"We have been through this (job cuts) and we have survived it. We are more worried about job cuts due to financial crisis than closure, which is a very remote possibility," an employee told CNBC via Facebook messenger.
Qatar isn`t averse to sacrificing projects. The network shut down its ambitious plans to take the brand into the United States. After spending billions of dollars on Al-Jazeera America – it`s poor viewership was enough for the present emir – 37-year-old Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
"This network was the creation of the father emir, and the current emir doesn`t think it is such an important asset," said an employee, who also preferred to remain anonymous.
The network has been accused of giving voice to the Muslim Brotherhood, which has been designated a terrorist organization in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt. In the wake of Trump`s tweet appearing to back the Saudi cause, employees were quick to reply.
"None of the 9/11 terrorists were from Qatar. Fifteen came from Saudi, two from the UAE and one from Egypt. Qatar is more progressive; women can drive here," said one employee.
But there could be some sacrifices. A team of executives descended on Al-Jazeera`s London broadcast center last month and is expected to cut jobs. The network is also likely to get rid of some management executives with direct input into news coverage. These had been long planned but now would be a good time to dust off the plans, according to a person familiar with the decision making at the network.
"I must admit that the Arabic channel has not been very wise or professional in running balanced story coverage. More Arabs now have doubts about its intentions or agenda, but they don`t believe their own media either," said one individual familiar with the plan.
Al-Jazeera did not return calls for comment.
CNBC interviewed almost a dozen Qataris, former and present employees of Al-Jazeera for this article.
Abid Ali was the business and economics editor of Al-Jazeera English between August 2008 and November 2015.
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