UAE Meteorology to begin broadcasting via YouTube

The National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology yesterday launched its channel, UAE Weather, on a channel that specialises in broadcasting weather bulletins, videos and programmes to reach a wider audience and aiming to unify sources of meteorological and seismic information in order to avoid the spread of rumours across Internet and social networking sites.

The YouTube channel is the first of its kind in the Arab world in the field of meteorology, providing daily weather forecasts and weekly programmes in Arabic. The channel also includes additional programming that showcase the best travel and tourism spots inside and outside the country during different seasons, programmes for health, events and other developments of the Centre's initiatives and projects as well as photography and video competitions.

Dr. Abdullah Al Mandoos, Executive Director of the Centre, said "The launch of the channel came in line with the vision of the wise leadership in establishing the foundations of e-government, and to facilitate meteorological services in the easiest and fastest route available."

He explained that the channel is the first step in creating a specialised programme in weather and climate affairs, adding that the channel will be available exclusively through electronic media platforms for the transfer of expert daily news in meteorology.

Al Mandoos also stressed the aim of the channel in connecting sources of meteorological and seismic information in order to prevent rumours that circulate on social networking sites, saying that the accurate information provided by the centre should not be manipulated as it significantly pertains to the daily life of every individual.

He said that the weather forecasters are the core of the channel, providing official daily weather forecasts sourced from meteorological and seismic information in the United Arab Emirates. With the combination of the latest in technology and the best in expertise, information on weather conditions becomes efficient and reliable.

Al Mandoos said that the channel will target areas inside and outside the country, confirming that that the number of daily visitors on the website is 50,000, but this increases to up to 2 million during different weather phenomena. The primary interest of the centre is to communicate with the public and make the utmost efforts to provide all the necessary information accurately and quickly.

For his part, Omar Al Yazeedi, Director of Research, Development and Training Department, explained that the centre has established its very own broadcast studio with the latest technology and staff training to ensure the efficient delivery of programmes, pointing out that he has worked with all current employees of the channel to create a new generation of broadcasters that are experts in this new media content of weather forecasts in addition to preparing local talent in specialised meteorological and seismic information.
Source: WAM