Joshi To Dubai

Sky News is to open a new foreign bureau in Dubai.

The bureau opens in late March 2009 and will be managed by a 3 person team. Ashish Joshi as correspondent, a producer and a cameraman.

Sky News’ head of Foreign News, Adrian Wells said: “Opening a bureau in Dubai will strengthen Sky News? ability to report on this fascinating, and ever more influential area. With the current financial crisis deepening every day amongst most of the world?s leading economies, the economy of the United Arab Emirates is one of very few examples of resilience. This, coupled with current cultural shifts in the Middle East which have far reaching effects across the world, make it a compelling region to cover in more depth ? this is a prefect time to cement our presence in the region.

?Sky News recognises the importance of the gulf-states and we?re extremely pleased that we will now be able to report more fully on one of the world?s most exciting regions.?

Sky News will also extend its World News slot by an hour, showing from 3am to 6am.

Ashish Joshi said: ?I am delighted to be taking on this new challenge in a region I know very well from my previous role as head of news with Zee TV. It is a fascinating, fast-paced, influential and sometimes fractious region of the world, where very different cultures live and work side by side, world business sits cheek by jowl with traditional fishing communities, and the rich and famous come to play without ever perhaps seeing the ?real? UAE. I relish the challenge of reporting on the region and helping viewers understand why it is so influential and what drives it.?