Dubai: The UAE's media and journalism community is mourning the loss of one of its pioneers, Obaid Humaid Al Mazrouei, founder and Editor-in-Chief of the Emirati newspaper Al Fajr, who passed away on Monday after a distinguished career spanning more than five decades.With his passing, the UAE loses a prominent media, cultural and literary figure whose contributions helped shape the country's journalism landscape and document the nation's development journey since the early years of the Union.Born in Ajman in 1935, Al Mazrouei began his professional career in Saudi Arabia's oil sector before moving into banking. He later turned to journalism, viewing it as both a profession and a national mission rooted in the belief that media plays a vital role in serving society and supporting national development.In 1974, he received a licence to publish Al Fajr, with the newspaper's first issue appearing on 17 March 1975. The publication became one of the UAE's early newspapers that closely followed the country's progress and development after the establishment of the federation.Al Fajr was initially launched as a weekly newspaper before becoming a daily publication in 1978, maintaining its presence in the UAE's media landscape for more than five decades.Beyond journalism, Al Mazrouei was also known as a poet, writer and supporter of culture and heritage. Through Al Fajr, he dedicated significant space to literature, poetry and cultural affairs, most notably through the newspaper's Fajr Al Shu'ara supplement, which helped support emerging poetic talents and promote literary and cultural movements across the UAE, the Gulf region and the wider Arab world.His intellectual contributions extended to several published works, including The Events of Time and the Pillars of Construction and The Necklace of Pearls in Praise and Eloquence, adding to a rich legacy of journalism, literature and cultural engagement.The UAE's media community remembers Al Mazrouei as one of the figures who helped strengthen the role of the national press and document the country's remarkable transformation over the decades.His career reflected a belief that journalism was more than a profession. It was a national responsibility and a means of preserving memory, recording achievements and chronicling the milestones of the UAE's development journey.Through his work and contributions, Obaid Humaid Al Mazrouei leaves behind an enduring legacy in the history of Emirati journalism and culture.
