Strong growth in the FM radio stations raises the number of local FM radio stations broadcasting in the Arab World to 307 by February 2008

The regional landscape varies between countries in the number and ownership of the FM radio stations: Algeria and the UAE have the highest number of local government-owned FM radio stations while Palestine, Iraq and Lebanon have the highest number of private local radio stations.

The research revealed 9 regional radio stations that broadcast on FM frequencies in multiple countries.

These regional stations raise the total of FM radio stations to 316 FM radio stations in the 18 covered countries.

Liberalization in several Arab countries was a key factor for 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 liberalization of the sector, the need to broadcast in multiple languages to cater for expatriates enhances the number of FM radio stations even in countries where private FM radio stations do not exist.

The UAE is a clear example of this as it hosts FM radio stations broadcasting in Arabic, English, Malayalam, Hindi, Urdu and Filipino.

A new report, 'FM Radio in the Arab World 2008' was released to the Arab Advisors Group's Media Strategic Research Service subscribers on March 31, 2008.

The 73-page report, which has 40 detailed exhibits, provides a detailed analysis of the FM Radio regulations and landscape in the 18 Arab countries of Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE and Yemen. The report includes analysis and profiles of the main FM radio stations (private and state owned) in the region.

'State-owned FM radio stations in the Arab World still outnumber private FM radio stations, although the number of private ones has grown rapidly and is approaching the number of state-owned radio stations.' Mr. Firas El Farr, Arab Advisors research analyst wrote in the report. 'There are 157 local state-owned radio stations in the 18 covered countries, and 150 local private FM radio stations'.

'Algeria, Palestine and Iraq have the highest number of local radio stations and contributed the most in the total number of radio stations. Both Iraq and Lebanon, with no state-owned radio stations, contributed 42% of the total growth in local FM radio stations in the covered countries' Mr. El Farr added.