The morning time gap
In Singapore or Hong Kong, morning coincides with night in France. RMF plays non-stop music — perfect for a gentle start, no news feed, just French music to begin the Asian day.
RMF in Asia & Middle East
A French radio.
A French radio.
For the French in Asia
From Singapore to Dubai, from Tokyo to Hong Kong, from Bangkok to Tel Aviv — the radio that accompanies the French settled on the other half of the world, despite the time difference and the distance.
Why RMF in Asia & Middle East
A cosmopolitan and demanding diaspora
Asia and the Middle East host a remarkably qualified French diaspora. Singapore counts around 25,000 French nationals, mainly executives in finance, luxury, and tech. Hong Kong and Shanghai each concentrate more than 15,000 French nationals, despite recent political changes. Dubai has become since 2015 a major French expatriation destination, with around 30,000 nationals — entrepreneurs, executives, traders, hospitality professionals.
Beyond these hubs, more diffuse French communities live in Tokyo, Bangkok, Bali, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, Mumbai, Tel Aviv, Beirut, Doha, and Riyadh. These French are often long-term expats, local entrepreneurs, professionals in luxury, tourism, or international cooperation. For them, the distance from France is physical but never cultural.
C'est ici que RMF prend tout son sens. Dans une zone du monde où la culture française se vit comme un repère identitaire, la radio française quotidienne reste un fil précieux. Même avec un décalage horaire de 5 à 12 heures, RMF accompagne ces Français d'Asie à leurs moments clés.
Listening countries
RMF in Asia & Middle East
RMF est écoutée dans toute la zone Asie-Pacifique et au Moyen-Orient. Les principales communautés d'auditeurs RMF se trouvent dans les marchés suivants :
Singapore
UAE
Hong Kong
Japan
China
Thailand
Indonesia
India
Israel
Lebanon
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Listening moments
Local morning
Local noon
Local afternoon
Local evening
Weekend
24/7
RMF accompanies the French in Asia
Living in Asia or the Middle East means dealing with a significant time difference. RMF adapts to these rhythms — your French programming, on your local time.
The Parisian after-work
When it's noon in Dubai or Bangkok, it's 10am in France. That's the time for columns: Un jour dans l'histoire, the éphéméride, the horoscope. For the French in Asia, a welcome cultural lunch break.
The Branchouille moment
Mid-afternoon in Tokyo or Shanghai, it's Parisian morning. Branchouille at 3pm Paris time becomes a French musical break for the French in Asia in the middle of work.
Evenings with friends
Friday night in Singapore or Dubai is the hour of apéro between French expats. RMF accompanies these moments — 70's-80's, Party, the French musical appointments that punctuate weekends everywhere in the world.
Family getaways
A weekend in Bali from Singapore, in Thailand from Hong Kong, in Oman from Dubai. During short flights and car trips, RMF remains your French radio — a thread of cultural continuity.
Owning the time difference
For the French in Asia working with Europe, schedules are fluid. RMF runs without interruption — available live or in podcasts, adapted to all time zones.
Content for you
Podcasts designed for the French in Asia
Au-delà du direct, plusieurs podcasts RMF résonnent particulièrement pour notre audience asiatique. Voici une sélection.
Idées de voyages dans le monde
Anne Pélouas shares her favorite destinations. Particularly useful for the French in Asia who travel often in the region — Southeast Asia, Pacific, Middle East.
French Tech
Les entrepreneurs français qui construisent ailleurs. Levées de fonds, pivots, succès — particulièrement pertinent pour les hubs tech français à Singapour, Hong Kong, Tel Aviv ou Bangalore.
Questions et interculturalité
Cécile Lazartigues-Chartier unpacks cultural misunderstandings. Essential when living in Asia — where cultural codes are the furthest from ours.
On Se Lit Tout
Emmanuelle Caron shares her literary favorites. For French readers in Asia who want to follow French editorial news despite the distance.
Histoire
Daniel de Montplaisir, historian, narrates great eras. A regular dive into French culture — useful when living in cultures with totally different references.
Vin et Bulles
Mélanie Boude talks appellations, varietals, regions. For the French in Asia, often far from French wine in daily life, a reminder of the French art de vivre.
Vivre en Asie & Moyen-Orient
Expatriating, working, living in Asia
Preparing to leave for Asia? Just arrived? Living in Singapore, Dubai, or Tokyo for years? Here are the main destinations for the French in Asia and the Middle East — and how RMF accompanies you, wherever you are.
