UAE President Sheikh Mohamed Moves To Establish National Media Office

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has reportedly issued a federal law to establish a National Media Office.

The office will report to the Minister of the Presidential Court, and will be funded and administered independently.

The aim of establishing the National Media Office is to reportedly boost the country's media ecosystem, apart from bolstering its position, regionally and internationally.

The new office is also seen to improve cooperation among media stakeholders and unite their efforts in strengthening the country's media sector.

The roles and responsibilities of the new office include the development and implementation of national media policies and directives and strategies, as well as the proposal, development and review of all existing national media laws and regulations.

It will also empower a skilled generation of media experts across the country, and coordinate with relevant media stakeholders to align the country's media industry with international standards.

According to the new law, the National Media Office will also be tasked in the preparation, evaluation, and review of the UAE's media narrative both locally and abroad, as well as in the preservation and enhancement of the country's international reputation. It will also be responsible for representing the country in both the regional and international media, taking part in media conferences and relevant events in the Emirates and abroad.

The UAE government first touted the establishment of a National Media Office in June 2022, when Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed issued a resolution to set up such an office in Abu Dhabi. The office, which was envisioned to have branches in the UAE and internationally, would reportedly work on the cooperation between media agencies in the country and hone the country's future influential national media leaders by training and strengthening the skills of Emirati talent in news media, organizing the roles of official spokespeople, and conducting research within the media sector.

Once established, the National Media Office will be affiliated with the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, with Emirates news agency Wam attached as a unit of the ministry.