UAE's Media Council Introduces Modernization Strategy to Expand and Elevate the Media Industry
The UAE Media Council unveiled a new regulatory system to modernize, fortify, and accelerate the growth of the nation's media sector on Tuesday at a press conference in Dubai's Emirates Towers. This initiative represents a significant stride towards transforming the current regulatory framework, making the UAE a world pioneer in media leadership.
Detailing the comprehensive regulatory overhaul, Mohammed Saeed Al Shehhi, Secretary-General of the UAE Media Council, described it as an integrative shift incorporating updated legislation, comprehensive media services, and sector-specific policies. He stated that the framework's primary objective is to enhance the UAE's media competitiveness regionally and globally.
Key components of the new system that foster regional and global competitiveness include content standards upholding national values, incentives for content creators, and streamlined procedures to encourage sustainable growth within the sector.
Maitha Al Suwaidi, CEO of Strategy and Media Policies at the Council, emphasized the system will create a modern and flexible media environment. Specific regulations have been put in place for social media advertising, offering a three-year exemption from permit fees to content creators and introducing quality controls to build public trust.
Other initiatives include a digital content age-rating system, licensing frameworks for online news platforms, as well as fee exemptions to assist Emirati creators. Al Suwaidi described the launch as a momentous occasion in forming a professional, transparent, and impactful media ecosystem aligned with the UAE's national vision.
The new system is strategically designed to serve as a cornerstone in the UAE's sustainable development and economic growth, solidifying the country's position as a competitive media hub. By focusing on nurturing creativity, contributing to GDP growth, regional and global leadership, and upholding public trust and content safety, it positions the UAE as a forward-thinking media powerhouse.
The initiative builds on the momentum generated from the Council's formation in February 2023 and the introduction of the Media Regulation Law in 2023, marking the first modification to media legislation in over four decades.
- The UAE government's new regulatory system for the media sector encourages collaboration with content creators, offering incentives for innovation and fostering a competitive environment for the future.
- The regulatory overhaul, led by the UAE Media Council, includes platforms for digital content age-rating, online news licensing, and streamlined procedures that prioritize sustainability and growth.
- The vision for the UAE's media sector includes strategic investments in nurturing creativity, contributing to economic growth, and upholding public trust and content safety to solidify the country as a global leader in media.
- The media platforms and policies developed under this new system are designed to support business growth, align with the UAE's national vision, and position the country as a forward-thinking media powerhouse in the environment sector.
