Media assets

Television: Dubai TV, Sama Dubai, Dubai One, Dubai Sports, Dubai Racing

Radio: Noor Dubai, Radio Dubai

Publishing: Al Bayan, Emarat Al Youm

Online: Emirates 247

State Media Matrix Typology

Captured Public/State-Managed (CaPu)

Ownership and governance

DMI is wholly owned by the Government of Dubai. Prior to its formal incorporation in 2003, its media operations were managed directly under the government’s media department. As per official decrees, the government appoints the company’s top leadership. In August 2022, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum issued Decree No. (11), appointing Sheikh Hasher Bin Maktoum Bin Juma Al Maktoum as Chairman of the Board and Mohammed Sulaiman Al Mulla as Chief Executive Officer.

Source of funding and budget

While DMI’s exact financial statements remain undisclosed, multiple journalists and analysts familiar with the UAE media landscape interviewed in March 2024 and May 2025 confirmed that the group operates through a mixed funding model. Advertising and commercial partnerships provide a significant share of DMI’s income, while the Dubai Government supplies supplementary funding. However, this subsidy is estimated to represent less than half of the group’s overall annual budget, allowing DMI a degree of operational flexibility while maintaining strategic alignment with state interests.

Editorial independence

Although there are no publicly available editorial statutes or explicit governmental censorship protocols formally imposed on DMI’s outlets, editorial control is exercised indirectly. The government’s influence is channelled through its hand-picked top management, many of whom are longstanding insiders and political loyalists. As a result, the editorial line across DMI’s platforms consistently aligns with government narratives, steering clear of critical or investigative coverage of UAE authorities.

On occasion, DMI outlets have pursued human interest stories and regional reporting that appear bold by local standards. However, such efforts tend to fall well within the parameters of permissible discourse, avoiding any substantive challenge to state policy or leadership.

No domestic law or independent body currently exists to safeguard or verify the editorial autonomy of DMI’s media. Consequently, the group is widely perceived by media freedom advocates as an arm of the state, serving to reinforce the official image of the emirate both at home and abroad.

July 2025

Media assets

Television: Abu Dhabi TV, Al Emarat, Abu Dhabi Drama, Abu Dhabi Sports 1, Abu Dhabi Sports 2, Abu Dhabi Sports 3, Abi Dhabi Sports 4, Yas, Majid TV, National Geographic Abu Dhabi

Radio: Quran Kareem, Emarat FM, Abu Dhabi FM, Star FM, Abu Dhabi Classic FM, KADAK FM, Radio 1, Radio 2

Publishing: Al Ittihad, Zahrat Al Khaleej, Majid Magazine, National Geographic Al Arabiya Magazine

Portals: Zayed, Mohtawa

State Media Matrix Typology

Captured Public/State-Managed (CaPu)

Ownership and governance

ADM is a 100% government-owned joint-stock company, born from the merger of Emirates Media Incorporated’s assets in 2007. Its governance structure features a five-member Board of Directors appointed by decree from the Crown Prince. The board oversees strategic direction, ensuring alignment with government objectives.

As of 2025, Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber serves as Chair of the board, with Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohamed bin Butti Al Hamed—appointed as National Media Office Minister in January 2024—playing a central coordination role with federal media regulators.

Source of funding and budget

ADM operates under a mixed-revenue model. It draws on advertising and commercial partnerships, supplemented by government subsidies—though insiders affirm the latter remains under 50% of annual expenditure.

Detailed financial disclosures for 2024 are not publicly available, consistent with the opacity characterizing most UAE media entities. Nevertheless, industry analysts note significant growth in digital advertising across the UAE, with sector-wide revenues surpassing AED 800 million in 2024.

Editorial independence

ADM does not operate under officially codified editorial independence. Top-level management—appointed by government decree—regulates editorial direction, effectively curbing any critical engagement with state policy. While outlets occasionally cover soft-interest topics and culturally safe investigative features, no domestic legislation or independent body guarantees editorial autonomy.

As is the case with most state-run media in the UAE, ADM’s outlets never openly criticize Emirati authorities or government policy. Although certain platforms occasionally publish features on social issues, culture, and safe investigative topics, these are carefully curated to avoid political friction.

No domestic statute, independent assessment, or external oversight mechanism exists to validate or enforce editorial autonomy. In this context, media freedom watchdogs have repeatedly flagged ADM’s operations as lacking transparency and independence, reinforcing its image as a communications arm of the state rather than an independent media organisation.

