The association was founded in 2006 and officially accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in 2011 under the name "Al-Basira Center for Media Research and Development Association". In response to the ministry's directives to achieve more accuracy in naming and enhance inclusiveness in objectives, the name was amended in 2019 to "Al-Basira Association for Media Research and Development", with a focus on the concept of development to reflect the association's scope of work more broadly compared to training and development.