Qatar Radio celebrates today 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.
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.
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.