July 2025

Media assets

Television: Sharjah TV, Sharjah Sports, Al Wusta, Al Sharqiya, Sharjah 2

Radio: Sharjah Radio, Quran Radio, Pulse 95

State Media Matrix Typology

Captured Public/State-Managed (CaPu)

Ownership and governance

SBA operates as a government agency under the umbrella of the Sharjah Government. Governing bodies are appointed directly by the Supreme Council of Sharjah. A regulatory update came in 2021 when Decree Law No. 2 was issued by Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, effectively tightening government oversight. Under this law, SBA must secure approvals from the Sharjah Media Council—a politically affiliated regulatory body—before undertaking any core media activities. As of mid-2025, the SBA is led by Salem Ali Al Ghaithi, who assumed the role of Director in 2023.

Source of funding and budget

SBA follows a mixed funding model: it generates commercial revenue primarily through advertising, supplemented by state subsidies. According to data collected by the Media and Journalism Research Center by May 2024, government contributions represent under 50% of its annual operating budget. However, full financial disclosures for 2024 and 2025 remain unavailable.

Editorial independence

While SBC faces no explicit legal constraints on editorial direction, its output is heavily influenced by top-down management. Appointments by government decree and required oversight by the Sharjah Media Council ensure that SBA’s content consistently aligns with state-approved messaging. As with other UAE-affiliated broadcasters, SBA rarely, if ever, critiques Emirati authorities.

Despite occasional coverage of cultural, soft-feature stories, there is no legal statute, external audit, or independent oversight body guaranteeing editorial freedom. Consequently, watchdogs view the SBA as an arm of the regime, rather than an autonomous media entity.

July 2025

Media assets

Radio: Arabian Radio Network (ARN): Tag 91.1, Dubai 92, Radio Shoma 93.4, Hit 96.7, Al Arabiya 99, Al Khaleejiya 100.9, City 101.6, Dubai Eye 103.8, Virgin Radio Dubai 104.4, Dubai Dragon

State Media Matrix Typology

Captured Public/State-Managed (CaPu)

Ownership and governance

AMG falls under the umbrella of Dubai Holding—a diversified investment arm majority-owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. After enduring the 2007–08 financial downturn, AMG divested its television assets to Dubai Media Incorporated (DMI) in late 2009. Radio, events, and entertainment remain under AMG’s control to this day.

Mohamed Sharaf has served as the CEO of Arab Media Group (AMG) since December 2018, leading one of the UAE’s most prominent media and entertainment conglomerates. With a background in economics and finance from Tufts University and The George Washington University, he previously held strategic roles at Meraas and Dubai Holding Entertainment.

Source of funding and budget

AMG does not publish official financial statements, hence its revenues are not known. According to experts consulted by Media and Journalism Research Center in May 2025, the company is financed mostly through ad revenues although state subsidies are also accounted for every year.

Editorial independence

Though no direct editorial constraints are imposed, analysts note that government influence permeates AMG’s leadership structure. Since Dubai Holding itself is state-owned, strategic control is maintained via top management appointments. No independent oversight or statutory guarantee of journalistic independence exists.

July 2025

Media assets

Publishing: The National, Al Roeya

Online: Al-Ain News

Television: CNN News Arabic

State Media Matrix Typology

Captured Public/State-Managed (CaPu)

Ownership and governance

IMI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Media Investment Corporation (ADMIC), a private investment vehicle controlled by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a senior member of the Abu Dhabi ruling family. Sheikh Mansour, also known for his ownership of Manchester City Football Club, is the half-brother of the late President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and currently serves as the UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court under President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed.

In November 2024, International Media Investments officially shortened its brand to “IMI”, unveiling a refreshed logo and brand positioning. Appointed CEO of the group prior to the 2024 rebranding, Rani R. Raad is also President  &  Operating Partner at RedBird IMI.

Source of funding and budget

According to internal financial documents reviewed for this report, IMI’s operations are primarily sustained through commercial revenue streams, particularly advertising and sponsorships. The company does not rely on formal state subsidies, although its close affiliation with ruling elites ensures privileged access to government-aligned advertising markets and institutional contracts.

Editorial independence

Although no formal editorial directives from the government are publicly documented, IMI’s outlets have long been perceived as closely aligned with state interests. The National, initially launched with ambitions to serve as a beacon of high-caliber, Western-style journalism—attracting seasoned journalists from the U.S. and the U.K.—has over time settled into a more cautious editorial posture. Despite its polished layout and professional reporting on international affairs and business, the publication avoids sensitive political topics, particularly those concerning the Emirati leadership and domestic governance.

