BBC Arabic marked its 77th anniversary with a concert of classical Arabic music last Saturday at Broadcasting House in London, where the service was launched in 1938.

The broadcaster is also launching a fresh radio schedule with new programmes for Arabic speaking audiences across the world.

These include daily shows like Sport News, Women Today, Midnight Talk and Radio Archive – a weekly programme that draws on more than 70 years of BBC Arabic Radio archive with rare and exclusive material.

Over the years BBC Arabic has won many awards and according to recent audience research its overall audience reach has risen to 36.2 million adults weekly – up by 68 percent from 21.6 million during the ‘Arab Spring’ in 2010.

Tarik Kafala, the Head of BBC Arabic said: “This is a very exciting time for BBC Arabic. We are reaching our biggest audiences in our 77 years and developing in ways that will make us more relevant and essential than ever, on all platforms. The investment in new programmes and a new schedule shows our deep commitment to radio and our listeners, the heart and foundation of BBC Arabic.”