Othman Alomeir

Othman Al-Omeir is currently the Chairman of Groupe Maroc Soir and the Founder, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief of Elaph Publishing Limited. He is a prominent Saudi-born British journalist, editor, and businessman. Othman began his career in journalism in the early 1970s as a junior sports correspondent for Al Jazirah newspaper. He later became managing editor andLondoncorrespondent for the same newspaper.

Othman’s career advanced when he became editor-in-chief of Al-Yaum, a leading Saudi newspaper, in 1980, making him the youngest editor in Saudi history. He also served as the editor-in-chief of Al-Majalla magazine and Asharq Al-Awsat, where he worked for 10 years.

Othman founded Elaph, the first independent Arabic e-newspaper, based in London in 2001. The website became one of the leading news portals in the Arab world, known for its liberal viewpoints and commitment to free speech. Despite facing challenges, including government blockades in several Arab countries, Elaph’s readership reached 1.8 million visitors, making it the most widely-read Arabic online newspaper.

Othman acquired the Maroc Soir Group in 2004, which publishes several prominent newspapers in Morocco, including Le Matin, Assahra Al-Maghribiya, and Morocco Times. Othman is also the co-chairman of the Strategic Communications Group and has been involved in media projects like OR Media and Mena Media Consulting.

Othman is known for his close relationships with prominent Arab leaders, including King Fahd and King Salman ofSaudi Arabia, and the late King Hassan II of Morocco. He has interviewed world leaders such as George W. Bush, Margaret Thatcher, and Mikhail Gorbachev.

His contributions to the media industry have earned him many awards, including the Media Personality of the Year in 2006 by the Arab Media Forum and the New Media for the Future Prize in 2009. Othman graduated from the University of Madinah.