29LT UA NEO: A Detached Arabic Type System

29LT UA Neo B and N are revivals of the revolutionary Unified Arabic™ type system first introduced by Nasri Khattar in the 1950s in an attempt to condense the possible forms of Arabic letters and make them more suitable for printing technologies at that time.

His innovative idea of detached Arabic type was translated into designs initially limited to the typewriter and primitive computers. The glyph set only covered a basic Arabic set with limited punctuation and symbols. The 29LT UA Neo full set of punctuation and symbols, as well as the additional Farsi and Urdu letters were developed in line with Khattar’s vision and the underlying design approach of the Unified Arabic™ type system.

The contemporary structure of the glyphs is unique. Most of the glyphs in the 29LT UA Neo B and N are based on the same skeleton, with only outline changes or modifications. UA Neo B is mono-linear and geometric, while UA Neo N is calligraphic and cursive. Two weights — Light and Bold — were added to both initial sets.

Why It Is a Top Pick
29LT UA Neo B and N are a tribute to Nasri Khattar’s pioneering work and a statement on the growing importance and power of contemporary Arabic typography. They are an invitation to explore the fascinating potential of UA fonts, especially when it comes to modernizing Arabic, Urdu, Farsi, or any other language using the Arabic alphabet.