Dr. Zaid Al Sarbel
A life in Kuwaiti journalism and sport
Born in Kuwait, Zaid Al Sarbel earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the College of Commerce, Economics and Political Science at Kuwait University.
His career spanned journalism, media, sports administration and electronic media. Most of it was spent at the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), where he rose from Head of the Sports Department to Acting Editor-in-Chief.
Alongside KUNA, he wrote as a freelance journalist for several Kuwaiti media organizations and advised a number of Kuwaiti institutions as a media consultant. He was Media Consultant to the Arab Development Council for Women and Business in Lebanon and a member of the Arab Federation for Tourism Media.
He also served as Executive Director of the Kuwait Union for Electronic Media, helping develop electronic media in Kuwait.
Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)
- 2014Acting Editor-in-Chief
- 2005 – 2014Deputy Editor-in-Chief for Local Affairs
- 2005 – June 2008Director of Sports Affairs
- 1999 – 2004Director, KUNA Riyadh Bureau
- 1985 – 1999Head of the Sports Department
On the field and in the boardroom
A former player and captain of the Al-Jahra football team, he went on to hold executive roles in Kuwaiti sport.
- 2008 – 2014Member, Kuwait Gymnastics Federation (two Olympic terms)
- 1997Board Member, Kuwait Fencing Federation
- 1988 – 1997Executive Director, Kuwait Fencing Federation
- 1986 – 1987Full-time Executive Director, Al-Jahra Sports Club
Representing Kuwait at major events
Olympic Games
- Barcelona 1992
- Atlanta 1996
- Beijing 2008
FIFA World Cup Finals
- USA 1994
- France 1998
- Germany 2006
Other championships
- World Fencing Championships in France and Mexico
- Many international, continental and regional tournaments
Media committee leadership
- Head of the Media Committee, Super Cup – 1st Al-Hassawi Football Cup
- Head of the Media Committee, Asian Judo Championships in Kuwait
- Chairman of the Media Committee, 11th Asian Shooting Championship
- Rapporteur of the Media Committee for the historic match between Al-Salmiya Sports Club and the Portugal national team
Books
Six works documenting the history of sport and sports media in Kuwait and the Gulf. Click a cover to view it full size.
Nabd Al Mondial – Pulse of the World Cup
Zaid Al Sarbel created and founded the Pulse of the World Cup Qatar 2022 initiative to support and celebrate the State of Qatar’s hosting of the FIFA World Cup.
Its sports news channel, Nabd Al Mondial, carries football and sports news for its followers.
Projects he was carrying forward
After Qatar 2022, Zaid Al Sarbel planned to carry the Nabd Al Mondial (Pulse of the World Cup) initiative to the next Arab-hosted tournaments. These were the projects he had in view, and they remain part of his legacy.
Nabd Al Mondial – Morocco 2030
An edition of the initiative dedicated to Morocco as a host of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, celebrating Arab football on the world stage.
Nabd Al Mondial – Saudi Arabia 2034
An edition supporting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as host of the 2034 FIFA World Cup, continuing the Gulf’s World Cup story after Qatar.
“Had he been with us, these would have been his next chapters.”
In honour of a life given to sport
Y5MEDIA and our team dedicate this page to Zaid Al Sarbel, in gratitude for his dedication and passion for sport. His knowledge reached across Arab, Asian and international sport: football, fencing, shooting, athletics, gymnastics, the Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup. Whatever the sport or the tournament, he knew its story.
He passed away on 12 March 2026, after a career spanning journalism, media, sport and public service. His books and initiatives keep his work alive in Kuwait’s media and sporting history.