Abu Dhabi: The first professional Arab channel on meteorology is set to be launched on YouTube by the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS) in a few weeks, said a senior official.
The UAE weather channel will feature daily and weekly content on a variety of subjects such as daily weather programmes, public health programmes, and scientific programmes.
Omar Yazidi, Director of Development Research and Training at the NCMS, briefed media on the programming that will be made available on the channel. He said, “First of all we have the daily weather forecast. It is expected that the weather will not surprise you after today, as the weather predictions will be broadcast to you daily and throughout the week from the official source for meteorological services and earthquakes in the UAE, who use the latest technology and the best resources and expertise for the dissemination of reliable information on the weather and climate in the UAE.”
The channel will also feature a health and lifestyle awareness programme called Hayat. “The programme Hayat seeks to feed members of the community the most important information that affects their daily lives such as health aspects related to the weather, and how to best prevent the problems associated with climate change, within the framework of our responsibility, to achieve positive effects on people’s lives,” Yazidi said.
Other programmes include Darna Ahla, which will inform people about entertainment activities and events happening in the UAE, as well as the best places to visit when the weather conditions are good. Another programme, Safar, will visit other countries allowing people to learn about the culture, weather, and landmarks to visit.
Viewers themselves will also be able to participate on the channel through interactive programmes such as Click It, and Vlog It. Click It will be a weekly photo competition with people sending their pictures on nature based on the theme of the week. Vlog It will allow users to send in their own videos talking about their own country and its weather conditions.
The entire production of the channel will be run from a professional studio according to Yazidi. “We supervised the preparation of the broadcast studio which incorporates the latest technology and high-quality graphics to transfer a typical picture of climate data and information to our public,” he said.
Also speaking on the launch of the new channel, Dr Abdullah Al Mandoos, Executive Director of NCMS, said the channel would allow all segments of society access to information about the weather and other phenomena such as earthquakes using smart technology.
