Al-Arabi is a monthly Arabic magazine

Magazine

Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...

 that focuses mainly on the culture, literature, art, politics, society, and economics of the Arab world

Arab world

The Arab world refers to Arabic-speaking states, territories and populations in North Africa, Western Asia and elsewhere.The standard definition of the Arab world comprises the 22 states and territories of the Arab League stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the...

. The first edition was published in December 1958, seeking to propound the ideology of Pan-Arabism

Pan-Arabism

Pan-Arabism is an ideology espousing the unification--or, sometimes, close cooperation and solidarity against perceived enemies of the Arabs--of the countries of the Arab world, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Arabian Sea. It is closely connected to Arab nationalism, which asserts that the Arabs...

. The magazine encourages public participation, and makes use of photography and freelance work.

History

The establishment of this magazine came as a result of the Kuwaiti Government efforts to establish a magazine that emphasizes Arabic literature

Arabic literature

Arabic literature is the writing produced, both prose and poetry, by writers in the Arabic language. The Arabic word used for literature is adab which is derived from a meaning of etiquette, and implies politeness, culture and enrichment....

, while being financially supported by the Ministry of Telecommunication in Kuwait. Dr Ahmad Zaki (Arabic|أحمد زكي) was selected the first Editor in Chief of the magazine and the first edition was published in December 1958.

Since its publication, the magazine addressed various important issues in the Arabic community and the international community in all aspects of life. Many of the articles published in the magazine were contributions from well known authors, artists and poets -- among them, but not limited to: Abbas Mahmoud El Aqqad (Arabic: عباس محمود العقاد), Nizar Qabbani

Nizar Qabbani

Nizar Tawfiq Qabbani was a Syrian diplomat, poet and publisher. His poetic style combines simplicity and elegance in exploring themes of love, eroticism, feminism, religion, and Arab nationalism...

 (نزار قباني), Abdul Hadi Altazi (عبد الهادي التازي), Eihsan Abas (إحسان عباس), Yusuf Idris

Yusuf Idris

Yusuf Idris, also Yusif Idris was an Egyptian writer of plays, short stories, and novels. Idris originally trained to be a doctor, studying at the University of Cairo...

 (يوسف إدريس), Salah Abdel Sabour

Salah Abdel Sabour

Salah Abdel Sabour , was an Egyptian poet, editor, playwright and essayist. He showed an interest in literature in his early life that he started to write verses at the age of 13.- References :...

 (صلاح عبد الصبور), etc.

The magazine has been in publication continuously for over 50 years, and only stopped briefly for 7 months when it was seized during the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait.

List of Editors in Chief

• 1958-1975 Dr Ahmad Zaki
• 1976-1982 Ahmad Baha Eldeen
• 1982-1999 Dr Muhammad Ganiem Al-Romehe
• 1999-Present Time Dr Sulaiman Abrahim El-Askari

Magazine Sections

Since its establishment, the magazine had witnessed a steady modernization in topics and sections, in line with the technological advancement of the day. Today the magazine is published on a monthly basis containing a variety of sections and topics:

1. Idea A new article written by the Editor in Chief of the magazine.
2. File of the Edition Addressing a specific topic in which many different writers share their ideas, views, and stand on the specific topic that is being addressed by the section.
3. Literature Covering various topics and journals such as;
   1. Poet of the Edition Discussing the works of a select poet.
   2. Literature papers Discussing briefly recent issues and matters in literature.
   3. Live stories on the air A project that works on short stories in cooperation with the Arabic station of BBC in order to study, criticize, and review recent issues and matters.
4. Futuristic Discussing new issues that affect the international community generally and the Arabic community in particular.
5. Tourist Scout Covering visits and discussions about different cities and countries from all across the globe, to further enlighten readers about them. Moreover, at the beginning of the publication of this section the cities and the countries that were covered were limited to Arabic countries and cities. However, the scope was expanded when Dr Ahmad Bahaa became the Editor in Chief as he realigned the magazine's scope of interest from the local Arabic community to the worldwide community.
6. Painting of the Edition Discussing and analyzing a selected painting.
7. Art Conducting visits to recent and important artists in terms of their performances, contribution, and recent issues
8. The Arabic House Discussing topics that are related to the Arabic families and the problems they face in general.
9. Permanent sections These sections cover a variety of topics and are always provided in each edition, ranging from:
   1. My Dear Reader
   2. They Said
   3. Language is life
   4. Electronic literacy
   5. Man and the environment
   6. The beauty of Arabic
   7. Forums of discussion
   8. Educational contest
   9. Photographic contest
   10. Educational organizer
   11. My Dear Arabian
   12. Until we meet