The National, the UAE’s authoritative English language newspaper, has announced a host of new additions today, including a new premium magazine suite, a revamped Sport section, extended Arts & Life offering, new digital platforms and an engaging new Weekend section.

The changes come as the result of a six month reader review at the paper, aimed at better understanding what readers like, want and desire. During this review The National conducted numerous surveys and in-depth focus groups, where all elements of the paper were evaluated. The resulting changes are designed to respond to consumers’ preferences and consumption habits.

“Throughout our extensive research our readers told us many positives, including their appreciation for The National’s quality journalism, excellent writing and comprehensive analysis. But they also demanded more of us: more stories, more to think about and more to do. They called for easier navigation, more listings and more of our exceptional lifestyle coverage,” said Hassan Fattah, Editor in Chief of The National.

Laura Koot, The National’s managing editor and art director added: “We listened to our readers, and have responded with a range of new additions, re-designs and changes to better meet their needs. Readers will continue to find all of the first-class coverage of news, arts, life and business that they know and love in The National, and much more.”

A highlight of the changes will be the addition of new high-end magazines, distributed with the paper each fortnight. The new magazine suite will replace M Magazine, and will alternate fortnightly between the hugely popular travel title, UltraTravel, and the paper’s newest addition, Luxury magazine, a high-end glossy that brings readers the very best of living in the UAE and the world.

Arts & Life has also been given a refresh to better suit readers’ preferences, and will now be published in an easy-to-handle tabloid format. The section will be more specific to consumers’ needs with a wealth of listings information and guides to the events going on in the UAE and the region, together with The National’s signature reviews and interviews in the arts and culture scene from Hollywood to Bollywood.

The changes will also see the majority of the supplements that were in the Saturday edition of the paper move to the Friday, where they will be combined to create one comprehensive section called Weekend, which will now be a broadsheet glossy. The move allows readers more time to enjoy the paper’s rich content, and the Weekend section will include all the lifestyle coverage that readers need to make the most of their days off.

The Sport section of the paper will be given a fresh new makeover befitting its lively coverage of sports locally and internationally, with more emphasis on the bite-sized news users need in a fast paced world. The Review, The National’s intellectually grounded bookend to the week, will also move to Saturday.

With the goal of making The National easier to read and navigate, the paper has also made tweaks in the news and business sections. More thorough coverage of the subcontinent, in partnership with The Times of India, will also add to the paper’s authoritative coverage of the Middle East and Asia.

In an effort to bring The National’s news to readers everywhere, the paper will continue to complement its printed coverage with breaking news, in-depth features and blogs at www.thenational.ae. A new e-Reader application for the iPad will also be available from the 3rd May, as well as an sms news alert program for Etisalat subscribers. These new additions are just the start of a whole suite of new digital touch points The National will be rolling out in the coming months.

“We at The National love what we do, and we consider it a privilege to have our readers spend time with us every day. We always endeavour to listen to our audience, and provide them with the best paper to meet their needs. The media industry is constantly changing, and we need to evolve in order to keep up and provide the best possible product for our readers. We hope they enjoy these new changes and look forward to their feedback,” stated Fattah.

The new additions and changes to The National will be rolled out from the 3rd May with the publication of the first new edition of Luxury. The first ever issue of the new Weekend section will be published on the 4th May, and the first tabloid format Arts & Life section on the 6th May.

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