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NEW VOGUE EDITOR ANNOUNCED

Following the departure of Deena Aljuhani Abdulaziz, Manuel Arnaut has been officially named as the incoming Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Arabia, with his new role due to commence on May 7, 2017. Currently Editor-in-Chief of Architectural Digest Middle East, Manuel has a long association with Condé Nast after initiating his career at Vogue Portugal, and eventually holding the position as Editor at GQ Portugal. In his new role, Manuel will take over direction of Vogue Arabia’s multinational and multilingual editorial team.

“After starting my professional life at Vogue, and having grown up devouring each page of its international editions, I’m deeply honoured to have the opportunity to come ‘home,’ at the helm of Vogue Arabia,” says Manuel. “With the rich heritage of the Middle East as a starting point — and its eyes on the future — Vogue Arabia celebrates the region’s fashion and cultural identity, presenting it to the world in a luxurious, upbeat, and contemporary style. In an exciting climate of modernity and creativity, the team and I are committed to working towards a Vogue Arabia that is the proud voice of the region, representing the strength and allure of the Arab woman.”

Shashi Menon, CEO & Publisher, Nervora and Vogue Arabia adds, “Manuel Arnaut brings over a decade of Condé Nast editorial experience combined with a strong track record of regional success. We look forward to him building on Vogue Arabia’s foundation.”

Deena Aljuhani Abdulaziz departs Vogue

It has been confirmed that Saudi Princess, Deena Aljuhani Abdulaziz will no longer be Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Arabia. The title, part of Nervora Publishing has already appointed a new editor. Conde Nast launched the online edition of Vogue Arabia in July 2016, followed by the print edition in March 2017.

Vogue Arabia set to launch in the region

Conde Nast is set to launch an online edition of Vogue Arabia this Autumn, in partnership with Dubai-based media agency Nervora. The Middle Eastern edition of the luxury fashion title will be headed up by Editor-In-Chief, Deena Aljuhani Abdulaziz. The website will be launched in Arabic as well as English and followed by a print magazine due to begin publication next Spring.

Vogue Arabia will be the 22nd edition of Vogue in print from Conde Nast and the magazine’s headquarters are to be located in Dubai. It will be distributed across the Gulf in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, as well as targeting the wider MENA region. Daniela Agnelli, who previously worked on London’s Telegraph magazine for 15 years and a number of publications in the UK as well as the U.S. will be joining the publication as Fashion Director. Caterina Minthe, current Managing Editor at Style.com/Arabia, also part of Nervora, will join the team as Features Director.

“Nearly four years ago, we embarked on a mission to change the fashion landscape in the Middle East with Style.com/Arabia,” says Shashi Menon, CEO, Nervora. “That mission continues — and grows markedly — with Vogue, the world’s pre-eminent fashion publication. We couldn’t be more thrilled.”

Jonathan Newhouse, Chairman and Chief Executive, Condé Nast International adds “There has been a growing demand for Vogue in the Arab world for some time, and now the time has come to make it a reality.”

Style.com to become e-commerce site

Condé Nast has announced that Style.com will become the home of its new e-commerce business platform. Launching in the UK in Autumn, the concept will replace the website’s news and fashion show reports content. Following the UK launch, the e-commerce website will grow to incorporate the market from the US, with other major countries to follow. How this will affect Style.com/Arabia is yet to be determined.

The new e-commerce platform will operate as a stand-alone business, although it will still come under the ownership of Condé Nast. It will look to connect fashion companies as well as upscale brands from other sectors – such as beauty, travel and technology – to potential buyers, including readers of other Condé Nast print and online publications Vogue, Vanity Fair and GQ. The new venture will be headed up by Franck Zayan, who previously worked as Head of e-commerce for Galeries Lafayette.

Conde Nast Traveller ME revealed at launch party

The first issue of Condé Nast Traveller Middle East was revealed at the magazine’s launch event, held at the Conrad Dubai last night. The event was attended by over 500 VIPs, including CEOs, Managing Directors, and heads from leading travel, tourism and public sector organisations in the Middle East. The winners of the inaugural Condé Nast Traveller Middle East Readers’ Choice Awards were also revealed and awarded at the event.

“The Middle East edition of Condé Nast Traveller is the eighth in the world, and will stand out as being uniquely curated to speak to this audience,” says Rhea Saran, Editor in Chief of Condé Nast Traveller Middle East. “The launch cover works as a sneak peek of what to expect: Condé Nast Traveller Middle East will be luxurious, glamorous and fashion forward while still being the ultimate authority on travel lifestyle.”

Arab Publishing Partners (APP), part of the ITP Group, the Gulf region’s largest consumer and business magazine publisher, and Condé Nast International, launched the international luxury travel title Condé Nast Traveller Middle East. The magazine is APP’s first publication under licence agreement with Condé Nast International.

Winners of the Condé Nast Traveller Middle East Reader’s Choice Awards were also announced at the launch event on December 4, 2013. The best brands and personalities from Middle East and International travel were awarded in 14 readers’ choice categories, including Best City, Best Country, Best Airline (leisure and business), Best Hotel (leisure and business), Best Spa, amongst others. The readers’ choice awards were voted for online by audiences from the Middle East and the results were audited by BPA Worldwide. Emirates Airlines won both the award categories for Best Airline – Business and Best Airline – Leisure, while the Burj Khalifa was voted as the Best Tourist Attraction in the Middle East. Dubai won the Best City – Middle East award while the French capital, Paris, was voted as the Best City – International by travellers from the Middle East. Dusit Thani, Maldives was voted as the Best Hotel – International, and Atlantis The Palm, Dubai won the award for the Best Hotel in the Middle East.

Congratulating the winners, Rhea Saran said, “For over 25 years, the Readers’ Choice Awards have been setting the standard for the tourism and hospitality industries around the world, and tonight we added important votes from the Middle East into the mix. I’d like to congratulate all the winners of tonight’s awards – the first for and by the region.”

Condé Nast Traveller – Editorial team announced

Today marks the start of the Condé Nast Traveller editorial team formation, with three key team members announced. Effective immediately, Rhea Saran will take the lead as Editor-in-Chief, with Grazia Middle East Deputy Editor, Jenny King, moving across to join the team as Deputy Editor at the end of September. Sabina Parkinson joins as Art Director, with more team to be announced imminently. Part of the ITP group, this will be APP’s first publication under licence agreement with Condé Nast International and marks the luxury travel title’s debut in the Gulf region.

“The readers of Condé Nast Traveller are discerning, affluent and cultured.  They expect a superior, memorable travel experience and we look forward to showing them how and where they can receive this, both globally and within this region,” says Ali Akawi, Managing Director of APP & ITP Consumer. “Travel is an important part of the lives of people in the Gulf whether this is for leisure or business. Testament to this is the fact we have three of the world’s leading airlines based here and an abundance of international five-star hotels.”

Contact the Condé Nast Traveller Middle East team at CondeNastTraveller@AppGulf.com, or call +971 (0)4 444 3000