In April 2014, the paper and  Alam Al Youm were temporarily closed down for two weeks by the Kuwaiti government due to the publication of a videotape showing former senior officials plotting a coup in Kuwait. In June 2014, both papers were shut down for five days because of the same reason.
The paper was launched in 1974. Al Watan was suspended by the Kuwaiti government on 30 August 1976.