Dubai: The Gulf News headquarters on Shaikh Zayed Road were a sea of orange on Monday as the company celebrated 35 years of public service in the UAE and the region.
Orange and white balloons and anniversary posters decorated the office compound in Dubai. Hundreds of Gulf News staff from all departments donned their 35th anniversary orange shirts and gathered at the parking lot for the celebration.
Abdul Hamid Ahmad, Editor-in-Chief of Gulf News and Executive Director of Publications and Duleep George, Executive Director, Strategy and Marketing of Gulf News, led the ceremonial cutting of a 2.5 metre by one metre vanilla sponge cake from the Jebel Ali Hotel.
“Now is the time for celebration,” George said before leading the crowd to sing Gulf News the Birthday song. “The next celebration is even bigger—our 40th year,” he added.
“Thank you all. You made Gulf News such a success over the past years. We are all very proud of you. Insha’Allah we will see another [35 years for Gulf News],” Ahmad said, addressing the crowd.
Musicians serenaded the crowd as they shared breakfast on Monday morning before going back to work. Similar celebrations were held in the Gulf News bureaus in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, and the production facility at the Dubai Investment Park (DIP).
Some 60 staff from BPG Maxus came to celebrate with the company employees as well. Satish Mayya, CEO of BPG Maxus, said: “In Gulf News’ 35 years, we have been working together with you for 33 years. I’ve seen Gulf News grow from just 16 pages to as heavy as five kilogrammes today, including its magazines.”
Much has changed since Gulf News launched its first edition on September 30, 1978. From a tabloid format to a broadsheet and now the Berliner size, Gulf News has since grown to include its strong performing news portal, its sister weekly publication, XPRESS, a portfolio of lifestyle and leisure magazines, GN Focus, and GN Broadcasting.
But all this was to be expected, said long-time staff Javed Nawab who joined Gulf News in 1980 as a photographer. “All of Gulf News is a totally visual newspaper which does not compare with anything,” Nawab said.
“From one big editorial hall with additional rooms and very few people where everyone knew each other, Gulf News has now grown to become a mini city, like a mini town which is good,” he added.
“Before there weren’t too many people, but we’ve grown to become a [big family] which I think is a good sign,” P.K.Nizar, promotions assistant, who has been with Gulf News for 28 years, said.
Mohammad Ebrahim, who joined Gulf News when it was just a year old, said he is pleased with the company’s growth, and he, too, has grown with the company. “When I joined, I used to pick up reporters and other staff, now I’m working as a documentation clerk. And it makes you feel proud when you see people liking Gulf News.”
