Liberalisation aids FM radio stations to surge almost 50% in Arab states

Dubai: The number of frequency modulation (FM) radio stations in the 18 Arab countries grew by 49.76 per cent to 316 at the end of February compared with 211 stations during the same period last year, according to a report by the Arab Advisors Group.

The report said Algeria and the UAE have the highest number of local government-owned FM stations while Palestine, Iraq and Lebanon have the highest number of private radio stations.

There are 157 state-owned radio stations, 150 private FM radio stations and nine regional radio stations that broadcast in multiple countries in the 18 countries covered by the report.

"The UAE hosts FM radio stations broadcasting in Arabic, English, Malayalam, Hindi, Urdu and Filipino languages," Firas Al Farr, Arab Advisors research analyst, said.

Report said liberalisation in several Arab countries was a key factor fuelling the boom in private FM radio stations. For instance, Libya and Oman had private FM radio stations broadcasting for the first time in 2007.

In addition to the liberalisation of the sector, the need to broadcast in multiple languages to cater to expatriates enhances the number of FM radio stations even in countries where private FM radio stations do not exist.

"State-owned FM radio stations in the Arab world still outnumber private FM radio stations, although the number of private entities has grown rapidly and is approaching the number of state-owned radio stations." Al Farr said.

"Algeria, Palestine and Iraq have the highest number of local radio stations and contributed the most to the total.

Both Iraq and Lebanon, with no state-owned radio stations, contributed 42 per cent of the total growth in local FM radio stations in the covered countries." he said.

Egypt and Tunisia were the first countries in the Middle East to allow private radio stations.

Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman, allowed private radio stations in 2003, 2004, and 2006 respectively.

Private stations did not exist in Kuwait and Bahrain until 2006.