What Doha News does

Doha News is an independent, privately held digital news outlet founded in 2009 and headquartered in Doha, Qatar, covering breaking news, politics, business, culture, sports, health, and technology in Qatar and the broader Gulf region. It is led by co-founders Shabina Khatri (Executive Editor) and Omar Chatriwala (Publisher). The platform operates as a single unified online news portal (dohanews.co) with content organized across News (16,000+ posts), Sports (~2,800 posts), Life (~3,900 posts), and Health & Technology (~1,600 posts) verticals, supplemented by a video division called DN TV on YouTube that produces news round-ups, documentaries, and lifestyle programming.

The underlying technology is a conventional digital publishing stack: a WordPress-based content management system with native mobile applications distributed across iOS App Store, Google Play Store, and Huawei App Gallery, and a YouTube-integrated video content pipeline. No proprietary technology, APIs, or AI capabilities are disclosed. Distribution is exclusively digital and global in reach, though the editorial focus and audience are concentrated on Qatar and GCC readers.

Doha News generates revenue exclusively through digital advertising on its website and mobile platforms, with no paywall, subscription model, or alternative monetization streams disclosed. The outlet also pursues branded content partnerships (e.g., a Qatar National Day campaign with talabat) and accepts commercial inquiries via a dedicated marketing contact. Its customer base is bifurcated: a free-to-access general readership (B2C) and an advertiser/brand client base (B2B). The business has operated without disclosed external funding, M&A activity, or institutional ownership, and remains founder-led with a small team of 1-10 employees.

Name

Doha News

Legal name

Doha News

Website

https://dohanews.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Doha News is an independent, ad-supported digital news outlet founded in 2009 in Doha, Qatar, providing English-language coverage of politics, business, culture, sports, and technology for Qatar and the broader Gulf region via its website, mobile apps, and DN TV YouTube channel.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital News Media

NAICS

Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621)

SIC

Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711)

akta.pro primary industry

News Streaming Platforms (MPACAAAF)

Keywords

• Digital news media
• Online journalism
• Regional news coverage
• Video news platform
• Qatar news publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

Doha

HQ country

Qatar

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Digital Advertising: Doha News generates revenue through digital advertising on its website and mobile platforms. The site features advertising space for brands to reach its Qatar and Gulf region audience.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Doha News is a digital-first news publisher that produces and distributes English-language news, politics, business, culture, sports, and health/technology content focused on Qatar and the Gulf region. Its offerings are delivered through a main news website (dohanews.co), a video platform called DN TV (hosted on YouTube), and native mobile applications on iOS, Google Play, and Huawei App Gallery. Content is freely accessible to readers, with revenue generated through digital advertising and branded content partnerships.

Product overview

Doha News is a single unified online news portal that has been covering breaking news, politics, business, culture, and more in and around Qatar since 2009. The platform operates as a comprehensive digital media offering with the main website as its core product, supplemented by DN TV for video content. Content is organized into main categories including News (covering politics, business, culture, opinion, and breaking events), Sports, Life & Culture, and Health & Technology. The site serves as a primary source of information about Qatar and the broader Gulf region for both local and international audiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DN TV: Video division featuring news coverage, The Round Up, In Depth reports, and special video content.

Products and services

• Doha News Website Primary digital news portal at dohanews.co covering breaking news, politics, business, culture, sports, and technology in Qatar and the Gulf region. Free, ad-supported access for global readers.
• DN TV Video content platform (sub-brand) featuring news clips, documentaries such as "In Depth," "The Round Up" news summaries, event coverage, and lifestyle programming including "Styled by Reina" fashion content. Distributed via YouTube (@dohanews) and embedded on the main website.
• Doha News Mobile Applications Native mobile applications for iOS App Store, Google Play Store, and Huawei App Gallery providing on-the-go access to Doha News editorial and video content.
• Digital Advertising Services Direct and programmatic digital advertising placements and branded content campaigns sold to brands seeking reach among Doha News's Qatar and Gulf-region audience; inquiries handled via [email protected].

