Radio and television channels of Dubai

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Dubai is the media hub for the Middle East region and is home to many television and radio channels.

Contents

[edit] Dubai Television

There are a few terrestrial television channels but most people choose from the hundreds of regional channels on offer via satellite or cable.

Pay or subscription television in Dubai is available on cable via E-Vision (a division of Etisalat) or via satellite directly from the providers; Showtime, Orbit, Star TV and ART. Showtime and Orbit both provide a wide selection of English (primarily US, but also UK, Canadian and Australian) programming, subtitled in Arabic. Leading English shows and movies are primarily shown first and exclusively on either Showtime or Orbit channels. Star TV also has some first-run programmes.

The main free to air English television channels are Dubai One, MBC 4, MBC Action, MBC 2 and City 7. Most shows are broadcast in English, with Arabic subtitles, with the exception of City 7 that does not subtitle their programming. Dubai One, MBC 4 and MBC Action show mostly well known US, and some UK series but will generally be six months or more behind the pay or subscription channels.

  • Abu Dhabi TV, Arabic and in particular local series.
  • Dubai TV, a channel by the Dubai Media Incorporated (DMI). Arabic local and regional programming.
  • Dubai ONE, a channel by Dubai Media Incorporated. 24-hour free-to-air English language entertainment channel with primarily US series, available in the Middle East and North Africa.
  • City 7, an independent Dubai based, free-to-air, 100% English language channel. Providing locally produced English News, Business and lifestyle programmes combined with International lifestyle, drama and comedy programmes. Available via satellite in the Middle East and North Africa.
  • MBC, a network of free-to-air English and Arabic stations. Broadcasting 24-hours from Dubai Media City and available via satellite across the Middle East and North Africa.
    - MBC 4 is an English channel with primarily US series targeted to women.
    - MBC Action is an English channel with primarily US action series, targeted to men.
    - MBC 2 is an English channel showing Western movies.
    - MBC 3 is a children's channel that is primarily Arabic with some limited English programming.
    - MBC 1 is an Arabic channel showcasing local and regional Arabic series and entertainment programmes.
    - Al Arabiya is an Arabic-language news channel.

[edit] Dubai Radio

Dubai is well served by terrestrial radio (AM & FM) with a huge variety of stations broadcasting in the languages commonly spoken in the city; Arabic, English, Hindi, Urdu, Malayam and Filipino. The FM band is particularly crowded, with a new station every 2 or 3 MHz apart, some from neighbouring Emirates and Countries in the Gulf. Due to crowding of the FM band, there is often interference between stations.

General standards have improved greatly in the past few years and many stations are now at par with leading stations in major metropolitan cities in the world. However, the media in Dubai and the UAE is still heavily government regulated. Most stations, even those privately owned, are often still government controlled. In particular, all radio stations must cease normal broadcasting in the event of the death of a Sheikh or close relative of a Sheikh. This normally happens for a period of 3 days to a week, or more, depending on the standing of the deceased.

Dubai radio is the essential guide to surviving Dubai's hectic traffic with most stations placing importance on frequent traffic updates during the day, mostly from listeners. The use of SMS as a communication is also common in Dubai radio and TV stations in events such as competitions.

[edit] Arabic radio

  • Abu Dhabi AM
  • Abu Dhabi Emarat FM
  • Abu Dhabi Sound of Music
  • Abu Dhabi Quran Kareem
  • Al Arabiya 98.9 FM
  • Al Khaleejia
  • Al Rabia FM
  • Sout Al Asala 93.9
  • Umm Al Quwain 97.8 MHz

