Al Arabi magazine, published in Kuwait, is this year's recipient of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation's Cultural and Scientific Achievement Award. Al Arabi, which in Arabic means 'The Arab', was first published in December 1958 and the first issue sold 30,000 copies.
For over four decades, the monthly magazine has been published in Kuwait and distributed throughout the Arab world. Publication ceased for a year following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.
Al Arabi was more than a regular cultural magazine. It served as a common platform for Arab thinkers and writers to meet, discuss and debate on a number of issues reflecting the situation that the Arab world was experiencing. This is what gave Al Arabi magazine an edge over others.
When the magazine was first published, most of the Arab countries were just beginning to taste freedom from the colonial powers. The freedom opened the door for the Arab world to experiment and hope for a better future.
It has also allowed Arabs to meet fellow Arabs, who were united in independence. This was where Arabs met regardless of how far geography may have kept them apart. Hence, the pages of Al Arabi became a room filled with aspirations, hopes and dreams.
As nationalism spread throughout the Arab world, Al Arabi also strived to reflect what the Arab world believed in and looked forward to a better and brighter future.
But when the first issue was published, many doubted that a magazine of that nature would survive. This was not only because of the financial cost involved in producing such a high quality publication, but also because of the lack of readers who would be interested in the topics addressed.
The magazine stood the test of time and proved sceptics wrong. Today, the magazine is very popular and is sold throughout the Arab world.
There are a number of reasons which made the magazine survive over the years. The Government of Kuwait supports the magazine financially out of its belief that the state's involvement in such cultural endeavours would only add prominence to Kuwait's cultural identity.
In addition, the magazine has always been able to renew itself in terms of both content and layout. This made it a constant appeal, attracting additional readers.
But, perhaps, what really carried Al Arabi through the decades is actually the magazine's approach and scope. The magazine was able to bridge many roads.
Not only was Al Arabi bringing Arabs together and getting them to know each other in every aspect, but most importantly, it was also able to bring the world to its readers.
The topics it covered would examine how others outside the Arab world lived and what their aspirations were. This humanistic approach turned out to be Al Arabi's essence.
Furthermore, Al Arabi dared to cover complex and intertwined topics. Yet, its subject matters were written in a simplified and lucid manner that made it easy to read and comprehend. This aspect gave Al Arabi a wide readership of all age groups.
The magazine eventually expanded. It began translating a number of internationally renowned books and plays. These were produced in a series such as 'The World of Thought Series' (Aalam Al Fikr) and 'From the World's Theatre' (Min Al Masrah Al Aalami).
A number of elements played a role in creating a foundation because of which the magazine was able to thrive.
It could not be denied a state's appreciation and full support. How far the magazine would advance would depend on how much culture was respected and supported within that environment. In Al Arabi's case, this was evident by the role played by the Kuwaiti government over the years.
But financial support alone is not enough. A crucial element here is the role played by the magazine's editorial section. The calibre of writers contributing to the magazine and the topics they covered gave the magazine depth and insight.
Creativity was evident not only in the kind of topics covered, but also in the manner in which the magazine presented itself something that was felt in the pages, colours and layout.
As Kuwait became one of the cultural centres in the Arab world and gained stature over time, it also had its effects on Al Arabi's progress.
We cannot ignore the fact that political changes in Kuwait, including the institutionalisation of democratic procedures, and the establishment of an elected parliament have also influenced Al Arabi's progress.
But what made the financial and human elements and the environment meaningful is the framework where all these merged. This was where Al Arabi stood; a representation of where its roots were. And, that was its Arab identity, that's where it belonged - human culture or civilisation.
Where would Al Arabi head in a century filled with dramatic changes and challenges? With the invasion of the Internet and incisive electronic journalism what could be the future of a magazine like Al Arabi?
Undeterred, it faced the challenges posed by the electronic publishing head on, believes its Editor Dr. Sulaiman Ibrahim Al Askaree through its presence on the world-wide web.
"Al Arabi is a cultural undertaking. Its continuous rejuvenation depends on how much the Arab mind is capable of tuning to changes in the world," says Dr. Al Askaree.
"The magazine flies with two wings. One wing is its writers and thinkers who constantly feed it with ideas so that its engines keep producing and the second wing represents Al Arabi's readers.
They are the ones who are enlightened by the material presented in the magazine and are able to taste the fruits of culture that the magazine brings to them," adds Dr. Al Askaree. "With these wings, any publication will be able to succeed."
Al Arabi magazine rises to new heights
Al Arabi magazine, published in Kuwait, is this year's recipient of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation's Cultural and Scientific Achievement Award. Al Arabi, which in Arabic means 'The Arab', was first published in December 1958 and the first issue sold 30,000 copies.