Capital Radio, UAE, which was initially launched in Abu Dhabi by the Ministry of Information and Culture in June 1979 is set to return to the airwaves.

The station was rebranded to Radio’s 1 and 2 by Emirates Media and gave up the Capital Radio brand name in 1999.

The station, fondly remembered by many of its listeners, is set to launch across the country from 4pm on September 2.

It will play chart hits from ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s, plus a selection of contemporary music along with competitions, news and interviews.

Initially, it will broadcast only online, with FM frequencies and Digital Audio Broadcasts are expected to follow within a few months.

By late November, the station hopes to be the first radio station to be accessible via in the country.

Roger Paine, former station manager and presenter at the original station and Programming Director and evening drive host at the new venture, said that the new station aimed to target an estimated audience of about one million people listeners over the age of 35.

It will broadcast 24 hours a day with automated back-to-back music running from 8pm to 6am.

Statistics from global research firm Nielsen in its May 2018 quarterly Radio Audience Measurement (RAM) report reveal that in the UAE 83% of people listen via FM, and 80% of them listen while travelling.

Other stats show that 98% of Abu Dhabi’s population tune in to radio for more than six hours a week. In Dubai, 97% of that city’s population turns the radio on for at least ten hours a week, while the majority of Northern and Eastern Emirates’ dwellers like to listen for at least eight to nine hours every week.