Coronavirus: tributes pour in for popular Dubai media personality who died after contracting Covid-19

Tributes have been paid to one of Dubai's first radio stars, Richard Coram, who has died after contracting coronavirus.

Coram was a familiar voice on the airwaves and the small screen in the 1980s and 90s, presenting shows on Dubai’s Channel 33 and on Dubai 92FM Radio.

He went on to become a pioneer of the UAE’s entertainment industry, working with artists such as Roger Walters and organising music events for the Burj Al Arab.

Coram is understood to have died recently in the UK after suffering health complications related to the virus. He was believed to have been in his 50s.

Roger Paine, the head of programming at Capital Radio UAE, was a long-time friend of Coram and worked alongside him in the radio industry in the 1980s.

"I'm devastated by the news," he told The National. "We worked together as well, auctioning off a guitar from Roger Walters. When I was working at Radio 2, we raised more than Dh400,000.

“I did the breakfast show in Capital Radio in Abu Dhabi from 1983 to 1987 and Richard did the breakfast show on Radio 92 at the same time. We were the only radio stations in the whole of the UAE and it was a battle of the air waves. We met up frequently and had great times.

Mr Paine said that Coram moved to the UAE in late 1979 and returned home to the UK in 2013.

“He was a lovely man and was a fantastic broadcaster. He had such a silky and warm voice. He was also such a nice guy outside the world of media and was very passionate about quality.”

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Thomas Ovesen, also a well-known music promoter in the UAE, offered his own tribute.

In a statement to The National, he said: "It's a sad loss for Richard's family and friends and I send my condolences at what must be a trying time for them. It goes to show that our industry is not only badly affected by Covid-19 as a business, but that we all as individuals are potential victims too for this terrible virus."

Social media users also sent their condolences to the broadcaster's family and friends.