A turning point for UAE media

The last few days have been very exciting for the UAE press. From the decision taken by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to abolish jail sentences in press cases to the signing of a "Code of Ethics" on Monday.

The ambitious document, upholding freedom of expression and the right of the public to information, was signed by editors of major newspapers in the UAE. It represents a turning point in the history of the UAE media as it sets for the first time in print the rights and duties - with more emphasis on the rights - of the press and outlines our commitment to raise the standard of journalism.

To do that, the document, for example, stresses the need to "separate journalism from marketing".

Editorial content should not be influenced by marketing and business pressure, it says. It also urges protection of privacy. But it also emphasises the right of the press to publish items as long as it doesn't infringe on the personal lives of citizens.

The modern UAE expects its press to move ahead of the game. The new pact will hopefully ensure the evolution of a free press, which reflects the changes in society and provide a monitoring tool to sustain transparency and accountability in the development process.