Dubai Media Incorporated (DMI) is the main media group run by the government of Dubai. Established in 2003, the group runs a slew of media outlets including the television stations Dubai TV, Sama Dubai TV and Dubai One, the newspapers Al Bayan and Emarat Al Youm, the radio channels Noor Dubai Radio and Radio Dubai and the news portal Emirates 24/7.
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 a company fully owned by the Dubai Government, according to information from journalists and experts covering the UAE. The company’s management is appointed by the government, the top positions being usually filled by government officials.In August 2022, Sheikh Mohammed also issued Decree No. (11) appointing Sheikh Hasher Bin Maktoum Bin Juma Al Maktoum as Chairman of DMI and Mohammed Sulaiman Al Mulla was appointed as CEO of the company.
Source of funding and budget
There is no publicly available financial data about DMI. The company funds its operations mostly through revenues from ad sales. The government offers subsidies to DMI, but they account for less than 50% of the company’s annual budget, according to journalists and experts covering the UAE.
Editorial independence
There are no editorial rules officially imposed by the government on DMI’s outlets to censor the editorial agenda of DMI’s media. However, the group is indirectly controlled by the government that imposes its editorial requirements on DMI’s media through the company’s top management that is filled with government loyalists. Although they engage sometimes in intrepid journalism, DMI’s media outlets never criticize the UAE authorities.
No domestic statue and no independent assessment or oversight mechanism that would validate the editorial independence of DMI’s outlets have been identified.
August 2023