BBC Arabic radio and online goes on tour in February to meet Arab youth

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The initiative entitled Your future, who decides it? showcases BBC Arabic output, including its popular online site, bbcarabic.com It also encourages participation in specially themed BBC presenter-led debates, which are promoted a week ahead with interactive booths, provocative posters and merchandise placed in key locations.

Hosam El Sokkari, Head of BBC Arabic Service, said the BBC's Arabic language radio and online services are widely used across the region, but BBC Arabic's unique offer as the home of debate and discussion needs further promotion, especially among young people:

'BBC Arabic provides an essential platform for debate. We know from research that young adults across the region want to discuss the issues which really matter to them. And we want to tap into their consciousness to generate the kind of programmes this audience wants to engage with.'

'Your future, who decides it? will kick-start the process. It demonstrates our relevance, our accessibility as a platform for debate and a forum for sharing issues with the wider Arabic speaking audience. I am confident it will create relationships which will inform our programme-making for many years to come.'

To inform the debates and generate a better understanding of the interests and personal aspirations of young people, the BBC has commissioned a series of opinion polls. The telephone surveys are being conducted in Amman, Cairo, Damascus, Khartoum and the West Bank. The results will be available on a special Your future, who decides it? micro-site on bbcarabic.com/future from 13 February.

The micro-site is also the key driver for people wanting to take part in the debates. Its URL - bbcarabic.com/future - is heavily promoted with merchandise in a wide variety of locations so people can register their details directly. It will also be the place people can post comments for a wider online forum. In addition, it will feature articles on the key debate themes and contain images and audio of the debate events.

BBC Arabic has over 12 million listeners across the region while bbcarabic.com attracts around 17 million page impressions a month. Broadcasting 24 hours a day, BBC Arabic is a respected voice in the region, widely acknowledged and respected for its independent and unbiased coverage of regional, national and international news.

Your future, who decides it? launches in Cairo, Egypt on Monday 13 February and will run until Monday 20 March. Full details will be announced at a press conference on 13 February.