Moving to Singapore: the Asian hub for the French
Singapore is the leading French expatriation destination in Asia, with around 25,000 nationals. The city-state attracts for its professional opportunities in finance, tech, luxury, biotech, as well as for its educational system (the French Lycée of Singapore, one of the largest in the world). The French live mainly in Tanglin, Holland Village, Bukit Timah, or Sentosa.
Pour la communauté française de Singapour, RMF est un repère quotidien — entre le hawker centre du midi et les soirées sur Boat Quay.
Singapore page coming soonLiving in Dubai: the new French destination in the Middle East
Dubai hosts around 30,000 French nationals, a community that has doubled since 2018. Tax advantages, climate, safety, air connectivity, quality of life: the arguments are many. The French settle in Jumeirah, Dubai Marina, Downtown, or Arabian Ranches. Strong sectors: trading, real estate, luxury hospitality, tech, consulting.
For the French in Dubai, RMF brings a precious francophone bubble in a cosmopolitan city often far from French culture in daily life.
Dubai page coming soonSettling in Hong Kong: the historic French community
Hong Kong remains a major French expatriation destination, despite recent political changes. About 15,000 French nationals live there — mainly in Central, Mid-Levels, Discovery Bay, and Stanley. Finance, international trade, fashion, luxury, and tech are the flagship sectors. Cultural proximity with France and the quality of the Lycée Français International make it a privileged destination for families.
For the French in Hong Kong, RMF is a daily cultural thread — between views over Victoria Harbour and MTR commutes.
Hong Kong page coming soonMoving to Tokyo: the French community in Japan
Tokyo hosts around 10,000 French nationals, a highly qualified community — luxury, gastronomy, design, research, animation, fashion. The city remains a culturally rich but administratively complex destination. The French in Tokyo live mainly in Hiroo, Azabu, Roppongi, and Daikanyama. The Lycée français de Tokyo accompanies families.
For the French community in Tokyo, RMF is an appreciated landmark in a cultural and linguistic environment very far from French references.
Tokyo page coming soonLiving in Shanghai: the French in China
Shanghai hosts the largest French community in China, around 15,000 people. Industry, trade, luxury, finance, restaurants — the French are present in all economic sectors. The French Concession remains an emblematic neighborhood, where several French schools welcome expat children.
For the French in Shanghai, RMF is a precious cultural thread in a megalopolis in constant mutation.
Shanghai page coming soonSettling in Bangkok or Bali: French Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia attracts more and more French nationals — entrepreneurs, digital nomads, active retirees, remote workers. Bangkok concentrates a French community of 12,000 people, Bali of 5,000. Moderate cost of living, tropical climate, quality of life, administrative accessibility: the arguments are appealing.
Pour cette nouvelle vague d'expatriés français en Asie du Sud-Est, RMF est un fil quotidien avec la France — au-delà du décor tropical.
Bangkok and Bali pages coming soonLiving in Tel Aviv: the Israeli French Tech
Tel Aviv hosts an important French community, estimated at 25,000 people, many of them dual nationals. Tech, startup nation, medical research, media — opportunities abound in the "Silicon Wadi". The French settle mainly in central Tel Aviv, Florentin, and Neve Tzedek.
Pour cette communauté française dynamique, RMF est un complément culturel apprécié — au-delà du fait que beaucoup parlent déjà français au quotidien.
Tel Aviv page coming soonFrançais à Beyrouth : la francophonie libanaise
Lebanon remains one of the most francophone countries in Asia, with a historic French community of around 12,000 people. Beirut concentrates the essentials — diplomats, NGOs, entrepreneurs, media, restaurants. Despite recent crises, cultural attachment to France remains very strong, and French remains a language of culture and education.
For the French in Lebanon, RMF is a daily thread with Paris — important in an unstable regional context.
Beirut page coming soon
RMF in cities of Asia
Closer to where you live
Toutes les pages-villes sont en cours de préparation. Découvrez bientôt comment RMF s'inscrit dans votre quotidien local.
Singapour
Coming soon
Dubaï
Coming soon
Hong Kong
Coming soon
Tokyo
Coming soon
Shanghai
Coming soon
Bangkok
Coming soon
Bali
Coming soon
Tel Aviv
Coming soon
Beyrouth
Coming soon
Doha
Coming soon
Mumbai
Coming soon
Séoul
Coming soon
Now, listen
RMF is live
24/7, in 95 countries. For the French in Asia and the Middle East. Tune in, see what's playing.