Qatar Radio: Voice of the citizen and nation, 57 years of progress

Qatar Tribune

28-06-2025

QNA
Doha
Qatar Radio has celebrated the 57th anniversary of its launch over the airwaves, a radiant media beacon in the sky of the nation, carrying its voice to all corners of the world, transmitting its heartbeat to future generations.
It stands as a shining star in the Arab media landscape and a sincere voice from the heart of Doha to the far reaches of the earth, conveying the history, present, and future of the country with all that encompasses; its land, its people, its values, principles, deep-rooted heritage, and its vision and aspirations for a brighter future.
The radio station, which began broadcasting on June 25 of 1968, marked the birth of a new Arab voice. It started with limited hours of transmission but grew steadily over the years until it became a 24-hour broadcaster. During this continuous journey of dedication, the station has engaged with its listeners and moved forward with successive modernization plans across all departments and staff, fueled by boundless ambition and unmatched determination.
Over the past decades, Qatar Radio has served as the voice of Qatar to the world and as a media platform that contributed to consolidating national identity, enhancing belonging, and highlighting the genuine values of Qatari society. Since its inception, it has played a central role in serving the nation through a variety of programs. It has accompanied all political, economic, cultural, and sports events in the country, contributing to raising public awareness and strengthening national identity. It has borne witness to the country's achievements, events, and initiatives across all sectors both domestically and internationally, playing a vital role in portraying Qatar's progressive image in regional and international arenas. The station has stood present at every pivotal stage of the nation's history, accompanying the people of Qatar through moments of development and prosperity. It has remained a responsible platform at all times, loyal to the mission of conscious and committed journalism.
Since its launch, the station has been committed to offering diverse content that caters to a wide range of tastes. It uses Modern Standard Arabic while incorporating the Qatari dialect. Qatar Radio has helped strengthen societal cohesion and conveyed numerous important messages to citizens, raising awareness through educational, health, and environmental programs.
The station has also aired programs targeting the broader Arab audience, promoting cultural and intellectual exchange among Arab nations. Qatar Radio expanded its news coverage to include a wide array of topics such as politics, economics, sports, and culture. It launched numerous news programs including bulletins, talk shows, and analytical segments. It has collaborated with many Arab and international radio stations to exchange news and programs, participated in numerous regional and international media conferences and events, and organized its own international conferences. It also sought to host joint meetings with sisterly and friendly radio stations across the Gulf and Arab world to discuss various pressing issues.
In the realm of drama, Qatar Radio has produced numerous radio plays and series that have been well-received by audiences. Radio drama played a significant role in spreading awareness and education, reinforcing national unity and social cohesion, and serving as a vital source of entertainment for both citizens and residents. It also contributed to preserving and reviving folk heritage by recording and broadcasting traditional songs, chants, and folk tales. Furthermore, it supported Qatari artists and musicians by showcasing their work and introducing them to a wider audience.
Qatar Radio has not rested on the successes and media achievements of past years, but has embarked on a continuous journey of development, growth, and modernization to keep pace with media and technological advancements and to strengthen its role as a leading media platform.
With the advent of the digital technology era, Qatar Radio quickly embraced this evolution. The station underwent comprehensive technical upgrades, incorporating the latest radio production and broadcasting technologies. This included modernizing its studios, upgrading recording and editing systems, and improving broadcast quality.
At the beginning of the new millennium, Qatar Radio took a major step toward the future by transitioning to digital broadcasting. This shift was not merely a change in technology but a fundamental transformation in how radio services were delivered and how the station engaged with its audience. As the internet expanded and digital technology advanced, Qatar Radio recognized the importance of having a digital presence. A sophisticated website was launched, allowing listeners to stream live content online, access program archives, and interact with content.
The most significant step, however, was the launch of smart applications for Qatar Radio on mobile phones and tablets. This move enabled the station to reach a wider audience, making it possible for anyone, anywhere in the world, to tune in to its programs via the internet or mobile apps.
On this special day, we reflect on the milestones of this pioneering media institution, which started with just a few hours of daily broadcasting and grew into a prominent media beacon that now broadcasts around the clock in multiple languages, reaching millions of listeners in Qatar, the Gulf region, and across the world.
The origins of Qatar Radio date back to 1965, with the establishment of the first radio service in the country, the Grand Mosque Radio, which broadcast Qur'an recitations, religious programs, and news on Fridays and special occasions. This initiative laid the foundation for the official launch of Qatar Radio on Jun. 25, 1968.
The station began broadcasting on medium wave for five hours a day in Arabic, divided into a morning segment of an hour and a half and an evening segment of three hours. In 1969, the total airtime increased to nine hours, then to 13 hours in 1970, and to 19 hours in 1982, until it eventually became a 24-hour broadcast service in 2002.
As part of its ambitious plans to deliver Qatar's voice to non-Arabic speakers within and beyond the country, Qatar Radio launched an English-language service in 1971.
Initially broadcasting for one hour, the service expanded to 19 hours by 2004.
In 1980, a service in Urdu was introduced, resonating strongly with the Urdu-speaking community in Qatar and the wider Gulf. This began with a one-hour daily broadcast on medium wave and expanded to three hours by 1989.
In 1985, a unique French-language service was launched, unmatched in the entire region at the time, broadcasting three hours daily on medium wave. In 1992, Qatar Radio introduced a dedicated 'Qur'an Radio' service, focusing on Qur'anic recitation, religious studies, Hadith, and interpretive texts, while also addressing contemporary issues through a religious lens. The station received wide public approval.
On this cherished occasion, which holds special meaning for everyone living in this country and for media professionals across Qatar, the Gulf, and the Arab world, it is worth reaffirming that radio will always retain its unique charm and powerful presence. With its warm, familiar human voices, it continues to touch hearts and minds in a way that no advanced technology can fully replace, regardless of how far it progresses.