The Emirates Today changes skin to Emirates Business 24/7

Government-owned UAE daily newspaper Emirates Today is to be scrapped on Sunday after just two years in existence, its owner the Arab Media Group (AMG) has revealed.

The two-dirham tabloid is to be replaced by 'Emirates Business 24/7' a daily newspaper dedicated to business-related local, regional and international news.

AMG is billing the title as the Middle East’s first English language daily dedicated to business and the economy. Its first edition will be on the stands from next Sunday, December 9.

AMG launched Emirates Today to much fanfare in September 2005, but the newspaper has failed to capture readers with its everyday local human-interest stories in the short space of time it has been on sale.

AMG will be hoping Emirates Business 24/7 will fare better with its focus on the region's hottest business sectors such as oil and gas, banking and finance, telecommunication and tourism.

"The media, especially a daily newspaper focusing on business and finance, will play a key role in channelling information on everyday developments regionally and globally," said Abdullatif Al Sayegh, CEO of AMG.

Riyad Mickdaddy will be the editor-in-chief of the newspaper. Mickdaddy has over 21 years journalistic experience. Assisting him will be Frank Kane as editor, former business editor of UK weekly the Observer.

AMG’s newspaper titles also include Emirates Today’s Arabic counterpart Emarat Alyoum, and Arabic broadsheet Al Bayan.