Most newspapers established during the reign of King Abdulaziz retained their standing under his successor, continuing to be published—such as Al‑Bilad, Al‑Madinah, Al‑Manhal, Al‑Hajj, Al‑Yamamah, and Qafilat al‑Zayt.
However, it is notable that many newspapers that emerged in the 1370s AH were limited in resources and unable to survive; some ceased publication while others merged. This situation prompted the newly established Ministry of Information to consider transforming most existing newspapers—up to 1383 AH—into privately owned press institutions. Ownership in each institution was expanded to include around thirty journalists, writers, intellectuals, and businessmen.
During the first ten years of King Saud’s reign, approximately 35 magazines and newspapers—private and governmental—were launched. Four of them merged into two. By the final year of his reign, eight major press institutions had been established, preserving several publications from the early years of his rule. Among the most prominent were Al‑Yamamah, Okaz, Al‑Nadwah, Al‑Jazirah, Al‑Madinah, and Al‑Bilad. New newspapers also appeared, including Al‑Riyadh and Al‑Yaum. ARAMCO publications, chamber‑of‑commerce bulletins, and government periodicals continued unchanged. Al‑Manhal magazine was exempted from the new institutional system.
Among the defining features of the press during King Saud’s era—beyond financial conditions, freedom of criticism, and mergers—was the emergence of the first illustrated magazine printed in Jeddah (Al‑Riyadh), the first children’s illustrated magazine (Al‑Rawdah), and the first privately owned newspapers in the Eastern Province: Akhbar al‑Dhahran in Dammam, Hajr in Al‑Ahsa, and Al‑Khalij al‑Arabi in Al‑Khobar.
Specialized magazines also appeared: for radio, agriculture, sports, the railway, and the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce. A newspaper titled Al‑Qassim was printed in Riyadh, and Okaz—though based in Taif—was printed in Jeddah.
The period also witnessed the issuance of the Printing and Publications Law (third version) in 1378 AH (1958 CE), which remained in effect until 1402 AH (1982 CE).
Two major events from that era continue to influence Saudi journalism today:
- Crown Prince Faisal’s announcement abolishing prior censorship on newspapers (1379 AH / 1960 CE).
- A royal decree the following year exempting printing supplies and newsprint from customs duties.
King Saud’s reign marked a significant journalistic expansion and served as a bridge between two phases of Saudi press history: individual ownership and collective institutional ownership. Simultaneously, it witnessed rapid growth in printing presses across the Kingdom. Previously limited to the triangle of Makkah, Madinah, and Jeddah, printing houses began to appear in the Eastern and Central regions and later throughout the country.
This expansion was accompanied by a surge in the establishment of private, public, and commercial libraries, as well as the spread of book and periodical distribution networks nationwide. Book publishing—both domestic and international—experienced notable growth and increasingly robust statistics.
Unfortunately, comprehensive statistical studies on the scale of this movement—whether in book production or library establishment—are still lacking. It can be said, however, that most medium‑sized Saudi cities did not see specialized bookstores for magazines and books until the 1370s AH. The researcher’s book Media in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia includes numerous examples of such libraries across the country.