Adobe Systems Incorporated today announced that Al Ittihad Newspaper, one of the leading and most highly regarded newspapers in the United Arab Emirates and the Gulf region, has chosen to move its entire creative production to Adobe InDesign® in order to create rich content and break down barriers between online and offline publishing.
“Al Ittihad currently owns one of the most modern printing presses in the region, and we wanted to ensure that we are employing top of the line publishing software. With Adobe’s technology, which is used by leading publishing companies around the world, we are able to produce better quality newspapers,†said Magdi Hanna, press IT supervisor at Al Ittihad.   “We are also assured of on-time production and advanced workflow capabilities, such as connectivity with archive systems and Internet publishing. Additionally, Adobe provides us with enhanced Arabic handling, such as kerning and tracking.â€
The features and workflows of Adobe InDesign enable Al Ittihad to create interactive documents using powerful page design tools. Sophisticated and engaging layouts are also created for its onscreen and print readers. New features in the latest version of the software include the ability to set cross-references and create conditional text, and a smart link to support line counts in nested styles. Additionally, Adobe InDesign not only provides Al Ittihad the highest quality creative experience, but also offers seamless integration with RAPID Browser from Knowledge View Editorial Management System for advanced news management wire handling and content acquisition capabilities.
“Adobe is committed to providing the media industry with innovative and robust software solutions that improve the way they work and enable a return on investment,†said Abdallah Saqqa, general manager at Adobe Middle East.  “With Al Ittihad’s recent shift to Adobe InDesign, they have a foundation for dynamic publishing in both print and digital media, and are able to leverage the advanced capabilities of the software to provide scalable solutions for their design and editorial workflow.â€
In addition to Al Ittihad, many other top Middle East publications use Adobe InDesign to quickly create designs and deliver engaging page layouts for multiple media types. To add sophisticated interactivity, animation and navigation to complex layouts, Adobe InDesign content can also be directly opened in Adobe Flash® Professional with page design and typography preserved.
About Al Ittihad
Al Ittihad, meaning united, was launched in October 1969 at a time when His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan was working hard with the rulers of the neighboring Emirates to form the United Arab Emirates. The name Al Ittihad was particularly apt and was a reflection of the positive social and political developments which were to result in the creation of the country. Initially a free 12-page weekly paper, the newspaper went daily in April 1972, just months after the United Arab Emirates was created. Â Following the conversion to a daily, Al Ittihad introduced sports and lifestyle supplements and became the first United Arab Emirates newspaper to be made available online in 1996. Today Al Ittihad owns one of the most modern printing presses in the region, employs over 100 full time journalists and has a network of correspondents across the world as well as offices in major cities in the region. It is a respected leading daily in the United Arab Emirates.
About Adobe Systems Incorporated
Adobe revolutionizes how the world engages with ideas and information – anytime, anywhere and through any medium. For more information, visit www.adobe.com.
