Robert Murdoch enters the Middle East newspaper business

The Rupert Murdoch-owned papers The Times and Sunday Times have started publishing their international editions in the Middle East. According to their press release, The Times is the first leading international daily that is printed and distributed widely in the Middle East on the day of publication.

'We are proud to announce that we will be available daily in a region that is destined to play an ever more influential role in the world,' commented Robert Thomson, Editor of The Times. He continued, 'Since 1798, when The Times first reported Napoleon's arrival in Egypt, we have invested heavily in our reporting from the region and we now have one of the largest networks of reporters in the Middle East. Printing in Dubai is a very important milestone."

Last year same time they announced their US version launch for New York. They already seem too keen about the Middle East: they've just launched a journalism awards for the Middle East ...