Union of OIC News Agencies
The news agency and media network of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, formerly known as the International Islamic News Agency.
Last updated August 25, 2026
Overview
The Union of OIC News Agencies, commonly abbreviated as UNA or UNA-OIC, is a specialized organ of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). It operates as a multilateral news network serving OIC member states and covering developments connected with the Islamic world and Islamic affairs. The organization was formerly known as the International Islamic News Agency, or IINA, which remains an important historical name associated with the institution. The agency was established in 1972 pursuant to a resolution adopted at the Third Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers. Its creation reflected the OIC's interest in developing shared communications infrastructure among member states and in providing news coverage from perspectives connected with the Muslim world. Rather than functioning as a conventional commercial news publisher, the organization forms part of the OIC's institutional system and is financed by OIC member states. UNA publishes and distributes material in Arabic, English and French. Its subject matter centers on political, diplomatic, social, cultural and religious developments in OIC countries, as well as broader issues concerning Islamic communities and international affairs. Its role includes facilitating the exchange of news and information among national news agencies and making regional reporting available to a wider international audience. The organization is headquartered in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where the OIC also has its headquarters. Its operating scope is therefore international and intergovernmental rather than limited to the Saudi market. The agency's principal stakeholders are OIC member states, while its institutional parent is the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. The transition from the International Islamic News Agency name to the Union of OIC News Agencies identity reflects an emphasis on cooperation among national news organizations within the OIC framework. The UNA designation is used for the contemporary organization and its digital presence. Public reference material identifies the chair of the UNA-OIC Executive Council as Majid bin Abdullah Al Qasabi; no broader set of current or former executives is established in the supplied sources. Available reference material provides limited detail on commercial performance, audience figures, staffing, product segmentation or major editorial campaigns, so those areas are not expanded here.
History
The Union of OIC News Agencies is an institutional news organization of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. Its earlier name was the International Islamic News Agency, commonly abbreviated as IINA. The agency was established in 1972 following a resolution of the Third Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers. Its formation placed news and information exchange within the wider institutional agenda of the OIC and provided a mechanism through which member states could support shared reporting about the Islamic world. From its creation, the organization was designed as a cooperative and intergovernmental news service rather than as a privately owned commercial agency. It is financed by OIC member states and operates as a specialized organ of the OIC. Its headquarters are in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the location of the OIC's principal institutional base. The agency's editorial and distribution remit covers news from Islamic countries and reporting on Islamic affairs. It publishes in Arabic, English and French, giving it a multilingual role across the OIC's diverse membership and allowing its material to circulate beyond Arabic-speaking audiences. Its work is associated with news distribution, information exchange and the representation of developments in OIC countries to international audiences. The contemporary UNA and UNA-OIC identity describes the Union of OIC News Agencies and emphasizes coordination among news agencies within the OIC system. The former IINA name remains relevant when describing the organization's origins and earlier operations. Publicly available reference material identifies Majid bin Abdullah Al Qasabi as chairman of the UNA-OIC Executive Council. The supplied sources do not provide a detailed chronology of leadership changes, major product launches, financial results, audience measurements or organizational restructurings. Accordingly, the documented history is strongest on the agency's institutional origin, ownership and language and geographic remit.
- 1972Agency established
The organization was established under a resolution adopted by the Third Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers. It was initially known as the International Islamic News Agency.
Products and positioning
An intergovernmental, multilingual news agency and news-exchange network focused on OIC member states, the Islamic world and Islamic affairs.
UNA-OIC news serviceMultilingual news agency service1972
The agency's core offering is the production and distribution of news concerning OIC member states, the Islamic world and Islamic affairs. Material is published in Arabic, English and French. The service also supports information exchange among news organizations associated with OIC countries, reflecting the agency's role as an intergovernmental news network rather than a conventional consumer media brand.
Flagship businesses
- UNA-OIC multilingual news service
Leadership
| Name | Title | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| Majid bin Abdullah Al Qasabi | Chairman of the UNA-OIC Executive Council | — |
Sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/international-islamic-news-agency · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled