RIYADH: Just as Walt Disney founded one of the world's largest and most influential entertainment conglomerates, an Egyptian journalist is hailed as the “Walt Disney of the UAE” for his key role in shaping the region's media landscape with Majid magazine.
For many Arab adults now in their 50s, the magazine and its beloved characters such as Majid, Kaslan Jiddan and Captain Khalfan are rare symbols of childhood joy. But few are aware of the creative genius behind these rare memories: Ahmed Omar, who died on August 9 at the age of 85.
His vision and storytelling skills were instrumental in shaping the magazine's lasting legacy.
Born in Egypt in September 1939, Omar embarked on a lifelong journey with words and stories.
His passion for reading blossomed at a young age and school and public libraries became his refuge where he immersed himself in a world of diverse books and cultivated a deep love for literature.
Omar's frequent visits to Cairo's Azbakeya book market, where he discovered available second-hand books, helped him build a personal library full of various titles. His extensive reading played a vital role in shaping his vision and enriching his ideas, which later found their way into his literary works.
He read to build a deep store of knowledge, with classical literature enthralling him from an early age. He was deeply influenced by the novels of Naguib Mahfouz, which delve into the intricacies of life in Egyptian neighborhoods. Omar was also shaped by the works of renowned Egyptian writers such as Yusuf Idris, Gamal El-Ghitani, Mohamed Hassanein Heikal and other notable authors.
He began his professional career at the UAE newspaper Al-Etihad, where he was a founding member and helped lay its foundations. He later ran the local news section.
The most significant achievement of his career was the establishment of the Majid magazine for children and he became its editor-in-chief in 1979. The idea of the magazine was born in Al-Etihad newspaper and eventually transformed into one of the most important children's magazines in the Arab countries. world.
Omar recognized the need for Arab children to have a publication that represents them, sparks their imaginations, and feeds their minds. Working with a talented team of journalists and illustrators, he turned the magazine into a platform for expressing the thoughts and emotions of Arab children through words and drawings.
Through his tireless efforts, Omar made the magazine a symbol of Arab childhood and a treasured part of the memories of generations to come.
He spent most of his time in the magazine's offices, creating, planning, supervising writers and content, and preparing issues. When a new issue was printed, he had several weeks' worth of issues in advance.
The inaugural issue of the magazine was published on February 28, 1979 with 5,000 free copies, which quickly disappeared from the shelves. A character representing human values rather than superpowers, Majid struck a chord with the children. Majid Magazine maintained a weekly publication schedule every Wednesday without fail and gained significant popularity across the region.
Omar supervised and managed the magazine with utmost care and concern for almost 30 years. He provided children's guide articles and scripted comic book stories, enriching each issue with popular characters such as Zaki the Smart and Captain Khalfan, among others.
His editorials in Majid magazine served as weekly lessons for children and adults alike, full of educational messages and moral guidance. His contributions made him a pioneer in education as he devoted his knowledge to serving the younger generation and imparting valuable lessons.
With his deep understanding of the nuances and secrets of childhood, Omar has managed to capture the attention of children from all over the Arab world. The magazine's readership grew to hundreds of thousands of young readers.
The late journalist believed that fostering a love of reading in children is a collective responsibility of families, schools and magazines. He famously said, “Inculcating the habit of reading at an early age is essential because it is difficult to cultivate it later. Introducing your child to a magazine isn't just about providing entertainment – it's a vital step towards cultivating a lifelong passion for reading.”
Since the magazine's inception, Omar has been dedicated to giving it a distinct Arabian Gulf flavor that is reflected in its content, stories and characters. He attracted leading children's writers and cartoonists and ensured that the magazine resonated deeply with young readers throughout the Arab world by preserving the unique identity of Gulf children.
Notable characters such as Kaslan Jiddan, Fadooli, Abu Al-Dhurfaa, Zakiyah Al-Zakiyah, Shamsa and Dana and Captain Khalfan and his assistant Fahman became popular figures among the magazine's young audience.
Omar emphasized that his magazine was designed to appeal to children growing up in a traditional environment, instilling in them religious values, cultural awareness and pride in their Arab heritage.
As a testament to the success of his magazine, subscriptions to Majid's magazine by mail flourished throughout the Arab world as fans eagerly awaited each issue every Wednesday. For decades it was able to compete with translated comic magazines such as Mickey (licensed by Disney and translated in Egypt) and Little Lulu (licensed and translated in Lebanon).
As a result, the magazine has evolved with the UAE's social progress and embraced digital advancements with a YouTube channel and website, although critics would argue that it is nowhere near as influential today – despite the added reach afforded by modern technology – as it once was in the 1990s. and the 1980s.
