MUMBAI: Richard Branson’s Virgin Radio International and Arab Media Group signed an agreement to launch Virgin Radio Dubai, a new English music station that will launch towards the end of this year.

Virgin Radio Dubai will broadcast over Arabian Radio Network’s frequency from studios in Dubai. Arabian Radio Network is a subsidary of Arab Media Group. The station will be run as a collaboration between Virgin and Arab Media Group, with Virgin providing a particular input into programming, marketing and promotions.

Virgin Group chairman Richard Branson said, “I am thrilled to be launching Virgin Radio Dubai. AMG is a great partner to have and I am sure that, together, we’ll build the best station Dubai has ever heard. Virgin Megastores and Virgin Atlantic have already received such a fantastic welcome in Dubai. Virgin Radio is experiencing phenomenal growth at the moment, having announced launches in Italy, France and now Dubai in the last two months alone. We are already exploring opportunities to establish Virgin Radio in other parts of the Middle East and I have no doubt that we’ll be launching many more stations over the coming years.”

Arab Media Group CEO Abdul Latif Al Sayegh added, “We are pleased to be associating with a vibrant, dynamic brand like Virgin Radio. The growth that they have experienced mirrors our plans to expand in the region, and indeed this year we will incorporate more television stations and two new radio stations. We have a vision of filling the many niches that have been left unaddressed in popular media up to this point, and through better understanding and knowledge of our audience we will keep delivering. Virgin Radio is a major step towards achieving this vision.”