Al-jazirah is the first Saudi newspaper to release its sales and subscription figures to the public, reporting circulation at 131,000 copies each day, AME Info reported Wednesday.

“The announcement of our distribution and subscription figures is a brave decision that we dared to take in order to help readers and advertisers discover the reality about Al-jazirah level of readership and circulation among other newspapers,” said Shaikh Mutlaq Al Mutlaq, chairman of the newspaper's board.

Shaikh Mutlaq also said he hopes the newspaper's move to make its figures public will lead the country's Culture and Information ministry “to establish an independent authority for verifying the range of spreading of Saudi newspapers, which would be represented in the Audit Bureau of Circulation,” AME Info reported.