Al Bawaba News Relaunches Web Platform on Nineteenth Anniversary

On the occasion of its nineteenth anniversary Al Bawaba News relaunched its website platform, in what is described as the relaunch of the “largest independent multi-channel-news-network in the Middle East.” Based in Amman Jordan, Al Bawaba is an independent digital publisher comprising a team of local and international editors publishing in English and Arabic.

Hani Jabsheh, CEO of Al Bawaba, said “building on new services in our Dubai office and two years of work on editorial strategy, the new website platform positions Al Bawaba as a regional and international brand which is growing fast, and augmenting a position for competitive content alongside industry leading syndication assets and technology.”

Built by Vardot with project management from the Al Bawaba in-house development team, CEO for Vardot Mohammed Razem said “with hundreds of thousands of stories and multiple content verticals, the new Al Bawaba interface is one of the largest media websites in the region. Myself and the team are delighted to have capitalised on Vardot’s niche in news publishing to have delivered on this unique project.”

Executive Publisher of Al Bawaba English, John Lillywhite said “Planning the wireframe, functionality and channel requirements with in-house and external development teams was a detailed and exciting process. This new platform takes Al Bawaba News into unique territory as an aspirational English-Arabic brand out of Jordan.”

Over the past two years, Al Bawaba News has invested heavily in expanding the range and substance of its original news content, resulting in fast growth on social media and a steadily increasing proportion of US-UK based readers. Publishing high-level analysis and research sourced from experts from around the world, the new platform includes a dedicated area for long-form articles, analysis and perspective branded as “Insights.” This includes a successful new podcast called “The Gateway,” interviewing some of the worlds best known thinkers on geopolitics, security and relations between the Middle East and the rest of the world.

In Entertainment, an emphasis on Arab entertainment in the GCC and Lebanese markets had led to the launch of new social media channels, with celebrities such as Paris Hilton, Nawal Al Zoghbi,  Cyrine Abdelnour, Nina Abdel Malak, Yara,Assi El Hallani, Joe Ashkar, Adham Nabulsi and Joseph Attieh engaging with the brand. The new platform emphasizes these strengths with a strong visual look, and an emphasis on Instagram.

In Business, Al Bawaba runs one of the largest independent PR wires in the region. The business channel has been ABC testing a sponsored content service for premium clients, with bespoke company pages and content marketing services provided by a recently opened sister office in Media City, Dubai.

Founded in 2000, Al Bawaba was established during the Middle East’s dot.com boom. Today it is one of the longest serving independent multi-channel-networks in the MENA region.