With the large number of radio stations broadcasting across the UAE – not to mention those from around the world available online – it might seem that all the available audience niches have been catered for. Not so. This week has seen the addition of two new stations, both aimed at young people.
Al Oula, at 107.4FM, has been launched by the Hamdan bin Mohammed Heritage Centre to teach young Emiratis about their culture, heritage, folklore and national identity. And Pearl FM, which will begin broadcasting in Dubai next week, is targeting children from babies to those aged 12 with a schedule ranging from nursery rhymes to "chill-out" music.
Pearl's cofounder, Jeff Price, told The National that all the content on air would be "safe" for family audiences, with no songs that are inappropriate for young ears.
One of the station’s features is that it will broadcast 24 hours a day. And, as any parent struggling to get a toddler to sleep through the night knows, 3am is prime time for that audience.
