The Dubai Enquirer

The Dubai Enquirer is Dubai's premier satirical news source. This well reputed Middle Eastern fake news institution began life in 1983 as The Dubai Metropolitan Daily Inquisitor, covering events including the opening of Jimmy Carrefour's all-purpose VeggieMart and the Under-5 Arabian Flugtag tragedy

It sadly folded in 1994 and the DMDI's original team were all deported. However, twelve years later, new funding saw the paper's resurrection - together with a new title and a new mission statement: To bring Dubaians a comprehensive range of news solutions for the modern age.

Under the leadership of editor Clive, The Dubai Enquirer has gone from strength to strength, covering the stories other UAE dailies fail to spot, or can't be bothered to write about. Now up to issue ten (issue six is below), The Dubai Enquirer's crack team of roving reporters has unearthed stories such as Dubai's rejected Winter Olympic bid, the plans to build an exact replica of Dubai further up the UAE coast, and the live performance by the Middle East's most controversial rap star, Mosque Def.

As The Dubai Enquirer's popularity gained momentum in early 2006, many of Dubai's other media outlets tried to get onboard. In March 2006 Clive and Randy of the Enquirer appeared on DubaiEye radio station, discussing the publication's success and topical issues such as the plans to build a lifesize statue of Dolly Parton in Dubai's Al Mamzar park. Since then, the Enquirer has been interviewed for The Gulf News and Emirates Today, and has received significant mentions in Campaign magazine and Time Out Dubai. It was during March 2006 that The Dubai Enquirer received its highest accolade, being described as "inexplicably rude and cruel" by Secret Dubai, a well respected member of Dubai's blogging community (based in a small hamlet just south of Jebel Ali).

The most high profile member of The Dubai Enquirer's team is probably the outspoken and controversial Mrs Penny Francis, chairwoman of the Dubai Women's Circle. In what many described as a "media coup", The Dubai Enquirer managed to persuade Mrs Francis to come onboard as a columnist and regular commentator. Mrs Francis hit the Dubai headlines in late 2005 following several letters in the local press.

In April 2006 The Dubai Enquirer came under criticism from its many legions of fans following a sponsorship deal with sports-lifestyle hydration solution Frootee Spritz. The publication, for one issue, changed its name to The Frootee Spritz Enquirer, and many suggested this was detrimental to the paper's image as a platform for non-biased reporting, as was the seemingly unnecessary mentioning of Frootee Spritz - and its refreshingly tangy taste - in many of the stories.

Issue 8 of The Dubai Enquirer saw several further mentions of Frootee Spritz. However, any complaints regarding this matter were overshadowed by the critical acclaim the paper received for its exclusive and heartwarming coverage of Colin the Cod, the UAE's most famous errant fish.

The Dubai Enquirer does not focus purely on its editorial content. In March 2006 it sponsored Ukrainian boyband Eastern Blox during the Dubai leg of their world tour. It was during this event, held at the Deira Arena, that the founding member Yuri sensationally quit the pop act while live on stage, proclaiming musical differences that were beyond repair.

It was world exclusive time with Issue 10, as the Enquirer reported on plans to build a multi-billion dollar man-made high-security, prison complex off the Dubai coast. Called 'Archertraz', the development would, from space, form the image of celebrity ex-con Jeffrey Archer.

With the launch of issue 10, The Dubai Enquirer threw a lavish, no-expense-spared party in Dubai. Among those local celebrities in attendance were Mr Ravi, proprietor of Ravis Restaurant in Bur Dubai. The event was deemed a triumph by local media, but rumours circulated just a few days later that both editor Clive and PR manager Dwayne had not turned up, instead choosing to send actors instead. There has been no confirmation of this.

Shortly after the 10th issue party there was a period of extended silence from The Dubai Enquirer camp, with no sign of a new issue and little comment from any of the editorial team. Editor Clive was reportedly spotted on a beach in Guatemala drinking Moet with Lord Lucan and Richie from the Manic Street Preachers, but no proof arose.

However, on November 6, 2006, some two and a half months after the release of Issue 10, The Dubai Enquirer shocked the world by announcing that a German consortium, Krankenhaus Kartoffelsalat AG, was purchasing a 51% stake in the company and assuming control.

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