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The evolution of Khaleej Times

The past 41 years have seen a remarkable shift in the fortunes of Dubai and the UAE, changes that have been wonderfully tracked and monitored by this paper over the decades

Way back in 1978, when the first edition of this pioneering paper, the Khaleej Times, came off the printing press in Dubai, the emirate itself was a quiet little town in the Arabian Gulf.  The population of the UAE was less than a million, but the country as a whole and the emirate of Dubai were already being projected as the future growth hub of the region.
Not surprisingly, the past 41 years have seen a remarkable shift in the fortunes of Dubai and the UAE, changes that have been wonderfully tracked and monitored by this paper over the decades.
Interestingly, the period between 1978 to 2019 has also seen the newspaper business change in a mind-boggling manner all over the world. Yet, despite the challenges posed by the electronic and social media, print is still one of the most respected media formats in many parts of the developed and developing world and continues to retain a strong foothold with loyal readers - not just those who have been reading the paper for decades, but even many from the younger generation.
Print for information and inspiration
Professionals in the print media worldwide have adapted gracefully to the electronic and social media. Khaleej Times has a strong presence in the e-media front as well, and the content is widely accessed around the globe.
Indeed, the paper has evolved and kept pace with developments in the UAE, catering to the needs of its dynamic populace, which includes middle-aged and senior citizens of the country, and of course the burgeoning youth population, many of who go over the Khaleej Times e-paper on their smartphones.
Enormous changes are occurring across the UAE and other parts of the world and with hundreds of thousands of eager people - both UAE nationals and residents from 200-odd countries around the globe - hungering for reliable and authentic news about developments in the region and other parts of the globe, it is credible and well-established papers like Khaleej Times that will be able to meet their growing needs.
This is something that companies and brands, both UAE-based and international ones have realised as they continue with their advertising strategy, using the Khaleej Times as an effective and dominant medium to reach out to the population.
Credibility matters
In a rapidly-changing world, where gadgets lose their value in a matter of months, if not weeks, a newspaper that has established itself as a respected dispenser of genuine news - and which also packages interesting informative, educational and entertaining features along with the news - it is the credibility of the publication that matters a lot to its readers.
Dubai and the UAE are witnessing phenomenal changes, and are expected to continue growing at a brisk pace. Ambitious projects are taking off, catapulting the country to the global league. But even as the country expands at a rapid pace, it is rooted in a strong ethos and a very sound foundation that prevents any major mishaps. 
While the past four decades, since Khaleej Times began witnessing the transformation of the UAE, have seen amazing changes and growth. The next 41 years will undoubtedly be packed with even more exciting news and developments, but well managed and administered.
The vibrancy of the UAE is echoed by its leaders - government, business, social and even youth - in articles and interviews that are regularly featured in the columns of this newspaper and its interesting spectrum of magazines.  
Indeed, with Dubai and the UAE expected to witness ambitious growth in terms of development, new projects, widespread diversification and continuing proximity to the rest of the world, we at the Khaleej Times are eager to monitor these developments, analyse them, study and compare the changes and report it to our growing number of readers on an ongoing basis - and in a style that is friendly, informative and also sagacious.
The coming years will see a growing appetite for global, regional and local news as well-educated and qualified readers - cutting across age, sex and nationality borders - seek credible information and news about developments happening around them; not just in select and specialised areas, but across the spectrum including international and local politics, governance, societal issues, technology and a host of developments.
As Khaleej Times steps into the next decade of its operations, where it will head to its half-century mark, it is witnessing the transformation of what was a young country at its birth (the UAE was established in 1971, just seven years before the paper came into circulation), and is now riding high on the path to remarkable growth, progress and maturity. 
And it will continue to be in a strong position to report on the developments that occur over the coming years, guiding and enlightening its readers about developments, both at home and abroad.
- suchitra@khaleejtimes.com