The Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Executive Council of Dubai, Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has launched the Dubai Font, Microsoft’s first font to be created by a city and named after it, in-line with UAE’s vision to become a regional and global pioneer in innovation.
Shaikh Hamdan, on this occasion, officially directed all government institutions in Dubai to adopt the new font for official correspondences, and said that the launch of Dubai Font to the world is a very major step and form part of constant efforts by the emirate to be ranked first in the digital world.
Expressing confidence on the new font and its unique specifications, he said it will prove to be popular among other fonts used online and in smart technologies across the world. Therefore, he requested all government entities to use the Dubai Font in their official correspondence, which is a positive shift aimed at boosting the competitiveness of the emirate in smart technology.
Shaikh Hamdan lauded the meticulous design of the font, which blends authenticity of the past and aspirations of the future, surpassing all barriers and borders to give each and everyone a means to express themselves. He described the new font as a new tool for a more tolerant and happy world.
Congratulating the project team on this work, who contributed to the success of this unique initiative, he said, the Dubai Font is the emirate’s new and innovative mark in the digital world, and builds a knowledge bridge linking the East to the West.
The Dubai Font is unique, as it was designed based on the main pillars that have turned Dubai into a symbol of success and tolerance. It was designed simultaneously in Arabic and English, and can be extended to include 21 languages.
Developed as the highest and most cutting-edge technological standards, the font is the first in Microsoft applications and solutions to be developed by a city and carry its name. Apart from being a digital typeface used for writing, it is also a form of communication allowing people around the world to express their personalities and feelings in an ever-evolving digital world.
The Assistant Secretary General for Executive Council and General Secretariat Affairs Sector of Dubai and Project Director of Dubai Font, Ahmad Al Mahri, said the initiative will mark Dubai’s position in this fast-paced world of digital typography.
The Font supports the technology sector by offering a high quality digital font with unique specifications in various countries of the world, without any costs. The font carries special characteristics that facilitate reading and supports printing and display on electronic screens.
Dubai Font is also the most exemplary font to use in designing promotional ads to be used in larger sizes. This important font fills the gap of the need for high quality Arabic font as part of Office 365 program by Microsoft.
Designed by Dr. Nadine Chahine, together with a team from a global agency Monotype, the Dubai Font has unique specifications that aim to encourage self-expression and reading. Created from scratch, the Dubai Font fills a design gap between Arabic and Latin texts and presents a harmonious typeface by combining two scripts seamlessly.
The design of the font captures the unique nature of the Emirate of Dubai, and mirrors the city’s qualities and promotes its global standing. The font includes 23 languages.
To download the font, visit www.dubaifont.com.
