About Kuna

 

Brief History of Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)

 

KUNA was founded according to an Amiri Decree on October 6, 1979.

The agency's goal is to gather and generate news for distribution to individuals and media institutions. This provides an objective service, which focuses mostly on Kuwait's just causes regionally and internationally.

KUNA's headquarters is located in Kuwait City's Shuwaikh Administrative area.

 

During the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait

 

In spite of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and the seizure of KUNA's equipment and archives, the agency was still able to operate and reorganize.

During Kuwait's darkest hours, the agency relocated its main office to London and resumed transmission on October 13, 1990.

The British capital was chosen due to the substantial presence of Arab and international media organizations.

The agency's mission at that time was to emphasize the country's political legitimacy and independence as a sovereign state recognized by international and regional organizations.

KUNA emphasized that what has transpired on August 2, 1990 was an act of military invasion and aggression targeting the legitimacy and sovereignty of an independent state. Until November 1991, the agency had transmitted 16,110 stories.

Following the liberation of Kuwait on February 28, 1991, KUNA resumed transmission from the main office in Kuwait on November 15, 1991.

The agency focused on re-establishing itself by 1992, broadcasting an average of 40 stories a day. Until 1999, KUNA transmitted around 42,000 stories. The number of employees also increased from 75 in 1978 to 365 by 1999.

 

After the Iraqi Invasion

 

On June 10, 1992, transmission hours for the Arabic bulletin were increased to 12 hours a day followed by another increase to 16 hours a day on the October 14, 1992.

 

The English Service

 

On January 15, 1980, KUNA began transmitting in the English language to subscribers in Kuwait for 12 hours a day. Furthermore, KUNA began to offer English news to subscribers abroad on February 25, 1980, starting with 10 hours a day as an initial timeframe, increasing to 16 hours both locally and internationally.

 

KUNA's Organizational Structure

 

A) Board of Directors

 

Consists of KUNA's Chairman of the Board and Director-General alongside four members appointed by the Cabinet based on nomination by the Minister of Information.

The Board of Directors is the highest authority in the agency, responsible for defining KUNA's media strategy and goals.

 

- Barjas Al-Barjas: Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director General from 1976 to 1992.

- Youssef Al-Sumait: An Amiri Decree was issued on January 21, 1992, appointing him as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director-General. He continued in his role until 1998, when an Amiri Decree appointed him Minister of Information.

- Mohammad Al-Ujairi: An Amiri Decree was issued on August 19, 1998, appointing him Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director-General.

- Sheikh Mubarak Al-Duaij Al-Sabah: On May 27, 2006, an Amiri Decree was issued appointing him Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director-General. Two Amiri Decrees followed on August 18, 2010 and August 18, 2014, renewing his appointment with top degree, each for a four-year term. On August 15, 2018, an Amiri Decree was issued renewing Sheikh Mubarak Al-Duaij's appointment for another four-year term with a ministerial status.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 From 4