International Media Investments (IMI)

Independent Media Investments (IMI) is a media investment company headquartered in Abu Dhabi. It owns The National, a prominent English-language daily that it acquired in 2016 from the state-owned Abu Dhabi Media (ADM). In 2018, IMI expanded its media portfolio by purchasing Al Roeya, a youth-oriented Arabic-language publication. Through a separate corporate structure, IMI also holds a 50% stake in Sky News Arabia, though the latter is assessed independently due to its distinct management and ownership setup. In addition, IMI owns a minority share in Euronews, the multilingual pan-European news channel, which is majority-owned by a Portugal-based investment fund and hence falls outside the scope of the State-Administered Media Database.

Media assets

Television: CNN News Arabic

State Media Matrix Typology

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