Similarly, Al Roeya, despite its youthful branding and dynamic presentation, is effectively a vehicle for amplifying government initiatives and messaging. In 2022, it underwent a digital relaunch before its operations were merged into The National‘s Arabic-language offering in 2023, reportedly as part of a wider media consolidation strategy in the Emirate.

As of mid-2025, there is no publicly available editorial charter guaranteeing the independence of IMI-owned outlets. Furthermore, no external oversight body or mechanism exists to monitor or validate editorial autonomy within the company’s media holdings. The absence of transparent safeguards or pluralistic governance structures reinforces long-standing concerns about the instrumentalization of IMI’s publications for soft-power and image management objectives.

July 2025

Media assets

Television: Sky News Arabia

Radio: Sky News

State Media Matrix Typology

Independent State Managed (ISM)

Ownership and governance

Sky News Arabia operates as a 50:50 joint venture between Sky Group—a UK-based company owned by the U.S. media conglomerate Comcast—and Abu Dhabi Media Investment Corporation (ADMIC), an investment arm owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a senior member of the Emirati royal family.

ADMIC’s stake is held through International Media Investments (IMI), a media investment company that manages several regional assets. The parity in shareholding gives both parties equal say in corporate governance, with neither holding unilateral control over the operation.

Appointed in January 2024, Nadim Koteich serves as both the General Manager and CEO of Sky News Arabia, overseeing editorial tone, programming expansion, and cross-platform content strategy.

Source of funding and budget

While Sky Group does not disclose granular financial data on its subsidiaries, regional analysts and journalists familiar with the UAE media market interviewed for this report in September 2024 indicated that Sky News Arabia is predominantly commercially funded. According to internal estimates cited by Sky Group sources, the channel’s turnover reached approximately USD 108.34 million in 2021. Updated figures for 2024 have not been made public, and no official budget disclosures have been issued since.

Editorial independence

Although no formal editorial mandates have been imposed by the government, questions surrounding editorial independence continue to surface in academic and media circles. At its inception, Sky News Arabia instituted an Editorial Advisory Committee designed to act as a firewall against editorial interference by either shareholder. This mechanism is intended to preserve operational autonomy and prevent political encroachment.

The CEO and Managing Editor plays a central role in shaping the editorial strategy and upholding professional standards. Given the balanced ownership structure—with neither partner exercising a controlling interest—executive editorial decisions are largely delegated to this role, allowing for a measure of independence in day-to-day operations.

Internally, Sky News Arabia employs a suite of monitoring tools and review systems to evaluate its editorial performance. These include routine content audits and feedback loops to ensure alignment with journalistic best practices.

July 2025

Media assets

News agency: WAM

State Media Matrix Typology

State-Controlled (SC)

Ownership and governance

WAM functions under the umbrella of the UAE’s National Media Council (NMC), the federal body that oversees media regulation in the country. As of mid-2024, the NMC’s board remains predominantly composed of government officials, reflecting the centralized nature of media governance in the UAE. The Council holds sweeping regulatory powers: from licensing media outlets—across print, broadcast, and digital—to granting press credentials and issuing photography permits.

Formally a government entity, WAM’s remit is not limited to news production; it is also a tool of soft power, used to shape international perceptions of the UAE’s leadership, foreign policy, and development model.

Source of funding and budget

While WAM generates limited revenue from licensing and the syndication of content, the majority of its funding comes directly from the state budget. Precise figures remain undisclosed, as the agency does not publish financial statements. According to journalists and UAE media observers interviewed in May 2024, state subsidies remain critical to sustaining the agency’s operations.

In 2024, WAM expanded its multimedia capabilities and foreign bureaus, part of a broader government effort to bolster the UAE’s international media presence ahead of Expo 2025 and in line with Abu Dhabi’s long-term soft power strategy.

Editorial independence

WAM’s editorial output closely mirrors the interests and messaging priorities of the Emirati state. As a government agency under the direct influence of the NMC, its reporting is neither autonomous nor independently overseen.

A targeted content analysis conducted for this report—sampling WAM’s output across three separate periods (1–10 December 2023; 1–22 February 2024; and 1–15 March 2024)—revealed a consistent pattern: coverage was heavily weighted toward reporting on government initiatives, royal decrees, and official state visits, with minimal space allocated to dissenting voices, civil society perspectives, or investigative reporting.

As of June 2025, no statutory framework, external audit mechanism, or independent editorial oversight body exists to safeguard WAM’s journalistic independence or to hold it to account. Its editorial line remains closely aligned with government narratives, making it an exemplar of state-run media in a tightly regulated environment.

July 2025