It was back in 1798 that The Times made its first appearance in The Middle East when its journalists reported on Napoleon's arrival in Egypt.
Since then, like the desert sands, events and history have ebbed and shifted dramatically, during which time the newspaper, along with its sister title The Sunday Times, have grown to become two of the most influential and respected newspapers in the world.
Along the way, The Times has maintained its presence in the region reporting on some of its most significant and memorable events, with the UAE's developing history regularly finding its way into the newspapers' columns.
Today, the newspaper has an even greater link with the Middle East, thanks to a unique partnership between Saudi owned company SAB Media and Rupert Murdoch's News International, which sees the international edition of both papers being printed daily in the Middle East.
Launched in 2007, SAB Media has already made significant progress in developing both The Times and The Sunday Times across the region from its Dubai Media City base.
Both papers are now available in several GCC countries on the morning of publication and SAB Media is currently in the process of expanding its regional print sites across the rest of the Middle East to provide its daily offering to an even greater number of readers.
Simultaneously, a full-colour product and a greater focus on Middle East content through a dedicated Middle East edition are also being developed which will all add up to produce a significantly enhanced package for the papers' many loyal Middle East readers.
Focusing on a diet of international news, sport and a second to none business section - interspersed with regional advertising from the ever-swelling ranks of blossoming Middle East businesses - the papers currently enjoy a circulation of just over 22,000.
This has been helped in no small part by significant and targeted marketing and subscription-building exercises, such as having the entire Times business desk team out for the Leaders in Dubai conference in 2007.
Available through retailers or by subscription at home or at work, The Times and The Sunday Times contains an unparalleled depth and breadth of coverage that has become the newspaper's trademark over its 220-year history. Long regarded as required reading for political and business leaders, The Times and The Sunday Times combine objective news reporting with hard-hitting political analysis, lively commentary and incisive business reporting.
"We are proud that we are now available daily in a region that is destined to play an ever more influential role in the world," explains James Harding, Editor of The Times.
"Since 1798, when The Times reported Napoleon's arrival in Egypt, we have invested heavily in our reporting from the region and we now have one of the largest correspondent networks in the Middle East. Expanding our printing operations across the region is another significant moment in our history and we look forward to providing intelligent, informative and entertaining news, comment and analysis for many new readers in the region."
John Witherow, Editor of The Sunday Times added: "We are delighted to have this opportunity to extend the availability of The Sunday Times across this important region. We are proud of our reputation for delivering news and analysis to an intelligent and thoughtful audience. There are more than 3.5 million weekly readers of the Sunday Times and this figure is only increasing further through our partnership with SAB Media in the Middle East."
"One reason we're excited to have the licence to publish The Times and The Sunday Times here is its broad appeal," said Sheikh Salah Al Belawi, Chairman of the SAB Media.
"The newspapers offer advertisers a way to reach the region's political and business elite, along with an educated and engaged English-speaking audience. From a branding standpoint, The Times name sells itself. There is not another publication that can touch it, in terms of recognition and respect."
SAB Media is a part of a conglomerate of companies under the umbrella of Saudi based SAB Group Holding Co owned by Sheikh Salah Al Belawi which cover a wide area of sectors ranging from construction to investments, real estate and retail.