Microsoft Publisher, the default Windows desktop-publishing app that has been around for 35 years, will be retired in October for Microsoft 365 users — including those in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. If you rely on Publisher for brochures, flyers, newsletters or simple ads, you’ll need a replacement; below are eight alternatives organized by ease of transition and capability, all available in the Middle East.
Microsoft Publisher: what’s changing
Microsoft is ending Publisher for Microsoft 365 subscribers next month. The app’s long run and simple, frame-based approach made it a go-to for basic layout work, but users are advised to pick a new tool now. All of the alternatives listed here are available in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, and free tiers from Google Docs, Canva and Microsoft Designer can cover many basic needs while you evaluate paid options.
If you want the easiest transition
Microsoft PowerPoint: A surprising, practical choice for basic layout tasks. Set documents to 8.5-by-11-inch pages, use Master Slides and Master Layouts as master and parent pages, and take advantage of PowerPoint’s typography controls (custom bullets, line and word spacing). It’s easy to create templates and collaborate with teams, and Microsoft Copilot is available to help spark ideas. PowerPoint is part of Microsoft 365.
Google Docs: A free, familiar alternative that the author used to draft this article. Google Docs supports tables, voice dictation, collaboration, PDF export, custom bullets, translation, spelling and grammar checks, and robust version history — covering many of Publisher’s common use cases without added cost.
Beginner-friendly design platforms
Adobe Express: Offers a generous free tier with high-quality fonts, photo tools and assets. A paid subscription adds features such as 30 days of version history, 100GB of cloud storage, a larger monthly AI credit allocation, and more fonts, stock content and templates.
Canva: Template-driven and easy to use, with a feature-rich free plan and paid tiers that add a branding toolkit, additional elements, images and collaboration features. Canva is well suited for producing flyers, presentations, social posts and other template-based designs.
Microsoft Designer: Available free or with extra AI allowances and storage via Microsoft 365. Designer is prompt-first and AI-assisted, generating visuals and layout suggestions as you type; it’s convenient for rapid creative iterations but not ideal for exact brand color matching or print-ready, Pantone-specific requirements.
When you need more power and precision
Affinity: Described here as a mid-to-high-tier, pro-level app for graphic design, layout, illustration and vector editing that is easier to learn than Adobe InDesign — and, per the source, “entirely free, too.” It targets users who need more capability than basic desktop-publishing tools.
Adobe InDesign: The industry-standard professional page-layout app for brochures, posters, magazines, newspapers and interactive ebooks. InDesign provides advanced typography, basic SVG editing and enhanced digital-publishing and export options. Subscribers benefit from frequent updates and the Creative Cloud ecosystem for connectivity across apps and teams.
Powerful free and open-source alternative
Scribus: A frame-based desktop-publishing and layout application for producing print-ready materials such as booklets, brochures, magazines and newsletters. Scribus includes color-management features, PDF and print export support and typographic controls suitable for many professional print workflows.
Price and availability in the UAE and Saudi Arabia
All of the alternatives above are available in the Middle East through direct subscriptions or local retailers. In the UAE you can find vendors such as Amazon.ae, Noon and Sharaf DG; in Saudi Arabia retailers include Jarir and extra. Business bundles from carriers like e& (Etisalat), du and STC may include Microsoft 365 options. In Egypt, many paid plans bill in USD and convert at checkout, with final totals affected by local taxes and promotions.
For reference at the time of writing, some UAE resellers list a perpetual Microsoft Publisher LTSC 2021 license around AED 718 (excluding VAT), while local Saudi resellers list Adobe InDesign for Teams around SAR 1,584 per year. Prices can vary with VAT and promotions, so budget-conscious users may want to start with free tiers (Google Docs, Canva, Microsoft Designer) before upgrading to Affinity or Adobe tools for CMYK printing and precise typography.
Whatever replacement you choose, these options provide a range of familiarity and power. You still have time before Publisher is retired in October, so test a few tools to see which best fits your workflow and output requirements.
