The Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) and OnBoard International have joined hands to provide in-flight TV reports, broadcast by DFF’s Future Monitor, onboard Arab and international flights operated by major regional and international airlines.
The in-flight scientific content will be available onboard flights to many Arab and international destinations, including London, Istanbul, New York City, Paris, Shanghai, Stockholm, Tokyo, Toronto, Vienna, and Singapore. A major step forward for the aviation industry, the initiative goes beyond spreading knowledge and looks to encourage people to read in Arabic.
“Mass media is one of the most effective means to develop people’s knowledge and increase their familiarity with scientific concepts,” His Excellency Abdulla bin Touq, Acting CEO of DFF, noted, reiterating the Foundation’s commitment to working with various government and non-governmental organizations to amplify its outreach among the youth in the region.
“The agreement we have signed with OnBoard International is a great testament to our vision in this regard, as it allows us to reach broader segments, and provide them with state-of-the-art scientific material, triggering solutions to pressing issues in the future,” H.E. bin Touq added.
OnBoard International is one of the top entrainment providers for major airlines across the region. Statistics show that the company’s educational content is being broadcast onboard almost 300 flights to more than 200 destinations around the globe, enabling three million travelers per month to enjoy the content.
Eyas Ziadah, Managing Director of OnBoard International, said: “Our agreement with the Dubai Future Foundation boosts both our efforts to disseminate innovative ideas among large groups of people. We are always working to raise cultural awareness through educational videos – played onboard flights – that explore the latest innovations and scientific discoveries.”
The content earmarked for broadcast on the designated flights is provided by the Dubai Future Foundation’s Future Monitor, a platform dedicated to publishing scientific material – articles, videos, etc. – in a simple “user-friendly” Arabic. The content spans several different sectors, such as space and aeronautics, health, artificial intelligence (AI), and virtual reality (VR). A dedicated team of experts and interpreters work round the clock to populate the platform with scientific content; they have so far produced as many as 3,180 scientific pieces, more than 840 TV reports, and 300 infographics.
“The Future Monitor was created to help us play our part in executing the Dubai Future Agenda, which emphasizes creativity and learning,” H.E. Abdulla bin Touq explained. “The flagship initiative has, in record time, attracted a considerable audience of young users looking to explore cutting-edge scientific findings.”
The platform has created significant buzz on social media platforms, reaching a staggering 4.3 million followers on Facebook, 64,000 on Twitter, 164,000 on Instagram, and more than 25,000 RSS Feed subscribers. Moreover, statistics show that topics published on the Monitor appeared more than 19 million times via Twitter, while TV reports’ viewership reached a peak of 225.6 million views during the last 12 months. The number of hits on the monitor’s social media channels reached 6.4 million views, and according to the website’s traffic, 44% of hits were re-directed from Facebook, while 48% came from Twitter.
The Future Monitor’s Twitter followers include high-profile leaders and public figures from the UAE and the region, such as His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Cabinet Member and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; H.E. Dr Ahmad Belhoul, Minister of State for Higher Education; H.E. Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of State for Happiness; H.E. Shamma bint Suhail Faris Al Mazrui, Minister of State for Youth Affairs; and H.E. Sarah Al Amiri, Chairperson of the Emirates Scientists Council, and Deputy Project Manager – Science Lead for the Emirates Mars Mission.