The Saudi Research and Marketing Group (SRMG), which is the publisher of Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, announced on Thursday the launching of Independent Arabia. The Arabic-language news service will be staffed by a team of experienced journalists from the Arab world, and based in London, according to a statement from SRMG. The company also announced the appointment of Adhwan AlAhmary as editor-in-chief of Independent Arabia. The Saudi journalist has 16 years of experience in the industry, having worked for Al-Watan, Al-Hayat, and Asharq Al-Awsat newspapers, as well as in television. Abdulrahman bin Ibrahim Rwaita, chairman of SRMG, said: “We are delighted to launch this distinguished project and to have built this great relationship with The Independent.” SRMG announced last year the new licensing deal with The Independent which will see the creation of a series of new websites in four different languages - Arabic, Urdu, Turkish and Persian.