Jamal Rayyan, the presenter who was the first face ever seen on Al Jazeera Arabic when it launched nearly three decades ago, has died at the age of 73. Rayyan passed away on Sunday after a broadcasting career spanning more than five decades, during which he covered major global and regional events for the channel – from the United States wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to the Arab Spring, highlighting the network's role in shaping news narratives in the Middle East.

Rayyan had been with Al Jazeera since its first day on air on November 1, 1996, when he presented the channel's opening bulletin, marking the start of what would become a major broadcaster in the Arab world. Born in Tulkarem in the occupied West Bank in 1953, the Palestinian presenter began his career at Jordanian Radio and Television in 1974 before working with several broadcasters in the region and beyond, including Emirati television, South Korean public broadcasting, and BBC Arabic, showcasing his extensive experience in international media.

Rayyan later recalled being sworn to secrecy after being quietly selected for the historic role. "The vice chairman of the board came and said to me, 'You have been chosen to be the first face on Al Jazeera, but we want one thing from you: do not tell anyone,'" he told Al Jazeera's In-Depth Studies, a collection of testimonies from the channel's founders and early staff. The announcement that Rayyan was presenting the first bulletin was made public half an hour before airtime, adding to the suspense of the launch.

He spent nearly three decades as one of Al Jazeera's most recognisable presenters, with his measured delivery and distinctive voice closely associated with the channel's news bulletins across the Arab world. His broadcasts and the channel's editorial approach reached wide audiences and helped shape regional news coverage in the years that followed, contributing to his following of 2.3 million on X and solidifying his legacy as a key figure in Arab media.

Source: www.aljazeera.com