German magazine Kicker to launch Arabic version

RIYADH, May 23 (Reuters) German soccer magazine Kicker will launch by the end of this month an Arabic version by the end of this month, beginning sales in the potentially-lucrative Saudi market.

''Kicker Arabia is creating its unique position as the first magazine in the Middle East published in Arabic ... covering European soccer and hence satisfying the growing demand of the soccer audience in the Arab world,'' Kicker Arabia said in a statement.

General manager Thamer al-Juwaidi said the magazine aimed to sell 25,000 copies in Saudi Arabia and expand sales to other Arab countries three months later.

''We will not cover sport news from the Arab world. It's already well-covered. We will sell news on European soccer in Arabic,'' he said.

Kicker Sport Magazine was established in 1920 and has distribution rate of over three million copies in Germany and Europe.

Reuters DH BST2128