Quantifiable outcome

• Continuous coverage since 2009 with 16,000+ published articles across multiple content categories
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• British Council QatarcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 December 2025talabat partnered with British Council Qatar to deliver soft skills and foundational English Communication training to over 150 delivery riders. Four engaging sessions were hosted at talabat's headquarters, equipping riders with essential language tools and practical communication skills for delivery scenarios, confidence building, and customer interactions. This collaboration supports rider development, safety, and personal growth.
• Türkiye (Turkey)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQatar and Türkiye maintain close strategic relations since elevating their partnership in 2014, with the Qatar-Türkiye Supreme Strategic Committee serving as the main framework for cooperation. The Qatar-Türkiye Economic and Trade Partnership Agreement signed in November 2018 entered into force on August 1, 2025. Bilateral trade reached $1.1 billion annually in 2025, with both countries targeting $5 billion in trade expansion.
• talabatminorGTM or Marketing Partnertalabat partnered with Doha News for branded content campaigns, including Qatar National Day tributes featuring Qatari entrepreneurs and influencers across Doha News digital channels and Out of Home placements.
• Al JazeeracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDoha News features opinion pieces originally published by Al Jazeera English. Sheikha Al Mayassa's tribute to Father Amir was published by Al Jazeera English and featured on Doha News. The outlet maintains editorial independence while occasionally cross-publishing content with Al Jazeera network.
• Qatar FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDoha News covers Qatar Foundation activities and events, including Sheikha Moza's initiatives and HBKU's AutismTech Conference. Coverage extends to Education Above All Foundation through rider campaigns.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• The Peninsula Qatar: The Peninsula is Qatar's flagship English-language daily newspaper with a robust digital presence, covering the same Qatar-focused news, business, and sports beats as Doha News. It is the most direct same-market, same-language competitor for both readers and advertisers in Doha.
• Qatar Tribune: Qatar Tribune is an English-language news outlet based in Doha covering local politics, business, sports, and culture. It competes head-to-head with Doha News for the same English-reading Qatar audience and local advertising budgets.

Broad incumbents

• Al Jazeera English: Al Jazeera English is a global English-language news operation headquartered in Doha, with larger editorial resources, bureaus, and a subscription/TV infrastructure. Doha News occasionally cross-publishes Al Jazeera opinion pieces, underscoring Al Jazeera's role as the dominant Qatar-based news brand and a broad incumbent in the same space.

Regional players

• Gulf News: Gulf News is the UAE-based English-language daily covering the Gulf region, including dedicated Qatar coverage. It is a regional peer targeting the same English-speaking Gulf audience and competing for pan-Gulf advertising budgets.
• The National (UAE): The National is Abu Dhabi-backed English-language news outlet covering the wider Gulf and Middle East region, including substantial Qatar coverage. It operates a similar digital-first, ad-supported English-language news model aimed at the same regional English-reading audience.
• Arabian Business: Arabian Business is a Middle East-focused English-language business, finance, and lifestyle news outlet that covers Qatar extensively. It competes for English-speaking regional readers and for premium advertiser demand in the same Qatari/Gulf market.
• Middle East Eye: Middle East Eye is an independent digital-first English-language news outlet covering the Middle East and North Africa, including the Gulf. It overlaps with Doha News on regional news, opinion, and digital ad-supported English-language news coverage.
• Khaleej Times: Khaleej Times is a long-running UAE-based English-language daily with extensive Gulf and Qatar coverage. It is a regional peer pursuing the same digital advertising model and English-reading Gulf/regional audience.

Emerging players

• StepFeed: StepFeed is a digital-first English-language media brand originally focused on the MENA region with growing Gulf coverage. It mirrors Doha News's digital-first, social-led distribution strategy and targets a similar young, English-speaking MENA audience.
• Lovin Doha: Lovin Doha is a local digital lifestyle and news brand covering events, dining, and culture in Qatar with a social-first approach. It competes for Doha-focused advertisers and readers in Doha News's lifestyle and culture verticals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@dohanews
• Xx.com/dohanews
• Facebookfacebook.com/dohanews
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/doha-news

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Doha News