Veteran Al Jazeera journalist Jamal Rayyan dies aged 72

Veteran Al Jazeera journalist Jamal Rayyan dies aged 72 Submitted by Areeb Ullah on Sun, 03/15/2026 - 15:19 Rayyan made history by becoming the first presenter to appear on Al Jazeera Arabic and deliver its inaugural address Jamal Rayyan was born in the city of Tulkarem in the occupied West Bank of Palestine on 23 August 1953 and held Jordanian citizenship (Al Jazeera) Off Veteran broadcaster Jamal Rayyan, one of the most recognisable figures in Arab television news and a founding voice of Al Jazeera, has died at the age of 72 after a media career spanning more than five decades. Rayyan was widely regarded as a pioneering figure in modern Arab journalism and played a central role in shaping the identity of Al Jazeera following its launch in 1996. He made history as the first presenter to appear on the network, delivering the inaugural news bulletin that marked the beginning of a new era in Arab media.