Al Jazeera celebrates 30 years with new AI tools and channel split
The Qatari network announced a major restructuring of its Arabic services and launched an artificial intelligence project alongside its anniversary event in Doha.
By Ethan Cooper ·
Al Jazeera marked its 30th anniversary on Sunday with a special event at its headquarters in Doha, Qatar. The gathering coincided with the launch of new technology initiatives and a structural overhaul of the network's Arabic-language channels.
Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani attended the commemorative ceremony. The network was founded in 1996 by the late Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. It began as the first independent satellite news channel in the Arab world, aiming to offer a second opinion alongside state-run media.
Raed Fakih, the Director of News, outlined the network's goals for the next decade in a statement. He said the organization is building on its editorial legacy to broaden its coverage. Fakih stated that the network intends to give greater prominence to a wider range of events and viewpoints.
The anniversary saw the separation of the network's Arabic services into three distinct channels. The new structure divides rolling breaking news, live event broadcasting, and in-depth reporting. This restructuring aims to organize content more clearly for viewers.
Al Jazeera also launched a project called The Core on Sunday. This artificial intelligence initiative was first announced in December 2025 in partnership with Google Cloud. The system is designed to help journalists manage information and coordinate coverage. It will also allow staff to make better use of the network's existing reporting archives.
The network relaunched Al Jazeera Balkans in a new digital-first format. This change marks a shift in how the outlet covers the region. The network currently employs more than 3,000 staff members. They work out of over 70 bureaus located around the globe.
Al Jazeera reaches more than 430 million homes through its television channels, websites, and digital platforms. The English-language channel launched in 2006 and remains a key part of the network's global footprint.
The network has faced significant challenges during its first three decades. At least nine governments have attempted to silence the channel by closing bureaus or pulling licenses. In 2003, a US strike hit the Baghdad office, killing correspondent Tareq Ayyoub. Since then, two dozen Al Jazeera journalists have been killed.
In 2022, Israeli forces shot Palestinian correspondent Shireen Abu Akleh in Jenin. She was the 12th Al Jazeera journalist killed in 19 years. Another 12 journalists were killed in the following 30 months. Anas al-Sharif was among those killed in August 2025 when an Israeli strike hit a press tent outside al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza.
