Arabic Copywriter
June 21, 2008
Nothing is hard to find in Dubai, even a copywriter. But compared to other advertising professionals available in Dubai, copywriters may be scarce. Not all advertising agencies have one. As clients provide copy all most all the time, designers or client service guys become copywriters in small agencies. This is not anything peculiar to Dubai alone. Everywhere, copywriter is the most avoidable position when “job requirement urgencies” are weighed.
And there is something called an Arabic copywriter. Anybody connected with advertising in Dubai knows this as a problem area. No two Arabic copywriters ever agree on even a single Arabic word. So in Dubai, if an agency has two Arabic copywriters, both are kept at approx: 100 meters from each other in separate well reinforced cubicles.
But I have met some good Arabic copywriters lately. They are not mere translators, but real copywriters with real visualizing skills. I think Arabic copywriting is just an evolving field in Dubai, and talents are yet to be recognized.
July 29, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Well, I am an Arabic Copywriter, and I have a peer doing the same job, and he sits just a metre away from me.
And yes, we are so scarce that I bet you won’t see any other ACW replying to this post.
January 29, 2009 at 6:12 am
Hi,
Well..I just spotted your blog, and decided to reply after noticing the 1st response…I am an Arabic copywriter in an advertising agency. I agree with the fact that there isn’t any specialisation in the whole ME or even the Arab world called copywriting like in the West. I happened to be available in Duabi for this job offering. I have a Master degree in translation and modern languages, and after searching for a while for a decent position that reflects your academic status ( 5 years full time studies in a recognised Univesity before graduation and a lecturing position in the UK for teaching interpreting- medical field), I was shocked to discover that the market was overflowing with unspecialised people who pretend to be translators or even copywriters with no background related to the stated field. This is when I decided to have a go with copywriting which I find very creative and interesting if you happen to have the right tools ie. have read tousands of books in your life, have strong linguistic knowlege and experience..All this adds to your sussess. After occupying my position as an arabic copywriting for 4 years now, I am ready to embark now on a new adventure either in a well recognised agency locally or internationally, or in Communications. So if you happen to know about anything interesting and well worth giving a chance, pls let me know. Rita Aoun
February 8, 2009 at 9:20 am
Contact me on ebrahim.hasan@ogilvy.com
We’re currently looking for an Arabic Copywriter.
On thing I’d like to add. Copywriting isn’t about linguistics or perfect translation. It’s about concepts, whatever the language.
May 24, 2009 at 7:12 am
I totally agree…
Those who dully think that stuffing certificates would make them copywriters should go home.
A PhD never made a creative, but an ultimate sense of freedom always does.
Didn’t click yet? Find another job!
March 30, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Hello all.
I work for an multinational company and based in Europe and we’re currently in search of a Arabic SMS copywriter (for a forthcoming sms promotion un UAE).
Please find below the requirements set by my company:
The person(s) will work as outsourced partner and must:
- Be a Native Arab – Have proved experience/portfolio
- Be fluent in English – Have higher level education
- Be in touch with current affairs, society, popular culture
- Be characterized by productivity, creativity and organization skills
- Have good computer skills (MS Office)
In case that someone is interested send me an e-mail at: gkelnik@gmail.com
June 8, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Hello All,
I agree that Arabic copywriters are under-estimated, you can see that especially on outdoor advertising, signs on streets…etc. I really feel sorry for Arabic in this country. Am an Arabic copywriter, working currently as a web content manager in an advertising agency. One of the most frustrating things i experienced is when the client asks to publish some content that no real Arabic speaker would swallow… Wish i can contribute to improve Arabic here. Amar
July 20, 2009 at 7:53 am
Hi Guys, I’m an arabic copywriter in an international advertising agency, and i have a journalistic background. Just wanted to remind u guys that the biggest AD men was copywriters, David Ogilvy , Leo burnett and many others…
copywriting is the most important part in the AD, it’s what delivers the msg. when it comes to arabic copywriting, the problem is that we’re still sticked to the old classic language, and we’re always trying to show our skills in classic arabic, while what we realy need is to make the arabic language more modern and trendy, and to come up with new arabic word, this is what we call it in arabic : “istibtan” … rude, classic, and old arabic doesn’t go with modern advertising …
Christian
September 24, 2009 at 3:39 pm
Hi all, thanks a lot for this website. i am an arabic copywriter working in an international advertising agency, actually we’ve searched a lot for arabic copywriters and finally we were obliged to bring someone from another field to help. it’s true there are few people who work as copywriters specially in arabic but the most frustrating thing that even if the salaries are high in this field but still no one is giving courses about it , even in universities they don’t take it seriously. i studied as a “concepteur-redacteur” but i haven’t learned anything about copywriting in the university.
I agree with you copywriting is about concepts first and then about wording.
thanks again