Under the patronage of HH General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, UAE Minister of Defence, the first Middle East Publishing Conference (MEPC) will be held in Dubai from 17-18 January 2005. The first regional event of this magnitude, MEPC is being organized by Dubai Consultancy, Research and Media Centre (DCRMC) on behalf of the International Media Production Zone (iMPZ), a project of Dubai Media City (DMC), and Dubai Media Incorporated (DMI) represented by its daily “Al Bayan”. The conference will address the opportunities and challenges of the regional publishing environment as seen through the eyes of the global publishing community. This annual event will carry forward several initiatives among them the establishment of the UAE Publishing Association, launch of the Middle East Annual Publishing Awards and establishing the Middle East Publishing Forum which will be part of the conference online activities.