The Financial Times has announced the launch of a Middle East edition, available from tomorrow.
The launch is part of the FT‘s global expansion strategy, making it the fifth edition of the Financial Times along with the UK, Continental Europe, Asia and the US. The paper is printed in 24 cities worldwide including Dubai.
A dedicated page of news from the region will be inserted into the FT twice a week, every Tuesday and Thursday.
There are plans to expand Middle East coverage on FT.com and the Middle East web page will be redesigned to feature more audio and video.
Lionel Barber, editor of the Financial Times, said: “We have identified a strong and growing demand for high quality, global independent news and analysis across the Gulf region.
“This demand reflects how the Gulf has quickly become a financial and business powerhouse and our new edition will cement the region’s place in the global economy.”
The FT’s regional editorial and commercial teams will be based in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi. A team of three full-time journalists in Abu Dhabi, including Middle East correspondent Andrew England and James Drummond, Gulf news editor, will be managed by the Middle East editor in London, Roula Khalaf.
The FT also has offices in Cairo, Tehran, Jerusalem and Beirut.
The paper will also train and give lectures to local journalism students in the region and will be offering three internships a year.
John Ridding, chief executive of the Financial Times, said: “This edition is a further step in our successful global strategy, reflecting the rapidly deepening interface between the region and the international economy.
“It will provide a further boost to our global circulation and provide a quality advertising vehicle for businesses seeking to reach senior decision makers in the Middle East.”
The news comes a week after former Daily Telegraph editor Martin Newland launched a new daily newspaper in Abu Dhabi called The National.
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