Editorial Policy

Last updated: March 2026

Our Mission

House of Saud is an independent English-language news and intelligence portal dedicated to providing authoritative, well-sourced coverage of the Saudi royal family, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s domestic and foreign policy, defense affairs, Vision 2030 economic transformation, and the broader geopolitical dynamics of the Gulf region.

We serve journalists, analysts, policymakers, investors, academics, and informed readers worldwide who require reliable, in-depth reporting on one of the most consequential countries in global affairs. Our commitment is to deliver coverage that is accurate, fair, and grounded in verifiable evidence. For more about our organization and team, visit our About page.

Editorial Standards

House of Saud adheres to the following core editorial principles:

Accuracy: Every claim of fact published on this site must be supported by evidence. We do not publish rumors, speculation, or unverified assertions as established fact. When reporting on developing stories where facts remain uncertain, we clearly indicate what is confirmed, what is alleged, and what remains unknown.
Fairness and Balance: We present all relevant perspectives on the subjects we cover. When reporting on disputes, policy debates, or contested claims, we seek comment from all parties involved and represent their positions faithfully. We do not editorialize within news reporting.
Independence: Our editorial decisions are made solely by our editorial team. No external entity—government, corporation, advertiser, or interest group—has influence over what we publish or how we cover it.
Transparency: We are open with our readers about our methods, our sourcing, and the limitations of our reporting. When we make errors, we correct them promptly and visibly.
Proportionality: We ensure that headlines, images, and social media summaries accurately reflect the substance of our reporting. We do not sensationalize or mislead readers to generate engagement.

Sourcing Policy

House of Saud draws on a wide range of sources to produce its coverage:

Official records and documents: Government gazettes, royal decrees, regulatory filings, court documents, corporate disclosures, and statements issued through official channels such as the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) and ministry communications offices.
Named sources: We prioritize on-the-record, named sources whenever possible. Direct quotes and attributions are verified before publication.
Credible media organizations: We reference and build upon reporting from established international and regional news organizations, with proper attribution.
Academic and research institutions: Peer-reviewed research, policy papers, and analysis from recognized institutions and subject matter experts.
Data and statistics: Official government data, international organization reports (IMF, World Bank, OPEC), and proprietary datasets, cited with their original source.

Use of Anonymous Sources

House of Saud recognizes that coverage of Saudi Arabian affairs sometimes requires the use of unnamed sources. Individuals with direct knowledge of government decisions, royal family dynamics, or sensitive policy matters may face personal or professional consequences for speaking publicly.

We use anonymous sources only when all of the following conditions are met:

The information is of significant public interest and cannot be obtained through on-the-record channels.
The source has direct, firsthand knowledge of the matter being reported.
The source’s identity is known to at least one senior editor, who has assessed the source’s credibility and potential motivations.
The information has been corroborated by at least one additional independent source or supporting documentary evidence.

When we rely on anonymous sources, we provide readers with as much context as possible about the source’s position to speak on the matter (e.g., “a senior adviser with direct knowledge of the negotiations”) without compromising their identity.

Fact-Checking Process

All content published by House of Saud undergoes a structured verification process before publication:

Reporter verification: The author is responsible for verifying all factual claims in their reporting, maintaining records of source materials, and flagging any assertions that rely on a single source or remain uncertain.
Cross-referencing: Key claims are cross-referenced against official records, public documents, and independent reporting from other credible outlets. Statistical claims are checked against primary data sources.
Editorial review: A senior editor reviews each article before publication, examining sourcing, logical consistency, contextual accuracy, and adherence to our editorial standards.
Subject matter consultation: For technically complex topics—including defense procurement, financial regulation, constitutional law, and energy policy—we consult with qualified subject matter experts to verify the accuracy of our reporting.
Translation verification: When reporting involves translation from Arabic source materials, translations are reviewed for accuracy by qualified Arabic-language editors to ensure that meaning and nuance are preserved.

We do not publish reports that cannot meet our verification standards. When a story is of significant public interest but certain elements remain unconfirmed, we clearly disclose this to readers within the article.

AI-Assisted Content Policy

House of Saud embraces responsible use of artificial intelligence tools as part of our editorial workflow. We believe in full transparency with our readers about how these tools are employed.

How We Use AI

Research assistance: AI tools may be used to identify patterns in large datasets, surface relevant background materials, summarize lengthy public documents, and assist with preliminary research.
Drafting support: AI may assist in structuring articles, generating initial drafts from verified source materials, or translating content. All AI-assisted drafts serve as a starting point, not a finished product.
Data analysis: AI tools may be used to analyze publicly available data, such as government budget figures, trade statistics, or corporate filings.

Our Commitments

Human editorial oversight is mandatory: No content is published without thorough human editorial review. Every article is reviewed, verified, edited, and approved by a human editor before publication.
AI does not replace journalism: AI tools do not conduct interviews, assess source credibility, make editorial judgments, or determine newsworthiness. These responsibilities belong solely to our editorial team.
Verification applies equally: All factual claims, regardless of whether they originated from AI-assisted research or traditional reporting, undergo the same fact-checking process described above.
No fabrication: We do not use AI to generate fictional quotes, fabricate sources, or create misleading content of any kind.

