سلمان بن عبد العزيز آل سعود
"The New York Times" in 2005 called "Asharq Al-Awsat" "one of the oldest and most influential in the region." Although published under the name of a private company, Saudi Research and Marketing Group (SRMG), the paper was founded with the approval of the Saudi royal family and government ministers, and is noted for its support of the Saudi government. The newspaper is owned by Faisal bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, a member of the Saudi royal family.