thing about it is that it knows its strong points, specifically its penchant to garner engagement from different kinds of audiences.
Most of that comes from the fact that the newspaper covers all kinds of stories, both found in print and on its website.
From the staples that are business updates and general daily news, to more niche topics such as gaming and parenting, this newspaper filters the most interesting stories from everywhere.
And this kind of skill doesn’t just come out of nowhere. Gulf News has been at it since 1978, and the editorial staff members come from nearly 30 countries, making the news diverse.
As for its products, we love that it has a number of alternative publications. However, we do think that some of it is too similar to Gulf News and don’t offer anything new.
Out of all of it, Gulf News is the most well-rounded product, while others just focus on one aspect of the newspaper.
Despite that, this provider has its own share of achievements. Besides being an important sponsor in many UAE sporting events, Gulf News is a multi-award-winning publication.
Pros
- Well-rounded news topics
- Diverse editorial team, diverse stories
- Multi-award-winning publication
Cons
- Products have very little differences
2. Gulf Today
| Criteria | Rating |
| Appeal | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Background | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
| Products | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Achievements | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
Launched in 1996, Gulf Today is one of the older English newspapers in the UAE. Its brave and detailed political journalism is what’s been making it one of the most prosperous publications in the country.
We love the editorial takes on all kinds of news it covers because seeing stories through a certain lens lends itself to being taken into specific contexts that lead to a deeper understanding of the news.
While it may not have the widest appeal to all kinds of audiences, we think that its editorial approach earns it a strong following.
But besides being launched in 1996, Gulf Today has been a lowkey constant presence in the media industry.
We think this hurts the newspaper in the long run as its lack of a stronger presence in the community has not earned it any accolades despite having a strong and clear voice.
Gulf Today also publishes Al Khaleej, an Arabic daily newspaper, and Panorama, its all-color magazine.
While it only has two other products, both are different enough to cover other niches and sectors of the community — Al Khaleej for those who prefer to read Arabic news, and Panorama for culture-focused updates both locally and globally.
Pros
- Offers detailed and editorial news pieces
- Has an Arabic newspaper and a colored magazine
- Has a strong following
Cons
- No awards
- No significant historical achievements
3. Khaleej Times
| Criteria | Rating |
| Appeal | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Background | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Products | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Achievements | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Hailed as one of the most reliable newspapers in UAE, Khaleej Times has built itself to be a household name not just in the country, but in the region too.
From international news and lifestyle pieces to sports and entertainment updates, Khaleej Times has a diverse publication that has something for everyone.
This is due to the fact that the editorial team and its executives are composed of a diverse editorial staff that mainly consists of Pakistanis and Indians.
As for its products, it has a numerous selection. From its interior design magazine, Inspired Living, to its kid-friendly publication, Young Tims, the publication has products for many niches.
However, we do think the kind of pieces published in these products can also be published in Khaleej Times, which makes them kind of moot.
However, we do see the difference in the writing style to really engage the specific type of crowd that reads them.
As for its achievements, besides being a staple and critical figure in the media, Khaleej Times has also built itself a business section that everyone in the financial industry checks daily.
This is mostly due to the fact that it has a wide circulation, and it’s one of the top online sources around the region.
Pros
- Diverse editorial staff and executives
- Covers a wide range of stories
- Numerous products
- Well-known business section
Cons
- Product pieces can be redundant with Khaleej Times’ own stories
4. Emirates 24/7
| Criteria | Rating |
| Appeal | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Background | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Products | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Achievements | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
Formerly known as Emirates Today, Emirates 24/7 was launched in 2004 and involved both Arabic and English print and electronic media.
It has since then transitioned into becoming an e-paper to go along with the times.
Its wide range of daily stories has become one of its strongest points in becoming one of the more prominent publications in the country.
From global and local news to business and even offbeat — often humorous — pieces, that kept us engaged in a digital space that often shortens the attention span.
We also love how since transitioning to a digital space, the editorial staff can move more independently and not be grounded by a physical office.
We think this allows its journalists to chase many stories efficiently, providing an even more diverse range of news pieces.
However, where it starts to go down for us in its products. Its other products are all for the Arabian audiences, which we love since it serves a local need, but the content in these is pretty much the same as each other, including Emirates 24/7.
We think that there are missed opportunities here to provide niche Arabian content that serves to engage readers who prefer consumer stories in the Arabic language.
As for its awards, it doesn’t have much. After the paper folded due to challenging times, Emirates 24/7 has been busy building itself up to match its other competitors.
Pros
- Diverse news stories
- Has offbeat stories
- Operates on a digital platform
- Its products serve the Arabian readers
Cons
- No awards
- Products don’t have that much difference from each other
5. The National
| Criteria | Rating |
| Appeal | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Background | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Products | ☆☆☆☆☆ (0/5) |
| Achievements | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
A newcomer to the industry, The National only started back in 2008 but has quickly grown an online presence because of a significant edge in the market.
And that edge is its willingness to combine experienced columnists and fresh talent to nurture both the team’s skills and the paper’s engagement.
We love how the combination of the veterans’ experience and wisdom is complemented by the new talents’ fresh perspective to round out its editorial staff.
With stories that cover all the bases, from business and world news to editorial opinions and lifestyle pieces, The National has proven that it has a diverse appeal that can garner a wide range of audiences.
On top of that, it has correspondents from all over the world. This means the global news comes from firsthand sources.
And with a penchant for delivering in-depth coverage with a strong international perspective, this paper knows how to engage a global city like Dubai.
However, being a newcomer means that it still hasn’t expanded. It doesn’t have any other products to engage with niche audiences with specific content.
Despite that, The National has managed to garner awards for its design, reporting, photography, and video work.
Consequentially, it has become business leaders’ and decision makers’ top choice for disseminating information.
Pros
- Has experienced writers and fresh talent on the team
- Diverse news stories
- Has correspondents from all over the world
- Has garnered awards for different aspects of the paper
Cons
- No other products
FAQs about Newspapers in Dubai
We hope this helped you in finding the newspaper that’s right for you. Also, if you’re looking for other media services, then check out these articles: