Al-Resalah Satellite TV

Al-Resalah, also known as Al Resalah or The Message, is an Arabic-language satellite television channel whose stated mission is to present what it describes as true Islam. The channel was established as part of the expansion of Islamic television beyond narrowly instructional religious broadcasting, combining faith-based programs with social, educational, cultural, and entertainment content. Its programming has been associated particularly with Arab audiences, younger viewers, and women. The channel is funded by Saudi prince and investor Al-Waleed bin Talal and has been connected with his wider media and philanthropic interests. Its broadcasts have been carried on Arabsat and Nilesat, allowing distribution across the Middle East and extending its reach into North Africa and parts of Europe. Programming was recorded in locations across the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, and Kuwait, while the channel broadcast from Cairo. The available reference material does not establish a current operating status, ownership structure, or present-day distribution footprint. Al-Resalah initially pursued a broad programming strategy. By February 2008, its then-general manager, Tareq Al-Suwaidan, described a shift toward a more concentrated religious format while retaining the wider entertainment-media ambitions that distinguished the channel from earlier Islamic stations. The channel positioned itself as part of a contemporary Islamic revival that could address both Muslim-majority societies and Muslim minorities. Its content model therefore sought to place religious guidance alongside television formats capable of attracting mainstream audiences. Al-Suwaidan, a former Middle East Broadcasting Center host and a prominent Kuwaiti Muslim Brotherhood figure, served as general manager during the channel's early development. Ahmed Abu Haiba was identified as the head of programming in Egypt and had previously produced the first television program presented by preacher Amr Khaled. The channel also maintained an advisory committee containing Saudi religious scholars, Muslim World Congress figures, academics, and officials connected with Kingdom Holding's humanitarian activities. The channel's stated editorial approach appears to have allowed some positions that differed from stricter satellite religious broadcasters. Its website published fatwas attributed to Yusuf al-Qaradawi concerning subjects including music videos, SMS interaction, and the appearance of unveiled women on programs. At the same time, media-monitoring organization MEMRI accused the channel of carrying anti-Western, anti-Semitic, and pro-al-Qaeda material. Those allegations are part of the channel's documented public controversy and should not be treated as an independent finding about every program or the channel's overall output. A major leadership rupture occurred in August 2013, when Al-Waleed bin Talal dismissed Al-Suwaidan. The cited reason was Al-Suwaidan's support for the Muslim Brotherhood. This event highlighted the tension between the channel's religious-political associations and the owner's position during a period of intense regional conflict over the Brotherhood. Beyond the individuals and events documented in the available sources, details about Al-Resalah's current leadership, financial performance, programming schedule, corporate incorporation, and continuing satellite presence remain unverified.

Al-Resalah emerged during the growth of Arabic Islamic satellite television. Earlier religious channels such as Iqraa, Al-Fajr, and Al-Manar had established a market for Islamic broadcasting, but Al-Resalah sought to broaden the format by combining religious material with the techniques and audience reach of general entertainment television. Its declared objective was to communicate an interpretation of Islam through a channel capable of engaging ordinary Arab households rather than addressing only specialist religious audiences. The channel was funded by Al-Waleed bin Talal and broadcast from Cairo. Its satellite distribution included Arabsat and Nilesat, giving it access to audiences across the Middle East and, through satellite reception, North Africa and Europe. Reference material also describes production or recording activity in the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, and Kuwait. The available sources do not provide a definitive incorporation date, launch date, or complete ownership history. During the channel's early phase, Tareq Al-Suwaidan served as general manager. In a February 2008 discussion, he described Al-Resalah as having started with a broad range of programs before moving toward a stronger concentration on religious features. He also presented the channel as participating in a wider Islamic revival that extended to Muslim minorities outside Muslim-majority countries. The intended demographic was described as predominantly Arab, relatively young, and female; the cited estimates placed women at roughly 60 to 70 percent of the audience, although these figures were statements by channel figures rather than independently audited audience data. The channel's editorial and programming structure included religious discussion, instruction, social subjects, and entertainment. Its website published religious rulings attributed to Yusuf al-Qaradawi that addressed music videos, SMS chatting, and the participation of unveiled women in programs. These examples indicate an effort to operate within an Islamic framework while permitting formats and presentation choices that could appeal to a broad television audience. Ahmed Abu Haiba was identified as the channel's programming head in Egypt. The advisory committee included Saudi scholars and public figures such as Abdullah Bin Sulaiman Al-Manai, Abdallah Omar Naseef, Hamed Ahmad Al-Refaie, Abdullah Al-Muslih, Ali Al-Nashwan, Abdulaziz Al-Askar, and Walid Arab Hashem. Their listed backgrounds included religious scholarship, academic administration, Muslim-world advocacy, dialogue organizations, and the humanitarian division of Kingdom Holding Company. Al-Resalah also attracted political and ideological scrutiny. Some Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood members expressed support for the station. MEMRI alleged that certain programming was anti-Western, anti-Semitic, and supportive of al-Qaeda. These claims form part of the documented controversy surrounding the channel, but the reference material does not supply a comprehensive program-by-program assessment or an adjudicated finding. In August 2013, Al-Waleed bin Talal dismissed Al-Suwaidan. The cited explanation was Al-Suwaidan's support for the Muslim Brotherhood. The dismissal became the most clearly documented leadership and editorial conflict in the channel's history, particularly because Al-Suwaidan had been associated with the station's early religious-media strategy. The available material does not establish who succeeded him, whether the channel changed its programming afterward, or whether it remains active under the same ownership and distribution arrangements.

• 2013

  General manager removed

  [1]Al-Resalahen.wikipedia.org

  Al-Waleed bin Talal dismissed Tareq Al-Suwaidan in August after citing his support for the Muslim Brotherhood.

• 2008

  Early programming strategy publicly described

  [1]Al-Resalahen.wikipedia.org

  General manager Tareq Al-Suwaidan said the channel had moved from a broad initial program mix toward a stronger emphasis on religious features while retaining an entertainment-oriented television approach.

A mainstream-oriented Islamic satellite channel combining religious instruction and guidance with social, educational, cultural, and entertainment programming for Arab viewers.

• Satellite television

  Al-Resalah satellite channel

  The core offering is an Arabic-language satellite television service distributed through Arabsat and Nilesat. Its content combines Islamic religious guidance and education with social, cultural, and entertainment formats. The channel was designed to reach Arab audiences across the Middle East and also viewers in North Africa and Europe. Specific current schedules, program titles, and distribution arrangements are not established by the available sources.

• 2013

  Dismissal of Tareq Al-Suwaidan

  Owner Al-Waleed bin Talal dismissed general manager Tareq Al-Suwaidan in August 2013, reportedly because of Al-Suwaidan's support for the Muslim Brotherhood.

  Source

• External allegations about program content

  MEMRI accused Al-Resalah of airing anti-Western, anti-Semitic, and pro-al-Qaeda content. The available source records the allegation but does not provide an independent adjudication.

  Source

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• 2013

  Removal of the general managerOther

  Background

  Tareq Al-Suwaidan's support for the Muslim Brotherhood became incompatible with the owner's position, according to the cited account.

  Action taken

  Al-Waleed bin Talal dismissed Al-Suwaidan from his position as general manager.

  Aftermath

  A successor and any subsequent editorial changes are not identified in the available sources.

  Source

• 2008

  Shift toward religious features within a broad television formatStrategy

  Background

  During the channel's early development, management described a move away from a fully broad program mix toward greater emphasis on religious content.

  Action taken

  Al-Resalah concentrated more heavily on religious features while continuing to pursue entertainment-media formats and a mainstream Arab audience.

  Aftermath

  The available material does not provide independently verified audience results or later programming data.

  Source

1. 1Al-Resalahen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Al-Resalah official websitealresalah.net