Dubai Radio

UAE & Dubai radio stations

Thursday 24 July 2008 (UAE)

www.dubaifaqs.com

Radio Stations in Dubai and UAE


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As a generalisation, Dubai and UAE radio stations tend to be fairly droll - at least the English language ones - but every now and then there's a show or DJ worth tuning in to. Below is a list of a few possible English language radio choices in the UAE to entertain you.

Note that during mourning periods, when rulers or their close family have passed away, UAE radio stations suspend normal programming and play subdued music as a sign of respect. The daytime BBC world service broadcast might continue as normal.

BBC World Service is broadcast daytime from 0900-1800 on 87.9 FM (clear in Abu Dhabi, scratchy in Dubai).
Business Breakfast on Dubai Eye from 0600-0900 (103.8 FM), if you like business news and financial information, is worth a listen. Brandy Scott joined the team in September 2006 (yes, it's a real name), and replaced the eloquent Richard Dean who departed in January 2007 to go and work for Bloomberg. She tries hard not to sound like a Kiwi. Malcolm Taylor, the other presenter, speaks proper, like. And saves guests from the persistent Ms Scott when she refuses to take no comment for an answer to a question.
Catboy on 92 FM does a breakfast show from 0600-1000 which is popular with some residents, and hated by others. He married his co-host Geordie Bird (GeordieBird) in December 2006. They should have a happy marriage, on air Mr Boy does all the talking and Ms Bird says "uh-huh" every now and then. We can't wait to see what refined names will be bestowed upon their children. Fishbowl and Puppylove have a nice twang don't you think?
Conception with David Newsum on 92.0 FM Fridays 1700-2000 will blow out your earwax if you like House/Trance.
Dubai 92.0 FM has become smart and started airing the excellent BBC Radio 1 music shows - listen Thursday nights for Pete Tong's Essential Selection (might be repeated Fri 0200-0400). Judge Jules is also on Thursdays from 2000-2200, and there's a few more shows on Friday nights to destroy your speakers with.
Majlis, The [off air] from Dubai Eye with Mustafa Al Rawi on Thursday mornings 0800-1000. Sort of a UAE version of HardTalk except the host is friendly & agreeable with his guests but snippy with his audience. Discussion and interviews with Emiratis about current local issues. September & October 2006 shows included Etisalat and TRA (Telecoms Regulatory Authority) management discussing website blocking, VoIP & Skype; the Top Cat (pun intended) at Dubai Zoo; Emiratis working in the private sector - talking with the only Emirati working at the Aamal organisation. The talkshow invariably stirs up a deluge of entertaining and provocative comments from listeners - some of which result in a less friendly retort from the host. By the end of 2006, the guests were less likely to be people or organisations you'd heard of - perhaps the the listener responses frightened off anyone interesting. By April 2007 the show was halted.
Simply Classical - classical music on Dubai Eye (103.8 FM) on Saturdays at noon, with John Deykin, a tireless promoter of the fledgling classical music scene in the UAE.
Siobhan Live is on weekdays after lunch and has the Property Show with a commentary to suit everyone in the Dubai real estate market - Dubai Eye (103.8 FM). She also does a Dubai arts and culture show (yes, there really are art galleries in Dubai).
SpeakEasy with Victoria and Nanette [off air] on Dubai Eye - a gossipy morning session (0900-1200) on Dubai Eye which is entertaining. Those expats who've been in Dubai a few years will understand the analogy of Gerard's in Jumeirah shifted to the radio (but with a GSOH included). During the second half of 2006 (until 24 Dec 2006) Victoria was off air with sick leave, replaced by Chris who disagrees with Nanette about almost everything. Then in May 2007 Victoria was back to London for more treatment. An eclectic selection of presenters ran the show (Chris and Alix were an excellent combination) until Victoria and Nanette returned briefly on 17 June 2007. Victoria and Nanette then went on holiday again during July and August. Nanette went to Prague (or somewhere in Europe) to see Barbara Streisand in concert but did not return to Speakeasy, and Victoria just disappeared. Eventually the not-quite-so-scintillating Jeff Price became the mainstay, spending most of his time saying "We've got lots to talk about today", or talking about his daughter. Suzanne Radford joined him later in 2007. Dubai Eye won't say what happened to Victoria and Nanette. There were rumours they were dropped for being too controversial. Which would be the perfect ironic complement to the rumours that the UAE supports a "free press"...
Sticky Fingers is usually worth listening to - he even knows his stuff when it comes to sports in the occasional afternoon discussion on Dubai Eye. Which is where you can also listen to Andy McNabb pontificate about English football and his unrelated, but allegedly narrow, escape from RAK and ruin. Sticky Fingers also does a Friday afternoon chillout session (The Sugar Lounge) on 92.0 FM with an odd mixture of very cool tunes and nauseating elevator music.
Virgin Radio Dubai ("Virgin" is a brand name in this case, not a target market), mid-December 2007 launch said Richard Branson in a Nov 2007 interview with Malcolm Taylor of the Business Breakfast. In the end, it finally started up end of January 2008. Not too bad as delays in Dubai go. Find it at 104.4 FM.

Occasionally Dubai DJs get in to trouble for making inappropriate comments on air - Chris Fisher of 92.0 FM in April 2006 made an April Fools joke that Robbie Williams had cancelled his concert in Dubai. The DJ was suspended, not apparently for the wind-up, but for commenting on it after the management had told him not to.

Jonathan Miles was another DJ who managed to get himself into a bit of bother back in 2004 when he was working for Channel 4 out of Ajman. His entertaining and irreverent chat saw him taken off air, reinstated, and eventually booted out for good. Many residents miss his perverted sense of humour and were dismayed to see him fired.

