Prominent Saudi journalist and author Hani Naqshabandi passes away

Gulf Today Report

Prominent Saudi journalist, novelist, and media personality Hani Naqshabandi passed away on Sunday.

Hani Naqshabandi was born in Medina in 1963.

He held several notable positions. He was the editor-in-chief of Sayidaty magazine and the Majalla magazine, which were published in Arabic in London. He also contributed to the founding of Al-Rijal magazine.

Naqshabandi graduated from King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah with a major in International Relations.

Naqshabandi has been active in the media since 1984.

He presented the television programme “Dialogue with Hani” for Dubai TV, during which he discussed the Arab issues.

In 2007, he published the short novel Embezzlement. Within a short period of time, despite the ban on its publication in some Arab countries due to its controversy and criticism, this novel was reprinted in Arabic six times, and it was translated into Russian.
 
He published a novel in 2009 entitled “Peace.”
 
He wrote articles for several newspapers and websites.

His last post on the “X” platform was on the occasion of Saudi National Day, commenting, “Most of the congratulations I received on Saudi National Day were from non-Saudis. They have been residing in the country for decades. Which means that true citizenship is about love and belonging, not just identity.”
 
Dr Ali Bin Tamim, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) at the Department of Culture and Tourism said on X, “My sincere condolences to the family and fans of the great Saudi writer Hani Naqshabandi. He was mild-mannered and action-oriented, honest in his speech and actions, a true thinker, and an important and influential voice in the field of media. He worked until the last moment... Creative people leave but their works remain, and his unique legacy must remain long. May God have mercy on my dear friend Hani and place him in spacious gardens... We belong to God and to Him we shall return.”
 
The news of Naqshbandi's death was shocking to many of his friends in media and journalistic circles. His close friend, Elaph editor-in-chief Othman Al-Omair, wrote, "The sadness of the sudden loss knows no bounds."
 
CEO of the Saudi Research and Media Group, Jumana Al-Rashed, extended her sincere condolences to the family of the deceased, and said in a tweet on her official account on the X platform, that the deceased had a tangible impact on the Saudi group, whether during his tenure as editor-in-chief of Al-Majalla magazine or Sayidaty magazine, for many years.”

“We ask the Almighty God to shower him with His mercy and dwell him in His spacious gardens. To God we belong and to Him we shall return.”