Asharq Al Awsat 'bus and cab' campaign a success

Buses and cabs roaming the city were branded with the distinctive green logo of the London based pan-Arab daily newspaper, Asharq Al Awsat.

As the campaign comes to an end, Haitham Rizk - Asharq Al Awsat's head of sales and marketing for international markets, says the branded vehicles were successful tools of reinforcing the newspaper's identity as a London based publication while confirming to Arab tourists and residents the promise of being a truly international paper.

Asharq Al Awsat is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, its remarkable success as an international Arab publication was behind choosing the line: "With you... where ever you are" to be the slogan for this campaign.

According to Rizk the 'Bus and Cab' initiative was designed to accompany the newspaper's summer's marketing strategy, as demand for the publication increases due the huge numbers of Arab tourists flocking to Europe.

"We want our readers to feel that they can always depend on Asharq Al Awsat wherever they are... especially in London"

Asharq Al Awsat has strong presence in many capital and major cities across Europe, The United States and The Middle East, with particular strength in the Saudi and GCC markets.

It is also available online through www.asharqalawsat.com while www.asharq-e.com provides an English translation for most of the paper's original content.

The paper has recently also signed several deals with mobile service providers to provide content through portable devices across the Arab World.

The recent branding of buses and black cabs has helped in creating even further awareness for the newspaper among non Arab speakers.

For his part, Haitham Rizk says: "if there is anyone to thank for this accomplishment it is both the managing team with its clear vision for the brand and the editorial team that puts a great newspaper together everyday".

Asharq Al Awsat is published by Saudi Research and publishing, which in turn is a part of the Riyadh based Saudi Research and Marketing Group (SRMG), the first Arab media company to be publically listed in a stock market, and the first to have an independent board of trustees.