Sharjah TV unveils Ramadan schedule

Sharjah Television has unveiled an exclusive package of programmes which will be telecast this Ramadan. They launched it at a special ceremony held by the Sharjah Media Corporation (SMC) at Millennium Hotel in Sharjah on Monday.

Addressing a press conference, Ms. Amna Khamis Al Nakhi, CEO of SMC and Director General of Sharjah Radio and TV, elaborated that the Ramadan programme schedule for this year is aimed at fulfilling the wishes of the Arab community, educating and entertaining them through a variety of high quality and responsible programmes as per the principle of Sharjah TV being a family channel. The conference was attended by a number of directors of government departments and private organizations, TV officials and representatives of various local, Arab and foreign media.

Al Nakhi said Sharjah TV and SMC have adopted the same method they embrace throughout the year, in selecting and designing Ramadan programmes – with a special focus on issues that concern Arab families and are in tune with the principles of Arabic traditions.

According to her, what really distinguishes this year’s Ramadan package of programmes is the excellent quality and novel ideas. These will be suitably reflected in the locally produced and the acquired programs, as well as the programmes that bear human values.

“This year, we will bring to our viewers a spectrum of religious, social, cultural and entertaining programmes appropriate for all our viewers in the Holy Month without alienating the Arabic drama that our audience yearns for,” Al Nakhi said. She added that Sharjah TV will broadcast high quality, meaningful and entraining Arabic drama series that adhere to the values and traditions of the Arab community.

In conclusion, Al Nakhi restated, “We are committed to providing the best high quality and creative content to our viewers that respects the social, cultural and family values in the UAE and the Arab world.”

The press conference was followed by a presentation on the programs that will be broadcasted during the month. Sharjah TV will host contests such as the ‘Sharjah Munshid 5′, which is an unprecedented Islamic chanting competition launched in 2006, and is still as popular as ever.

A satisfying variety of religious programmes will also be broadcasted by Sharjah TV, such as “Inna Amiloon”, which will be presented by the eminent Sheikh Mohammed Hassan, and “Wa Eqtarabat Al Sa’ah” (translated as ‘The approach of doomsday’), which will be presented by Sheikh Omar Abdul Kafi.

Sharjah TV will reveal the secrets of magicians and discuss demons in the programme called “Kashf Al Mastour” (translated as ‘The Revealed Secret). It will be anchored by Sheikh Ali Al Yassin.

The Ramadan grid also features family and social programmes, such as “Khawater 6″ by Ahmed Al Shukairi, who discusses a religious or social issue that concerns Arabs, in a simple, clear and distinctive way.

Viewers will enjoy watching a daily program, “Umsiyat Ramadaniya” (translated as ‘Ramadan Evenings’) which tackles topics concerning the Arab family, women and children during the holy month. “Al Camera Warak” [translated as 'candid camera'] which is dedicated to catching people unaware and revealing their bad habits and common mistakes, will be among other programmes during the fasting month.

The channel will also telecast recorded contests such as Testahil Al Namos Contest, which is a program prepared and presented by Abdullah Al Saleh, and also the live contest ” The words contest ” which is based on the contestant’s strong Arabic language and agility.

Arabic dramas will have a strong presence as part of the package of Ramadan programmes broadcasted by Sharjah TV which will show the 5th and last part of Bab Al Hara Sharjah TV will also air “Al Qittah Al Amiya’a” [translated as 'The Blind Cat'], which is a comedy starring Hanan Turk and a cast of prominent drama stars.

Other shows include Ikhwan Mariam (translated as ‘Mariam’s Brothers’) that tells the story of the family of Al Sabah’s Ascension to the Throne in Kuwait from the early beginning of their rule and how they laid the foundation of the state of Kuwait four decades ago. The drama series depicts the most significant political and social turning points witnessed by Kuwait throughout the old and modern eras. It has an enviable cast of renowned Kuwaiti drama stars, including Ibrahim Al Sallal, Ibrahim Al Harbi, Jamal Al Radhan and Yaqoub Abdullah, who are playing pivotal roles.

The channel will also broadcast the religious series “Nisa’a Khalidat” (translated as ‘Immortal Women’), which deals with the biographies of a group of immortal women, starting with the Virgin Mary, to the wives and daughters of Prophet Mohammed and also some of the female companions (The Sahabiyat) who played a great part in the Islamic history.