Radio Al Arabiya

Located at Dubai Media City, the Arabian Radio Network (ARN) is the region's fastest growing radio network and communications service. Striking a balance between community values and commercial growth, ARN has swiftly garnered the largest loyal audience base in the Emirates and the entire Gulf Region.

The Arabian Radio Network addresses the interests of various audiences, communities and cultures through genre specific programming. Established in September 2001, its first launch was Al Arabiya 99FM, an around-the-clock Arabic music and news station.

Hitting record results, it established itself as the UAE's number one proactive station through sound programming supported by talented teams of committed, well-trained presenters.

The Arabian Radio Network changed the topography of the airwaves and became an interactive medium for clients and consumers alike through its early monitoring of the psychographics and preferences of a young Arab audience.

Soon afterwards, the network went on to launch its second phase by broadcasting an English-language station called Free FM on 96.7FM as well as City 101.6FM, aimed at the expatriate Indian community.

The network conceptualised and launched another radio channel, Al Khaleejiya, on January 15, 2003, thus creating a new platform for Khaleeji music and giving it a wider reach and true voice reflective of the UAE's inherent roots and traditions.

In 2005, ARN launched Hit 96.7FM, a station designed to serve the interests of the largest expatriate community in the gulf, the Malayalees. Living up to its namesake, Hit was a ‘hit' from the start, attracting a large, loyal listener base.

ARN programming is an amalgamation of news, music and information developed in conjunction with a deep understanding of the region's diverse sensitivities and areas of interest. Striving to become the most cost effective service for advertisers, ARN uses cutting edge technology and solutions including unique traffic management services, breaking news updates systems, active uplinks, SMS software and database management systems.

ARN uses also branding and customises its content to ensure that each of its stations has its own distinctive identity so as to target consumer segments in a systematic manner. In a relatively short span of time, ARN has succeeded thanks to its quality of broadcasting, management and marketing techniques which have been changed to restructure radio broadcasting in the region and make it a very effective medium.

Spearheaded by a dynamic and innovative Chief Executive Officer, Abdullatif Al Sayegh, ARN has established itself as the leading radio network in the Gulf Region.

Al Sayegh believes that change is the only path to evolution. "Unfortunately, most people are afraid of change; at ARN we have made change our cornerstone to growth. We encourage it and thrive on it,” he says.

Transmitting from The Emirates Towers, one of the highest points in the UAE, gives ARN a technical advantage. Its unique performance levels are further enhanced thanks to its four on-air, state-of-the-art studios as well as some of the latest software systems and broadcast equipment.

In addition to the regular radio relays that allow it to reach wider audiences, the network caters to online users through its live web-streaming services. ARN is the first network in the region to use RDS - Radio Data System - as a means for providing breaking news, travel updates and other useful and timely information. Moreover, ARN develops its own SMS software solutions.

ARN also uses customised data informatics to accumulate, store and use valuable information that helps devise shows, events and features for its target audiences. Progressively keeping pace with new broadcast technology, ARN has recently created a strategic tie-up with KLOTZ, the leading Radio System, to enhance ARN's hardware solutions.