Koufiya supports up to 51 different languages such as Arabic, Spanish, English, Portuguese, German, French, Italian, Dutch, Swedish, Finnish, Danish, Irish, Basque, Luxembourgian, and Icelandic in Latin, Arabic, and other scripts.
Please note that not all languages are available for all formats.
Koufiya is designed by Nadine Chahine in 2003 as part of her MA project at the University of Reading, UK and later released by Linotype in 2007. It is the first typeface to include a matching Arabic and Latin designed by the same designer at the same time with the intention of creating a harmonious balance between the two scripts. The Arabic part is based on the Early Kufi style popular in the 7th to 10th century AD. It is characterized by a strong horizontal baseline, horizontal stacking order, clear and open counters, and a general open feeling. Though based on the earliest styles on Arabic manuscript, the design paradoxically appears quite modern and fresh. The Latin part of Koufiya recalls a Dutch influence in its shallow top arches and rather squarish proportions. Both Arabic and Latin parts have been carefully designed to maintain the same optical size, weight, and rhythm. However, no sacrifices were made to make them appear closer to each other. They are designed so that they work well together on the printed page, and to make sure that the two scripts are harmonious when they are mixed together even if within the same paragraph. The font includes support for Arabic, Persian, and Urdu. It also includes proportional and tabular numerals for the supported languages.
