Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation to launch dedicated radio show for aspiring writers

The Oktub radio show will be aired every Friday from 8.00 pm to 9.00 pm local time on Noor Dubai, starting from Friday April 4, and hosted by renowned UAE presenter Ayoub Yousef.
The radio show, also named Oktub, which is the Arabic word for 'write', seeks to provide aspiring writers with a forum for engagement with successful writers of all genres.

In the prime part of each episode, the presenter will host a renowned Arab intellect, and discuss with them, important issues such as the reading habits of Arabs and the reluctance of Arab youth to express their thoughts and experiences in writing.

Furthermore, the show will focus on other writing trends such as blogging.

Yasser Hareb, Vice President for Culture Pillar, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, will be the first studio guest of the radio show, and will answer questions related to the Oktub programme, while elaborating on the objectives of this programme and its relation to the mission and vision of the Foundation.

Ali Saif Al Shaali, Director - Publishing in the Culture Pillar, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, said: "Through this radio show, we hope to encourage more potential writers to join the Oktub programme and set out on the road of authorship."

He added: "and so far we are very much impressed with the quality of the literary work submitted to the Foundation".

The Oktub programme is meant to encourage a new generation of Arabic writers to unleash their creative potential, and will identify individuals with outstanding Arabic writing competencies, to support them to professionally publish their work.

The weekly radio show on Noor Dubai will provide a platform for discussions on topics related to intellectual output, across the Arab World.

The show will bring together prominent intellectuals, authors, and leading cultural figures, to offer valuable advice to promising writers. Modern writing trends including internet blogging will also be discussed on the show.

"The radio show", said Al Shaali, "is an open invitation to all professional and potential writers to interact with the Oktub team, of the Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation."

Launched in December 2007, the author-grants programme Oktub seeks to reverse the decline of intellectual output in the region by encouraging and nurturing gifted writers across the Arab world.