Vogue Arabia is the Arab-edition of Vogue magazine. It is based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and is distributed within several Arabic-speaking countries across the Middle East and North Africa.[1]Vogue Arabia became the 22nd edition of Vogue when its first issue was published in March 2017. Saudi Princess Deena Aljuhani Abdulaziz served as the launch editor-in-chief of the magazine until April 2017. Since April 2017, Manuel Arnaut has been the editor-in-chief.[2][3]
History
2016: Foundation and digital launching
In the second half of 2016, it was announced by Condé Nast International, that Vogue Arabia will be launched in Autumn 2016 as a digital website, and in Spring 2017 as a print magazine. Saudi Princess Deena Aljuhani Abdulaziz was appointed as editor-in-chief for the magazine.[4] The publication is a partnership between Condé Nast and Dubai-based media company Nervora.
In October 2016, Vogue Arabia was first released as a dual language website, in Arabic and English, marking the first edition of a Vogue magazine to focus on digital media over print media. It started as Style.com/Arabia but was replaced and rebranded as Vogue.me by the end of 2016.[4]
2017–present: Print launching, Abdulaziz exit and Arnaut arrival
On 1 March 2017, it was revealed the first cover for the magazine, with model Gigi Hadid photographed by Inez and Vinoodh, described as "...one poised photograph, she communicates a thousand words to a region that’s been waiting far too long for its Vogue voice to speak", by editor-in-chief, Deena Aljuhani Abdulaziz.[5] On 13 April, it was announced that after two issues, editor Deena Aljuhani Abdulaziz was fired as editor-in-chief. The editor stated: "I am proud of what I have been able to accomplish in such a short space of time... It had initially been my intention to build this important and groundbreaking edition of Vogue from inception to a mature magazine in line with others in the Vogue stable."[6] On 14 April, a few days after Abdulaziz exit announcement, Shashi Menon, CEO and publisher Nervora, revealed that Manuel Arnaut will be the new editor-in-chief of Vogue Arabia, effective 7 May 2017.[7][8]
Vogue Arabia was criticized in 2018 for hailing a Saudi Arabian reform to lift its ban on female drivers while omitting that Saudi Arabia still keeps Saudi women's rights activists imprisoned. The Vogue Arabia cover depicted a glamorous woman behind the wheel of a car in the desert. The woman was a Saudi royal, Princess Hayfa bint Abdullah al-Saud.[9][10]
Readership
According to Vogue Arabia, most of its readership is from Saudi Arabia.[9]