News vs. Analysis Distinction

House of Saud maintains a clear separation between news reporting and analytical or opinion content. Readers should always be able to identify the nature of the content they are reading.

News articles report verified facts and events. They present multiple perspectives without the author expressing a personal viewpoint. News articles are not labeled with a special tag, as they represent our default content type.
Analysis articles are clearly labeled with an “Analysis” tag. These pieces offer informed interpretation of events, drawing on the author’s expertise and available evidence. Analysis articles are grounded in fact but include the author’s reasoned assessment of what events mean and where they may lead.
Opinion and commentary pieces are clearly labeled with an “Opinion” or “Commentary” tag. These represent the personal views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of House of Saud.
Explainers and backgrounders are labeled as “Explainer” and provide contextual, educational content on complex topics without advancing a particular viewpoint.

These labels appear prominently at the top of each article so that readers can immediately identify the content type.

Corrections and Retractions Policy

House of Saud is committed to correcting errors promptly, transparently, and proportionally. We regard our corrections policy as a measure of our credibility, not a liability.

Reporting an Error

Readers who identify a factual error, misleading statement, or other inaccuracy in our published content are encouraged to contact us at [email protected] with the subject line “Correction Request.” Please include the article title or URL, the specific error identified, and any supporting evidence.

How We Handle Corrections

Minor factual corrections (e.g., misspelled names, incorrect dates, wrong titles): The article is updated with the correct information, and a correction notice is appended to the bottom of the article noting what was changed and when.
Significant factual corrections (e.g., errors that materially affect the meaning or interpretation of the reporting): The article is updated, a prominent correction notice is placed at the top of the article, and the correction is noted in the article’s metadata. Where warranted, a standalone correction notice may be published.
Retractions: In the rare event that an article is found to be fundamentally flawed or based on information that cannot be verified, the article will be retracted. Retracted articles are not deleted; instead, they are marked with a prominent retraction notice explaining why the article has been withdrawn, and the original text is preserved for the record.

Timeline

We aim to acknowledge correction requests within 48 hours and to publish corrections as soon as the matter has been reviewed and the facts established. Urgent corrections—particularly those involving matters of personal reputation or public safety—are prioritized for immediate review.

Record of Corrections

All corrections include the date the correction was made and a clear description of what was changed. We do not silently alter published content. Our readers deserve to know when and how our reporting has been amended.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure

House of Saud operates independently of any government, political party, corporation, or interest group. We maintain the following commitments to editorial independence:

No government affiliation: House of Saud is not affiliated with, funded by, or directed by the government of Saudi Arabia or any other government. Our coverage is not subject to approval or review by any government entity.
No financial relationships with subjects of coverage: House of Saud does not hold financial interests in companies, organizations, or entities that are subjects of our reporting. Our editorial team members are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest to senior editors.
Disclosure of relevant interests: In the event that a potential conflict of interest is identified, it is disclosed to readers within the relevant article. If a conflict cannot be adequately managed through disclosure, the affected journalist is recused from the assignment.
Gift and hospitality policy: Editorial staff do not accept gifts, travel, hospitality, or other benefits from sources, subjects of coverage, or entities with a vested interest in our reporting that could reasonably be perceived as compromising editorial independence.

Advertising and Sponsored Content

House of Saud maintains a strict separation between editorial content and commercial interests.

Editorial independence: Advertisers and sponsors have no influence whatsoever over our editorial decisions, including what stories we cover, how we cover them, or when they are published. Advertising considerations never affect editorial content.
Clear labeling: Any sponsored content, advertorials, or commercially supported material is clearly and prominently labeled as “Sponsored,” “Paid Content,” or “Advertisement” so that readers can immediately distinguish it from independent editorial content.
Visual distinction: Sponsored content is visually differentiated from editorial content through design elements, ensuring that readers are never misled about the nature of what they are reading.
No native advertising disguised as news: We do not publish advertising or promotional material in a format that could be mistaken for independent journalism.

Reader Feedback and Tips

We value engagement with our readers and welcome feedback, story suggestions, and news tips.

General feedback and corrections: Contact our editorial team at [email protected].
News tips: If you have information relevant to our coverage areas, you can reach us at [email protected]. Please indicate whether you wish to remain anonymous.
Source protection: House of Saud is committed to protecting the identity of confidential sources. We do not reveal the identity of any source who has been granted anonymity, and we take appropriate measures to safeguard communications with sensitive sources.
Whistleblower protection: We recognize the risks faced by individuals who share information about wrongdoing or matters of public interest. We handle all such communications with the highest degree of care and confidentiality.

For all other inquiries, please visit our Contact page.

Updates to This Policy

This editorial policy was last updated in March 2026. House of Saud reserves the right to update this policy as our practices evolve and as industry standards develop. Any significant changes to this policy will be noted on this page with an updated revision date.

We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of journalistic integrity and transparency. If you have questions about this policy, please contact us at [email protected].