Last updated December 2007
Printable versionBBC Arabic – bringing the world to Arab audiences
BBC Arabic is the BBC's newly integrated multi-platform news and information broadcaster for Arabic-speakers, wherever they are, whenever they want and whatever their platform of choice.
Available on air and on demand 24 hours a day, seven days a week, BBC Arabic reaches its audiences via radio, television, the internet, mobiles and handheld computers.
With its new TV presence, BBC Arabic will bring the world to Arab audiences – following the news wherever it leads. It will involve viewers and listeners in its output, giving them the chance to debate, comment and engage with each other and the BBC.
BBC Arabic is renowned for broadcasting impartial and accurate news and information which is strong on analysis and expertise.
BBC Arabic is both the largest and the oldest of the BBC's non-English language services. Launched in 1938, it has evolved into the Arab world's leading international broadcaster. It covers the political, social and cultural issues that matter to its diverse audiences in the Middle East, North Africa, and across the world.
Independent research shows that audiences regard it as the most trusted, impartial and objective international radio news provider in the Arab world, with an established reputation for quality.
BBC Arabic's interactive formats on all platforms provide a multimedia forum for informed discussion and debate. This means audiences to the BBC are exposed to the widest range of views and opinion on the big issues of the day.
Its award-winning 24/7 news and information website, bbcarabic.com, enjoys high levels of trust in its content, too.
The key to the BBC's coverage of the Middle East lies in its vast network of correspondents reporting from the Middle East and North Africa.
While reporting from the Middle East is vital, the BBC also ensures that the international perspective is brought to listeners in the Arab world. BBC Arabic draws upon the BBC's unmatched newsgathering resources across the world.
Working alongside the BBC's international network of over 250 correspondents in 52 bureaux are BBC Arabic journalists in Europe (including Austria, Belgium, Bosnia, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Spain, Switzerland and Turkey) as well as Canada, China, the US, Russia and Pakistan.
The international acclaim of BBC Arabic translates into impressive audience figures: 13.2 million people listen to the BBC Arabic radio every week while the bbcarabic.com website currently receives over 21 million page impressions each month.
While most of the radio listening by Arabic-speakers to the BBC is via short wave and medium wave, BBC Arabic is increasingly available on FM across the region.
There are currently 24-hour BBC relays carrying Arabic output in Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Sudan and the UAE, as well as Chad, Djibouti, Mali and Somaliland. BBC Arabic output is also rebroadcast by the BBC's partner stations in Lebanon, Sudan and the West Bank; and further afield in Somalia, Mali, Greece, Germany and Australia.
Listeners in the Middle East also receive BBC Arabic radio programmes in digital quality sound 24 hours a day, every day, via Arabsat, Hotbird and Nilesat satellite systems. BBC Arabic content is also delivered on demand to mobile phones – directly or via mobile operators as a subscription service.
Launch of a television news and information channel in Arabic is a landmark for the BBC. As the BBC's first publicly funded international television channel, it is freely available to everyone with a satellite or cable connection in the region, whether they are in North Africa, the Middle East or the Gulf.
The new BBC Arabic Television news and information channel will complement the BBC's highly regarded news and current affairs output on radio and online for the region.
The new channel will broaden the regional news agenda for audiences, reflecting the full breadth of their interests as well as delivering a strong international agenda of news and expert analysis from the largest newsgathering organisation in the world.
The BBC's unique multimedia presence in the region means that Arabic-speaking audiences will be able to engage in informed debate and dialogue on the issues that matter to them most.
The new TV channel will maintain BBC Arabic's reputation as a "gold standard" of objectivity and impartiality.
BBC Arabic on radio
BBC Arabic radio is available on BBC FM relays across the region including:
- Abu Dhabi 90.3 FM
- Ajloun 81.9 FM
- Al Kut 89.0 FM
- Al Nasiriya 100.0 FM
- Al Amara 89.0 FM
- Amman 103.1 FM
- Baghad 89.0 FM
- Bahrain 103.8 FM
- Basra 90.0 FM
- Doha 107.4 FM
- Dubai 87.9 FM
- El Obeid 91.0 FM
- Gaza 107.4 FM
- Juba 90.0 FM
- Khartoum 91.0 FM
- Kirkuk 92.9 FM
- Kuwait City 90.1 FM
- Manama 103.8 FM
- Mosul and Erbil 96.0 FM
- Nouadhibou 102.4 FM
- Nouakchott 106.9 FM
- Port Sudan 91.0 FM
- Sulaimaniya 92.5 FM
- Wad Madani 91.5 FM
BBC Arabic programming is also available in Djibouti on 99.2 FM and Hargaisa on 89 FM.
BBC Arabic is rebroadcast by partner FM radio stations including Radio Bethlehem 106.4 FM, Voice Of Lebanon 93.3 FM in Beirut, Radio Marina 88.8 FM in Kuwait and HornAfrik 99.9 FM in Mogadishu.
In addition to its shortwave broadcasts, BBC Arabic also broadcasts on medium wave to the Eastern Mediterranean on 720 and 639 kHz and in the Gulf region on 702 kHz.
BBC Arabic radio is also distributed by satellite systems: on Nilesat – on Channel 32, at 7 degrees east, on Arabsat satellite Badr 3 - on Channel 16 at 26 degrees east, and on Sky BBC World Service Extra on channel 902 in the UK.
BBC Arabic on TV
BBC Arabic TV is distributed by Arabsat, Eutelsat and Nilesat satellite systems:
Arabsat – Badr 4
Orbital Location – 26 degrees East
Transponder Number – 15
Frequency – 11996
MHz
Polarization – Horizontal
Symbol Rate – 27500
FEC – ¾
Eutelsat – Hotbird 8
Orbital Location – 13 degrees East
Transponder Number – 50
Frequency – 11.72748
GHz
Polarization – Vertical
Symbol Rate – 27500
FEC – ¾
Nilesat 102
Orbital Location – 7 degrees West
Transponder Number – 26
Frequency – 12206
MHz
Polarization – Vertical
Symbol Rate – 27500
FEC – ¾
BBC Arabic on wireless handheld devices
The latest news from BBC Arabic is now available on mobile phones, PDAs and other wireless handheld devices.
To access the content, go to bbcarabic.com/mobile on the device browser. Alternatively, text "BBC ARABIC" to +44 7624 882488 to receive a text message containing a link to the site.
The BBC Arabic top stories can also be accessed via the BBC Arabic News Select mobile application which grabs the headlines and stories, either on demand or automatically.
The application can be personalised to choose from specific sections of the site. To get the application, text "JAVA" to +44 7624 882488.
BBC Arabic breaking news alerts are also offered via mobile operators as a subscription service in Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Yemen.
Two-minute news bulletins, updated every hour on the half-hour, are offered via mobile phone operators in Egypt and Iraq.
