UAE | Media

400 employees of shutdown dailies face uncertain future

A total of 400 employees on three tabloid newspapers of a Dubai-based media group were caught by surprise on Sunday when they were informed through a memo that the company had stopped functioning as of April 22.

  • By Samir Salama, Bureau Chief and Sunita Menon, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 00:00 April 24, 2007
  • Gulf News

  • The Emirates Evening Post, an English afternoon tabloid, was launched three years ago.
  • Image Credit: ronreason.com

Abu Dhabi/Dubai: A total of 400 employees on three tabloid newspapers of a Dubai-based media group were caught by surprise on Sunday when they were informed through a memo that the company had stopped functioning as of April 22.

The three newspapers are Urdu Express (morning daily), Arabiya (Malayalam afternoon tabloid) and Emirates Evening Post (English afternoon tabloid), which was launched three years ago.

The publisher, Press Centre and Art Production, posted a notice saying that the National Media Council in a letter dated February 14 instructed the company to stop printing and publishing its newspapers.

The council, a source told Gulf News, has given a three-month grace period ending in mid-May to all media firms to adjust their legal status according to the Federal Law on Press and Publications, No. 15 of 1980.

"The national media policy respects the freedom of expression, and out of its wish to have work organised in accordance with the existing laws, all bodies working in the media field in the country should abide by the law."

Employees of the three newspapers said they were taken aback by the news.

They said the company had given them three options. They could either go on a long leave, resign or take a release.

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