A new look and enhanced interactivity for BBCArabic.com

The redesign involves enrichment of content for breaking news about the Middle East, an easy-to-access Sci Tech index and a new Business agenda, together with an extension to the site's multimedia capability. "The site's new look and enhanced interactivity are set to meet the ever increasing demand for incisive news and information from the global Arabic online community", said Hosam Sokkari, Head of BBCArabic.com. "A brand new business agenda has been introduced to offer global context to the region's business and economic news needs", he added.
The redesign aims to enhance user experience, navigation and functionality. The new Index of news directories aids usability and constitutes a rich source of content. The index includes Middle East, Sci Tech, Business, Press, interactive Talking Points, Special Reports, Learning English, and a range of other interesting features.

The up-to-the-minute MidEast directory reinforces BBCArabic.com's commitment to cover the MidEast situation with a balanced and impartial view of regional events as they unfold. Commenting on the importance of this new feature, Sokkari said: "The MidEast political situation remains a critical traffic driver amongst all Arab media consumers."

The BBCArabic.com redesign includes the new Business directory, regularly updated to feature key global economic stories as they break, offering context for the Middle East's regional business user. To enrich coverage of IT, Science and Health issues, a Sci Tech directory has been added to the site, providing access to an archived resource of BBCArabic.com's Sci Tech information.

Interactivity of the site is further enhanced with the BBC's 'Talking Point' debate technology, encouraging users to join in debates on a range of topical issues. And it's easier to search the archives for the popular BBCArabic.com Debate Forums and News in the British Press. A wide range of interactive Special Reports will be available to the BBCArabic.com users.

Sokkari says the new design is now running live on the site: "This has been a particularly difficult time to introduce this major site development, with such a fast-moving, critical story for the Middle East. The BBCArabic.com team had to maintain the previous version of the site, break and cover the news in the Middle East, minute-by-minute, and concurrently generate new content for the wide range of new directories."

Live and on-demand audio feeds from BBC Arabic radio remain a vital part of BBCArabic.com's multimedia offer. The audio streams for BBC Arabic radio are available to users on the home page or listen again to audio programmes at http://BBCArabic.com/programmes. The e-Education Learning English zone will continue to be a key element of the content offer on the BBCArabic.com site. This can be accessed directly at http://BBCArabic.com/learningenglish
Award-winning 24/7 Arabic News, Information, Interaction at http://BBCArabic.com

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