For those who haven’t heard yet, Khaleej Times now also has an Arabic online portal.
The news first went viral within minutes of Mohammed Galadari, the Group Chief Executive Officer and Co-Chairman at Galadari Brothers Group, posting on LinkedIn that, “For 46 years, we have been a leading English newspaper in the UAE, and now we are embracing our heritage and expanding our reach to connect with even more readers in the region.”
Campaign Middle East got in touch with Michael Jabri-Pickett, Editor-in-Chief of Khaleej Times, to understand the strategic thought that prompted one of the UAE’s oldest media entities to add an Arabic iteration to its brand identity after close to half a century.
Jabri-Pickett said, “Part of the newly focused editorial strategy since I joined Khaleej Times (KT) nine months ago is to better reflect the community in which we publish. KT produces so much original content that is found nowhere else; so, since we are based in the Arab world, we thought it was time to publish our original content in Arabic.”
Through the past four and a half decades, Khaleej Times has strived to stay connected to communities and to bring stories that matter to local audiences.
When asked about the key focal points that the Arabic iteration is looking to meet in the months ahead as it establishes its very own brand positioning, purpose, and personality, Jabri-Pickett responded, “Our three pillars: speed, accuracy, and responsible journalism. These are the guiding principles for KT in English and Arabic. We are not putting a timeline on the growth of KT in Arabic. We believe in it and for now that is enough.”
He concluded, “We are taking a baby-step approach. KT is the first English-language media company in the UAE, and we are patient. We understand long-term strategy. We launched this site to appeal to those readers who prefer their news in Arabic.”
Will other major English language media outlets in the region follow suit soon? Time will tell.
