The Dubai Font, the first Microsoft font to be created by and named after a city, was officially launched yesterday at Dubai Opera House.
The font was introduced to the world by Sheikh Hamden bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, in line with the UAE’s vision to become a regional and global leader in innovation. It was created in collaboration with Microsoft, harmoniously and fully integrating both Arabic and Latin texts, and will be available to use in 23 different languages.
His Highness officially directed government institutions of Dubai to adopt the new font, saying ‘The launch of the Dubai Font to the world is a very important step for us as part of our continuous efforts to be ranked first in the digital world. We are confident that this new font and its unique specifications will prove popular among other fonts used online and in smart technologies across the world. Therefore, we urge all government entities to use the Dubai Font in their official correspondence, which is considered as a positive shift that will boost the emirate’s competitiveness in smart technology. This should be a commitment from the Dubai Government to guarantee the dissemination and success of this initiative on a local and global level.’
At the event, the meticulous design of the font was revealed, showing the details that set it apart from other fonts throughout the world. The Sheikh lauded the font for combining the authenticity of the past with the aspirations of the future, crossing borders and barriers to give every person the means to express themselves, citing it as a new tool for a more tolerant and happy world.
Secretary General of the Executive Council of Dubai, His Excellency Abdulla Abdul Rahman Al Shaibani also praised the inclusive nature of the project, saying ‘we are gathered here today to witness a new contribution from Dubai to serve the region and the world. The Dubai Font– the emirate’s new and innovative mark in the digital world – builds a knowledge bridge linking the East to the West. The ‘Dubai Font’ sets itself apart from other fonts because it was designed based on the main pillars that have turned Dubai into a remarkable symbol of success and tolerance. It was simultaneously designed in both Arabic and English, which was later extended to include 21 other languages.’
He finished with a touching message, saying ‘the Dubai Font reflects many of the values that characterise the personality of Dubai, whose vision revolves around giving, happiness, smartness, boldness, living in harmony, respecting one another and combining the authenticity of the past, the modernity of the present and the aspirations of the future.’
The Dubai Font was designed by Dr Nadine Chahine in collaboration with a team from a global agency, Monotype. The font was developed with unique specifications to encourage self-expression and reading. The Dubai Font was created from scratch and fills a design gap between Arabic and Latin texts, presenting harmonious typefaces that combine the two scripts seamlessly.
To download the font visit www.dubaifont.com
