H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, has launched the Dubai Font, Microsoft’s first font to be created by a city and named after it, in line with the UAE’s vision to become a regional and global leader in innovation.
On this occasion, Sheikh Hamdan officially directed government institutions in the Emirate of Dubai to adopt the font in government correspondences, 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 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".
Sheikh Hamdan was introduced to the details of the Dubai Font, which sets it apart from many other fonts available. He lauded its meticulous design that "combines the authenticity of the past and the aspirations of the future, crossing all borders and barriers to give every person, wherever they may be, the means to express themselves".
His Highness said, “I have personally overseen all the stages of the development of this font, from the first design sketches to the execution phase. I congratulate the project team and everyone who contributed to the success of this unique initiative."
The Dubai Font was designed by Dr. Nadine Chahine in collaboration with a team from global agency, Monotype. It was developed as a font with unique specifications that aims to encourage self-expression and reading. Created from scratch, the Dubai Font fills a design gap between Arabic and Latin texts and presents harmonious typefaces combining the two scripts seamlessly.
The design of the font, which includes 23 languages, captures the unique nature of the Emirate of Dubai, mirroring the city’s qualities and promotes its global standing.