The UAE government has issued a federal decree-law establishing and organising the National Media Authority (NMA) as a federal public entity affiliated with the UAE Cabinet. The move marks a significant consolidation of the country’s media governance, with the Authority tasked with aligning national media direction, coordinating policy across federal and local entities, and unifying the UAE’s media discourse at home and abroad.
Under the new legislation, the National Media Authority replaces the UAE Media Council, the National Media Office and the Emirates News Agency (WAM). It assumes all their functions, rights and obligations, as well as the relevant legislative texts that govern them, including those set out in existing contracts, agreements and memoranda of understanding.
The decree-law outlines a broad mandate. At its core is the development of the UAE’s strategic media tone and messaging, alongside coordination with media entities to align efforts and policies across federal and local levels. The Authority is charged with organising and advancing the national media sector, proposing policies, legislation and strategies that support its development and enhance the UAE’s global standing and reputation.
Regulation sits firmly within its remit. The Authority will propose standards and regulations to organise and license all media outlets and activities, including digital media, publishing and entities operating in free zones. Once approved by the Cabinet, it will supervise their implementation. In coordination with relevant authorities, it will also establish media content standards and monitor all media content printed, broadcast or published within the UAE, including in free zones. This oversight extends to developing, assessing and supervising the national media narrative to support a positive international image.
The decree-law also assigns the Authority responsibility for media crisis preparedness. It will develop plans and mechanisms to respond swiftly to potential media crises, working with relevant authorities to manage or resolve them. This includes strengthening professional capabilities and systems that enable early detection of crises linked to digital media threats, misleading content or fake news.
WAM will be developed under the Authority as the official channel for publishing, distributing and translating approved news. The Authority is empowered to establish a global network of correspondents and media offices, archive local and international news and press coverage, and produce news services and media content. It will also train and qualify national media talent, particularly those working with the agency, and support multilingual news distribution worldwide.
The Authority is mandated to archive local and international news and press articles as well as produce news services and media content. It is also mandated to train and qualify national media talent, especially those working for the agency, collecting and distributing news in multiple languages around the world.
Further responsibilities include licensing and accrediting foreign media representatives, overseeing official UAE media delegations abroad, and representing the country in regional and international media forums, in line with Cabinet directives.
The decree-law defines the Authority’s governance structure, including leadership roles and a board of trustees, and authorises it, subject to Cabinet approval, to establish or hold stakes in limited liability companies.
