UAE establishes National Media Authority to oversee media sector

New authority will replace the Emirates Media Council, the National Media Office, and WAM

Last updated: December 18, 2025 | 13:45

2 MIN READ

New body aims to unify media policies, strengthen reputation, and regulate content.

WAM

Abu Dhabi: The UAE Government has issued a Federal Decree-Law establishing and regulating the National Media Authority, aimed at developing the national media ecosystem, enhancing its integration with evolving media trends, and strengthening the country’s media presence regionally and internationally.

Under the decree, a federal public authority affiliated with the Cabinet will be established, enjoying legal personality, financial and administrative independence, and full legal capacity to act. The new authority will replace the Emirates Media Council, the National Media Office, and the Emirates News Agency (WAM).

The National Media Authority will assume several key responsibilities, including proposing the State’s strategic media directions and messages and coordinating with media entities to unify policies, messaging, and national media discourse. It will also work to enhance the UAE’s reputation, monitor media narratives, and manage media crises in coordination with relevant entities.

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The Authority will propose legislation regulating media outlets and activities, including digital media, set content standards, and monitor all published, printed, and broadcast material in the country, including in free zones.

Its mandate also covers the registration and accreditation of media professionals and foreign correspondents, as well as the development of WAM to strengthen its role as the official channel for publishing, distributing, and translating accredited official news. This includes regulating broadcasting, transmission, and the redistribution and use of news from local, regional, and international sources.

Additionally, the Authority will provide media institutions with local and international news, articles, reports, and images in accordance with best journalistic practices and professional ethics, supporting the national media landscape and reinforcing professional standards across the UAE.

Key mandates of the National Media Authority

Propose the State’s strategic media directions and messages and coordinate with media entities to unify policies, messaging, and national discourse.
Enhance the UAE’s name and reputation, monitor media narratives, and address media crises in coordination with relevant entities.
Propose legislation to regulate and license media outlets and activities, including digital media and those in free zones, in coordination with media entities.
Set media content standards and monitor all published, printed, and broadcast content, including in free zones.
Register and accredit media professionals and foreign correspondents, including those in free zones.
Develop WAM to enhance its role as the official channel for publishing, distributing, and translating accredited news, and regulate transmission, broadcasting, redistribution, and use of news from all sources.
Provide media institutions with local and international news, articles, reports, and images in line with journalistic best practices and professional ethics.

Abdulla RasheedEditor - Abu Dhabi

Abdullah Rashid Al Hammadi  is an accomplished Emirati journalist with over 45 years of experience in both Arabic and English media. He currently serves as the Abu Dhabi Bureau Chief fo Gulf News. Al Hammadi began his career in 1980 with Al Ittihad newspaper, where he rose through the ranks to hold key editorial positions, including Head of International News, Director of the Research Center, and Acting Managing Editor. A founding member of the UAE Journalists Association and a former board member, he is also affiliated with the General Federation of Arab Journalists and the International Federation of Journalists. Al Hammadi studied Information Systems Technology at the University of Virginia and completed journalism training with Reuters in Cairo and London. During his time in Washington, D.C., he reported for Alittihad  and became a member of the National Press Club. From 2000 to 2008, he wrote the widely read Dababees column, known for its critical take on social issues. Throughout his career, Al Hammadi has conducted high-profile interviews with prominent leaders including UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and key Arab figures such as the late Yasser Arafat and former presidents of Yemen and Egypt. He has reported on major historical events such as the Iran-Iraq war, the liberation of Kuwait, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the establishment of the Palestinian Authority. His work continues to shape and influence journalism in the UAE and the wider Arab world.