His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, has issued a law establishing the Dubai Media Council. It creates a framework for the council to streamline efforts to develop Dubai’s media sector and enhance its status as a regional and global media hub.

Sheikh Mohammed also issued a decree appointing Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum as Chairman of the Dubai Media Council and forming the Board of Dubai Media Council. Mona Al Marri will serve as the Vice-Chairperson and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council.

Other board members include Hala Youssef Badri, Malek Sultan Al Malek, Abdullah Humaid Belhoul, Younes Al Nasser, Amal Ahmed bin Shabib, Issam Kazim, and Mohammed Sulaiman Al Mulla, in addition to the Secretary-General of the Council. The board serves a renewable three-year term.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, appointed Nehal Badri as Secretary-General of the Dubai Media Council.

Sheikh Ahmed said the Dubai Media Council is keen to work with different players in the sector to support the media in generating high-quality content as part of its strategy to enhance Dubai’s growth as a media hub. He noted that the law heralds a new phase of media industry development in the emirate in line with the vision of Sheikh Mohammed.

Dubai has always endeavored to make the media a key partner in the country’s development journey and raise the profile of Dubai’s accomplishments and ambitions in various sectors, including its goal of becoming the world’s best city to live, work, visit and invest, Sheikh Ahmed said in a statement.

He called on members of the council to make concerted efforts to achieve the objectives of the law. In cooperation with key stakeholders in the sector, the council will propose new strategies and ideas to enhance Dubai’s profile as a global media hub. He noted that adopting advanced technologies and fostering talent is vital to accelerating Dubai’s media development journey.

Mona Al Marri said the law sets out key objectives for the Dubai Media Council, including developing KPIs for various media establishments and the content they produce. The law mandates the council to track the progress of the media strategy, promote Dubai’s media competitiveness, and advance the national agenda for the sector’s development.

From the new law’s effective date, the Government of Dubai Media Office (GDMO) and its subsidiaries and Dubai Media Incorporated (DMI) will be part of the Dubai Media Council. GDMO and DMI will retain their legal status as per the legislation that established them. They will perform their duties under the financial and strategic supervision of the council.

The law stipulates that the Dubai Media Council is the government entity in charge of the media sector in Dubai and will represent Dubai locally, regionally, and globally. The Council will develop Dubai’s media strategy and oversee its implementation.

The council is also tasked with enhancing strategic relations with local, regional, and international media organizations, reviewing service fees imposed by the Council’s entities, and proposing recommendations to relevant entities for approval. The council is also tasked with launching and overseeing programs, projects, and initiatives further to promote the development of Dubai’s media sector. 

The council will supervise Dubai’s media sector, take decisions, establish new companies either alone or in partnership with a third party, and invest or acquire media companies within the country or abroad.