[edit] English radio

  • Radio 1 - Top 40/Dance/R&B; 104.1 FM (Dubai), 100.5 FM (Abu Dhabi) Gulf News Broadcasting
  • Radio 2 - Classic Hits; 99.3 FM (Dubai) 106.0 FM (Abu Dhabi) Gulf News Broadcasting
  • Dubai 92 - Rock/Adult Contemporary, Dance on weekends; 92.0 FM Arabian Radio Network
  • Channel 4 - Rock/Contemporary; 104.8 FM Channel 4 Media Network
  • Dubai Eye - News, Talk & Sport; 103.8 FM Arabian Radio Network
  • The Coast - Adult Contemporary/Easy; 103.2 FM Fujairah Media Network
  • Virgin Radio - Top 40; 104.4 FM Arabian Radio Network

[edit] Hindi/Urdu radio

[edit] Malayalam radio

  • Asianet Radio 657 AM
  • UAQ Radio 846 AM
  • Radio Asia 94.7 FM

[edit] FM stations by frequency in Dubai

Frequency Station Genre Language Operator
87.9 MHz BBC World Service News English/Arabic BBC Radio
88.2 MHz Holy Quran Radio Quran/Religious Arabic Emirates Media Inc.
89.1 MHz Radio 4 Indian Hits Hindi/Urdu Channel 4 Media
90.5 MHz Radio Sawa Arabic & English Top 40 Arabic Voice of America
92.0 MHz Dubai 92 Rock/Adult Contemporary English Arabian Radio Network
92.6 MHz FM 92.6 News Arabic Fujairah Media Network
93.9 MHz Dubai FM Arabic Classic Hits Arabic Arabian Radio Network
94.4 MHz Sharjah FM Religious/Talk Arabic Sharjah Government
94.7 MHz Oxygen FM Malayam Hits/Entertainment Malayam Bose Group
95.3 MHz Pulse 953 Bollywood/Classic Hits Hindi/South Asian Arabian Radio Network
96.5 MHz Radio Bahrain (Bh) Rock/Pop/Variety English Bahrain Broadcasting
96.7 MHz Hit FM Malayam Hits Malayam Arabian Radio Network
97.1 MHz Al Emarat FM Arabic Classic Hits Arabic Emirates Media
97.5 MHz QBS Radio 4 (Qa) Variety English/French Qatar Broadcasting Service
97.8 MHz UAQ FM Arabic Classic Hits Arabic Shamal Media
99.0 MHz Al Arabiya Contemporary Arabic Arabic Arabian Radio Network
99.3 MHz Radio 2 Classic Hits English Gulf News Broadcasting
100.5 MHz Radio 1 (AD) Top 40/Dance/R&B English Gulf News Broadcasting
100.9 MHz Al Khaleejia Khaleeji Music Arabic Arabian Radio Network
101.6 MHz City FM Contemporary Hits Hindi Arabian Radio Network
102.3 MHz Radio Bahrain Arabic Talk Arabic Bahrain Broadcasting
103.2 MHz The Coast Adult Contemporary/Easy English Fujairah Media Network
103.8 MHz Dubai Eye News, Talk & Sport English Arabian Radio Network
104.1 MHz Radio 1 Top 40/Dance/R&B English Gulf News Broadcasting
104.4 MHz Virgin Radio Top 40 English Arabian Radio Network
104.8 MHz Channel 4 Rock/Contemporary Hits English Channel 4 Media
105.4 MHz Radio Spice South Asian Hits Hindi & English Fujairah Media Network
106.0 MHz Radio 2 (AD) Classic Hits English Gulf News Broadcasting
106.2 MHz Hum FM Indian Classic Hits Hindi/Urdu Shamal Media
107.8 MHz Al Rabea Arabic Hits Arabic Channel 4 Media

[edit] Radio stations by the Arabian Radio Network

  • Al Arabiya 99.0 FM
  • Al Khaleejiya 100.9 FM
  • City 101.6 FM
  • ARN Hindi language Service (launched 12th May 2002)
  • Hit 96.7 FM

[edit] Radio stations by the Emirates Media Inc.

  • Abu Dhabi AM
  • Abu Dhabi Emarat FM
  • Abu Dhabi Sound of Music
  • Abu Dhabi Quran Kareem

[edit] See also