Middle East Version of Esquire Set to Launch
US-based Hearst Magazines International on Thursday announced the launch of upmarket men’s magazine Esquire in the Middle East.
Esquire Middle East will be published monthly starting in November 2009 and will be distributed in the UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, Duncan Edwards, president and CEO, Hearst Magazines International, said.
Esquire Middle East, being launched by ITP Consumer Publishing and Hearst Magazines International (HMI), will have a circulation of 15,000 copies.
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Jeremy Lawrence, previously editor of Time Out Dubai, also an ITP publication, has been appointed as editor-in-chief of Esquire Middle East, which will be published in English.
“Esquire has long been known for its outstanding writing, photography and lifestyle content targeting young, affluent men,” said Edwards.
“We have found that the magazine translates exceptionally well with men all over the world and we’re confident that Esquire will be successful in the Middle East market, as it has been with its other international editions.”
“With the fashion and luxury business booming in the Middle East, there is a strong audience of men looking for upscale, stylish information and advice from a magazine like Esquire,” added Walid Akawi, CEO of ITP Publishing Group.
“We are pleased to be partnering with Hearst to introduce this award-winning brand to our region.”
The flagship US edition of Esquire, published by Hearst Magazines, was the winner of three 2009 National Magazine Awards and is the most-honoured monthly magazine in America with a total of 13 awards.
In addition to the US men’s magazine market, Esquire has enjoyed enormous success in countries such as Russia and China, where it reaches a circulation of 100,000 and 538,730 respectively.
Over the past few years, Esquire has rapidly expanded its international presence into the emerging markets of Asia (including Japan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Korea, and Thailand) and Eastern Europe (Czech Republic, Kazakhstan and Romania).
ITP, whose portfolio includes Arabian Business, publishes more magazines serving the Middle East’s business and consumer markets than any other company.
Andy Sambidge
Arabian Business