Qatar launches four new radio stations for expat Indians

Qatar’s Minister of Culture and Sports Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali launched four new private radio stations for expat Indians in the country last week.

Indians make up the largest expatriate group in the country and these are the first radio stations from the sub-continent to be aired from Qatar. Two of these stations, Malayalam 98.6 FM and Suno 91.7 FM will be airing programmes in Malayalam – which is spoken in the southern Indian state of Kerala.

The other two stations, Radio Olive 106.3 FM and One FM Radio 89.6 FM are in Hindi.98.6 FM will broadcast between 5am and 11pm and will air music programmes, current affairs and talk shows, while Radio Suno 91.7 FM, another Malayalam radio service, promises on its website that “Malayalis in Qatar will never miss their home town as it brings love from God’s own country.” 

Radio Olive and One FM – the Hindi stations, promise Bollywood songs and latest gossip to their listeners. There are plans to launch more radio channels in the country in other languages such as English, French, Spanish and Filipino.

Sheikhah Najla Al Thani, Director of Broadcasting Licensing Department at the Ministry, said the new channels will help these communities to know more Qatari news, culture and tradition and incorporate more in the local society.

Indian Ambassador to Qatar, P Kumaran, said that the new radio channels will help people understand each other and promote creative diversity in the country.