CNN has redesigned its Arabic language website www.CNNArabic.com to align with the look and feel of the brand's award-winning CNN.com/international and CNN.com sites, at the same time as introducing a significantly enhanced content offering.

The investment is the most substantial in the website's history and is the latest signal of CNN's commitment to the Mena region. It follows on a year after the opening of CNN Abu Dhabi in November 2009 which made CNN the first Western news organisation to have a permanent broadcast and production hub in the region.

The refreshed website is a direct response to extensive audience feedback on what they looked for from CNN. It puts ease of navigation, regional stories, exclusive interviews and content and more video and enhanced interactivity at the heart of the re-design, and has invested in additional stringers to deliver the increased local content.

"This is a fundamental re-imagining of CNNArabic.com as part of our ongoing engagement with the Arabic speaking world," says Rani Raad, SVP & Managing Director, CNN International Ad Sales and Business Development and General Manager CNNArabic.com. "The investment is a statement of the scope of our ambitions in this important part of the world."

Caroline Faraj, editor, CNNArabic.com, adds, "CNNArabic.com is your home for not just breaking news but also human interest stories, expanded regional sports and business coverage and an aggregator for the best from the Arab blogosphere. We've put video content front and centre to enrich the user experience, and we have made it easy for users to interact with the content and put their imprint on the site with their commentary and recommendations."

About the new features:

- Connecting with the blogosphere and Facebook forums in the Arab world
Expanding on current activity with influential bloggers, and Facebook forums in the Arab world, there are two dedicated segments for key social media influencers in the region to post their latest thoughts and ideas, and at the same time add their URL so users can easily access their pages.

The site's team will provide their weekly round up of the most important and interesting Arab blogs and Facebook forums and invites users to recommend their own favourites.

- Bringing the latest regional business, sports and entertainment news
CNN's reporting takes on a more localised perspective to provide a daily round-up of the stories making the headlines across both Arab and international media. There are daily reports from the Mena markets as well as weekly round up of financial news. Moving beyond the news headlines, it also throws the spotlight on the big sports names from the region, with regular segments on Arab athletes, and brings the latest news from the world of entertainment with recommended movies of the week. Each week a feature story tackles the hot topics from the region and users are encouraged to post their comments online.

- Keeping you up-to-date on CNN's local programming
Users can keep up to date on CNN's most popular programming from the region, including Inside the Middle East, Inside Africa, Marketplace Middle East, and Market Place Africa via locally edited programming pages.