List of ARN (Arabian Radio Network) radio stations in the UAE

Al Arabiya, 98.9 FM - latest Arabic popular music.
Al Khaleejiya, 100.9 FM - Khaleeji music and poetry.
Awaaz, 104.4 FM - Hindi music and information. Shows include Cafe Awaaz, Full Plate, Awaaz Junction and Karavan.
City, 101.6 FM - Bollywood music, Indian pop, Asian World Music and dance music. Desi Mem breakfast show in English from 0700-1100.
Dubai 92, 92.0 FM - western pop music station (English). Chris Fisher does his stuff there (if you haven't heard of him, that's probably a good thing) mornings from 0700-1000, then there's Jono from 1000-1400 sometimes. Thursdays you get the good stuff. Roger Sanchez at 1700, Judge Jules at 1900, Pete Tong at 2100, Armin Van Buuren (not 'Armin Van Buren') at 2300 and Carl Cox at 0100 Fri early morning. Winding down with Gilles Peterson (who?) at 0300 when you should be asleep. Fri 1700-2000 Dave / David Newsum (not Newton / Newsom / Newsome) "Conception" House and Trance.
Dubai Eye, 103.8 FM - Dubai talk shows (English). Business Breakfast Sun-Thu. Speak Easy Sun-Thu. Send sms text messages to 4001 (costs more money than normal sms). Tel 6001499 to join in with discussions on air on Speakeasy.
Fujairah Media, FM 98.4 - Arabic radio station based in Fujairah (Fujeirah)
HIT, 96.7 FM - Classic Golden Hits and Tamil Hits. The Big Breakfast Show from 0700-1000. Fax +971-4-3912007, text sms to 4007 (costs more).
Noor Dubai, 93.9 FM - Islamic radio station with news, information and talk for youths in the Emirates.
Pulse 95.3 FM (forum topic) - for South Asian community, midnight 02 Sep 2007 launch. Offers a collection of 'unadulterated evergreen hits and news' for those 'wishing to relive the golden era of Bollywood' according to the deputy GM of ARN.

Other Dubai and UAE radio stations

107.8 FM, Dubai/Ajman - Arabic music.
Al Arabiya 99.0 FM - Arabic - news and latest hits.
Arabic AM, Dubai.
BBC World Service in English - available 0800-1700 on Abu Dhabi 90.3 FM (reception ok in Dubai, not so good further north).
Channel 4 FM, Dubai/Ajman 104.8 FM - western pop music station (English).
Coast 103.2 FM, Fujairah Media group, English, launched early 2007, they say "more music, less talk". Music hits from 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s...
Coast 106.5 FM - easy listening.
Emirates Radio 1 FM, 100.5 FM in Abu Dhabi, 104.1 FM in Dubai and Northern Emirates. Starring Emma B, Dave Cleary, Danny C and Humaid.
Emirates Radio 2 FM, 106.0 FM in Abu Dhabi and 99.3 FM in Dubai and Northern Emirates - western pop music station (English). DJs include Fadi, Annah Yates, Jeff Price, the Better Drive with Steve, and Suzi Wonder (you 'wonder' if she's related...).
FM 92.6, Arabic news radio station, launched 2006 by Fujeirah Media group, rebroadcasts Radio Monte Carlo.
Free FM, Dubai.
Hum FM, Umm Al Quwain.
MBC FM, Dubai - covers other Middle Eastern countries.
Quran Kareem, Abu Dhabi - UAE national radio.
Radio 4 FM, 89.1 FM, Dubai - Indian radio station with shows including the Masala Club, Radio 4 Dabbawalla, Love Talkies, Char Baje Band Baje, Hot 7@7, and Go Wow.
Sharjah FM, Sharjah.
Spice FM 105.4 - Fujairah Media group, launched late 2007? Asian/Hindi/Filipino radio station with music for easy listening. Poor reception in Dubai.
Virgin Radio Dubai 104.4 FM - soft launch Jan/Feb 2008

Radio stations in frequency order

87.9 BBC World Service (daytime only)
89.1 Radio 4 FM
90.3 Abu Dhabi FM / BBC World
92.0 ARN Dubai 92FM
92.6 FM 92.6 (Fujairah Media)
93.9 ARN Noor Dubai
95.3 ARN Pulse
96.7 ARN HIT FM
98.4 Fujairah Media (FM)
99.0 ARN Al Arabiya
99.3 Emirates Radio 2 FM Dubai
100.5 Emirates Radio 1 FM Abu Dhabi
100.9 ARN Al Khaleejiya / Khaleejia / Khaleejeya
101.6 ARN City FM
103.2 Coast FM (Fujairah Media)
103.8 ARN Dubai Eye
104.1 Emirates Radio 1 FM Dubai
104.4 Virgin Radio Dubai
104.4? ARN Awaaz? Was here but must have been replaced by Virgin Radio.
104.8 Channel 4 FM
105.4 Radio Spice FM (Fujairah Media)
106.0 Emirates Radio 2 FM Abu Dhabi
106.5 Coast FM - easy listening.
107.8

Listen online to Dubai radio stations

www.1078fm.com - 107.8 FM - link available on home page to listen live.
www.arnonline.com - Dubai Eye 103.8, Dubai 92, and City 101.6 - (www.drnonline.com not resolving to www.arnonline.com 29 May 2008)
www.radio4fm.com - Radio 4 FM (89.1) link available on home page to listen live.

www.dubaifaqs.com

Radio Stations in Dubai and UAE

List of ARN (Arabian Radio Network) radio stations in the UAE

Other Dubai and UAE radio stations

Radio stations in frequency order

Listen online to Dubai radio stations

This information last updated Tuesday 03-Jun-2008

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