United Arabic Emirates

A company called Young Future Ltd., based in Ohashi, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan, published seven Barbie magazines. Tihama Distribution distributed them across various Arab countries.

Contrary to earlier reports linking the Barbie/Douwe Dabbert material to the UAE and the year 1975, research indicates that Young Future Publications was established in 1979. I would therefore be cautious about strictly labeling these as "UAE publications." They may well have been printed or published by Young Future for the Arab Gulf market and distributed in the UAE, rather than being magazines intended exclusively for the UAE.

Publications from the Tokyo-based company Young Future were distributed throughout the Arab world by Tihama Distribution, a Saudi company, and the firm's releases circulated in the Gulf states and other Arab markets.

The translations were produced by Abdelrahman Al-Masri (Abu Fouad).

Seven Barbie magazines were published; of these, only issues #6 and #7 contain a story about "The Spoiled Princess."

It started at the beginning of 1999 as a trial edition (one issue every two months approximately), and the seventh issue was the last one in November - December 1999.