Weam Al Dakheel makes her state-run Saudi TV debut. Photo / SaudiaTV YouTube
Weam Al Dakheel makes her state-run Saudi TV debut. Photo / SaudiaTV YouTube
Weam Al Dakheel makes her state-run Saudi TV debut. Photo / SaudiaTV YouTube
Weam Al Dakheel makes her state-run Saudi TV debut. Photo / SaudiaTV YouTube

The National

Female news anchor makes history on Saudi TV

The step by the state-run TV station Saudia TV has been applauded by other broadcasters

The National

September 22, 2018

  • English
  • Arabic

Weam Al Dakheel made history on Thursday night as the first woman to anchor the major nightly 9.30pm news bulletin on Saudi Arabia’s key national channel Saudia TV.

While women have appeared as anchors on other Saudi channels over the years, and Al Dakheel herself has presented shows on Saudia TV already, the step by the state-run Saudia to have her in the main news anchor seat was celebrated, with broadcasters including Moaz Gutub and Jessy El Murr from Sky News Arabia sending out tweets praising the move and Al Dakheel’s professionalism.

Saudia TV is part of the Saudi Broadcasting Authority, which also launched youth-focused Saudi Broadcasting Channel earlier this year.

You can watch Al Dakheel's first night of hosting in full here:

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1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
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10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m

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