Abu Dhabi Media announced its Ramadan line-up for its TV and radio stations.
The move comes after MBC's online platform Shahid, OSN and Sharjah Broadcasting Authority announced their Ramadan programming earlier in March.
Set to show from the beginning of the holy month (most likely to fall on April 12) the company's two television networks, Abu Dhabi TV and Emarat TV, will host 16 exclusive programmes including Emirati and Gulf dramas.
These offerings are joined by some of the biggest series from Egypt and Syria.
When it comes to radio, the company's four stations (Abu Dhabi Radio, Quran Kareem FM, Emarat FM and Star FM) will be home to 65 new productions spanning spiritual programming, talk shows and quiz shows.
These are some of the main shows coming soon to a small screen or radio near you.
The big dramas
‘350 Grams’ (Abu Dhabi TV)
Syrian stars Salloum Haddad and Abed Fahed team up in this thriller. After a lawyer’s lavish lifestyle leads to him needing a heart transplant, his subsequent recovery is only the beginning of his troubles as seedy figures from his past come to the fore.
‘Alnemer’ (Emarat TV)
Egyptian actor Mohamed Emam plays a philandering husband who crashes his car on the highway. As a result, he not only loses his memory but begins to encounter enemies from a life he can't recall.
‘Hijmah Murarda’ (Emarat TV)
The anticipated action series stars Ahmed Ezz and Hend Sabry. The former plays Rifaat Al Masri, an undercover Egyptian intelligence officer who attempts to thwart the plans of foreign operatives intending wreak havoc on Egypt's economy and society.
The local productions
‘Banat Massoud’ (Emarat TV)
Emirati stars Jamal Al Radhan and Shaimaa Sabt star in this family drama. After his wife dies and leaves him to raise four daughters, a car salesman begins to deny his children the opportunity to marry in order to maintain the family inheritance.
‘Ally Nahbulhum’ (Emarat TV)
The latest addition to the growing body of Emirati sitcoms based in a local village, also known as Al Freej. Funnyman Jumma Ali joins a cast including Ahmed Al Jasmi in a series exploring the quirks of living in a tight knit Emirati community.
‘Aladdin’ (Abu Dhabi TV)
Comedian Abdul Naser Darwish leads a strong cast, including fellow Emirati Sultan Al-Faraj, as the titular character – a man in his fifties raising two daughters in Dubai’s City Walk.
Travel and game shows
‘Duroob’ (Emarat TV)
From Indonesian villages to the urban sprawl of the Uzbekistan capital Tashkent, for years Emirati traveller Ali Al Salloum has taken Ramadan viewers on journeys seeking out new cultures to show our common humanity.
While this year's offering won't be too different than previous seasons, it will be interesting to see how the new countries shown coped with the pandemic.
‘Al Shara’ (Emarat TV)
Presented by Hessa Al Falasi, the cultural game show questions members of the public and celebrities on Emirati traditions, poetry, influential figures and customs.
On the radio
Quran Kareem FM
Ramadan is the busiest month for this Abu Dhabi spiritual station as it rolls out 23 new programmes focusing on various aspects of the holy month.
Zad Al Sae'meen will examine the principles of the fast, Akhlaqiyat Ramadaniya looks at the ethics of Ramadan, while Al Mar'aa fi Ramadan explores the holy month from a woman's perspective.
The station will also broadcast the nightly Isha and Taraweeh prayers live throughout the month.
Abu Dhabi FM
Thirteen programmes will launch during the holy month.
The pick of the live offerings will be talk shows Studio 1 and cultural quiz show Al Musabaqa Al Turathiya.
The pre-recorded programmes Sawalef Sabahiya and Amthal min Biladi consist of a mix of chats and interviews featuring Emirati personalities.
Emarat FM
The station's Ramadan centre piece will be the live broadcast of the nightly quiz show Kashkool, while talk show An Bu'd will cover lifestyle issues such as striking that right balance between home and the workplace during the holy month.
More information on Ramadan programming is available at admedia.ae
