“Samir is for boys and girls from the age of eight to the age of eighty-eight.” This slogan came to define Egypt’s first—and still most famous—weekly comics magazine for children.
Samir was launched in 1956 by Dar Al-Helal, the publishing house founded in the late nineteenth century by Jurji Zaydan, the Lebanese novelist who moved to Egypt and became one of the pioneers of modern Arab publishing. The magazine was overseen at its inception by Zaydan’s granddaughter and was conceived with a clear cultural mission: to provide Egyptian children with illustrated stories and comics in Arabic.
In its early years, under founding editor Nadia Nasha’t, Samir relied partly on translations of popular Western comics, including Tintin and Mickey Mouse, the latter before the launch of a dedicated Mickey magazine in Egypt in 1959. These translations were combined with original Arabic material, laying the groundwork for a locally rooted children’s publication.
A major turning point came in 1966, when Notaila Rashed—Samir’s most celebrated editor—took over as the magazine entered its second decade. Rashed pushed the publication decisively towards what she described as a deeper “Egyptianization”. Under her leadership, Samir became a trusted choice for parents keen to strengthen their children’s sense of national identity through language, characters, and culturally grounded narratives.
In 2002, editorial leadership passed to the magazine’s current editor-in-chief, Shahira Khalil, at a particularly challenging moment. The early 2000s marked the height of the IT boom, with children increasingly drawn to digital entertainment. At the same time, many Egyptian parents were prioritizing Western languages and cultures for their children, driven by the rapid expansion of international schools across the country.
Today, as Samir approaches its seventieth anniversary, the challenge has only intensified. Fewer children are being encouraged, at home or at school, to read regularly, especially in Arabic, while smartphones and tablets dominate leisure time.
“This is true; it is more challenging,” Khalil acknowledged. “But as a team producing Samir every week, we are more committed than ever to keeping the magazine an appealing cultural and entertainment space for children of all reading levels and socio-economic backgrounds, regardless of the education system they belong to.”
According to Khalil, the magazine continues to rely on the principles that sustained it for decades: intelligent writing, engaging illustrations, and respect for its young readers. “With changing times and increasingly diverse influences, we have had to become more sensitive to differences,” she said. “We have remained committed to Samir’s Egyptian identity, but we have also modernized to stay connected to today’s children.”
Modernization has taken several forms. New writers and illustrators have been brought in, and the physical format of the magazine has been updated to better appeal to contemporary tastes. Another important development has been the direct involvement of children in the production process. “Every week we invite groups of boys and girls to observe how the magazine is made,” Khalil explained. “Their photographs are published in the issue, making them part of Samir itself.”
Recent statistics released by CAPMAS indicate that children under 18 account for just over one-third of Egypt’s population, numbering approximately 39.7 million. Slightly more than half are boys, while nearly 58 percent live in rural areas.
Khalil noted that Samir does not appear to attract one gender more than the other. Its strongest circulation, however, is in rural communities and in cities across the Delta and Upper Egypt. This, she suggested, is closely linked to the magazine’s affordability. Priced at a mostly unchanged EGP 5 per issue, Samir remains accessible to families with limited financial means.
Maintaining weekly publication at this price has not been easy, particularly amid rising costs of paper and printing materials. Over the past year, Dar Al-Helal—whose first monthly cultural magazine appeared in September 1892—has suspended the print editions of several publications, moving them online to reduce expenses. Samir, however, was exempted from page reductions, price increases, or suspension.
“There is a deep institutional commitment to Samir at Dar Al-Helal,” Khalil said. “It is a commitment to providing an affordable and meaningful cultural magazine every week, especially for children who have little or no access to other cultural resources.”
Ultimately, Khalil believes it is content that explains Samir’s longevity. Each issue offers children accessible information on a wide range of topics, including national and religious occasions. From Christmas and Ramadan to 6 October commemorations and the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, the editorial team works to present informative material in a non-patronizing tone.
“These are elements of Egyptian identity we care deeply about,” Khalil said. “But our core commitment lies in everyday cultural and social values—such as the special bond between grandparents and grandchildren, which we see reflected in the writing and drawing workshops attended by children accompanied by their grandparents.”
To reach children whose parents may not regularly purchase print magazines, Samir has also expanded its online presence, particularly through Facebook. “We want to deliver worthwhile content to children who are already attached to screens,” Khalil explained, “while still encouraging parents to provide the print edition as a healthier alternative to excessive screen exposure.”
Looking ahead, Khalil said the magazine is focused on preserving its seven-decade archive. In cooperation with the Ministry of Communications and the National Press Authority, older issues are being digitized and made available online. At the same time, some of Samir’s most iconic early series have been republished as standalone comic books.
“Much of Samir’s earlier material is timeless,” Khalil said. “We want it to remain accessible; alongside the new stories we continue to produce today.”
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