The Times - Live in the Gulf

The Times newspaper, one of the most respected and influential news sources in the world, has confirmed it is relocating its business desk from London, UK, to the Middle East for one week during The Times Gulf Business Forum, Sunday October 28 - Friday November 04 2007.

The Times Gulf Business Forum is an unprecedented week-long event with more than 200 company CEOs, leaders and business leaders meeting with The Times journalists to discuss regional and global business issues.

Members of the award-winning editorial team, including business editor, James Harding, will be touring the region and meeting with leaders, CEOs and ministers in The UAE, Bahrain and Qatar and these meetings will contribute to the business content over the following weeks and months.

"The Gulf is making itself felt in companies and markets around the world. We want The Times, which has the best-read business pages of any paper in UK, to always be at the forefront of activity in global business. So, for the first time, we are moving The Times business desk offshore for a week: a team of reporters, columnists and editors will be based in Dubai and Abu Dhabi looking at the commercial trends that are remaking the Middle East, the new sources of capital that are investing internationally and the people that are transforming the Gulf into an economic powerhouse, " said James Harding, The Times' Business Editor.

The Times Gulf Business Forum will see members of its business desk visiting key cities throughout the region including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Manama. Amongst the journalists based in the region will be:

• James Harding, Business Editor
• Carl Mortished, International Business Editor
• James Rossiter, Property and Professional Services Correspondent
• David Robertson, Business Correspondent
• Siobhan Kennedy, Finance, M&A Correspondent
• Dominic Walsh, Leisure and Retail Industries Editor

The Times is the only leading international daily with comprehensive news on business, international affairs, politics, sports and lifestyle to be printed and distributed on the morning of publication to the readers of this region. Licensing for The Times in the Middle East is owned by the Saudi-based SAB media group which introduced the publication to the region in May 2007. The paper is published seven days a week, including its Sunday Times edition, and is available in retail outlets or by subscription. The international edition is edited in London and is printed in the UAE.

"We are delighted to be welcoming the top global minds in business and finance to the region," said Tariq Qureishy, CEO, SAB Media Group. "During the Times Gulf Business Forum, The Times world renowned journalistic team will be able to deeply engage with the people who are currently shaping this region."

With a readership of 1.8 million in print and more than 10 million people online, the paper currently reaches 95 per cent more businesspeople than the Financial Times and around 46 per cent of its readers are under 45 (Source: British Business Survey). Now with a circulation of over 15,000 in the Middle East with a readership of over 50,000 influential people daily, The Times International Edition is establishing it's leadership position in the Middle East.

The international edition, printed in the Middle East, is published five days a week, at 64 pages, with a 96-page Saturday edition and the 96-page broadsheet Sunday Times.