UAE Media Council Unveils New HQ in Dubai Internet City
The UAE Media Council, under the leadership of Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed, Chairman of the National Media Office and Chairman of the UAE Media Council, has officially inaugurated its new headquarters in Dubai Internet City. This significant development represents a pivotal step toward creating an agile, future-focused media landscape aligned with national goals. The inauguration marks a turning point not only in the Council’s operational strategy but also in its broader ambition to transform the UAE into a global media innovation hub.
With the media industry undergoing rapid transformation driven by technology and content consumption shifts, this new facility is more than a physical relocation. It embodies the Council’s proactive approach to policy modernization, talent development, digital innovation, and international cooperation. Dubai Internet City, known globally as a magnet for technology and creative enterprises, provides the ideal ecosystem for the Council’s ambitious media reform agenda.
Strategic Location Enhancing Global Media Presence
The decision to position the Council’s headquarters in Dubai Internet City reflects a calculated move to place the organization at the center of a globally recognized innovation and media zone. The area is home to leading media houses, tech firms, startups, and content creators. This strategic positioning gives the Council immediate access to a vibrant network of professionals, resources, and international best practices.
Being located in a space that fosters creativity and experimentation allows the Council to interact directly with pioneers in artificial intelligence, immersive storytelling, and data-driven communication. These proximity advantages will facilitate cross-sector partnerships and bring new dynamism to policy development, content regulation, and talent incubation efforts. It aligns with the UAE’s ongoing transformation into a global leader in the creative economy.
Leaders United at the Inauguration
The headquarters’ opening ceremony was attended by a host of influential figures, demonstrating strong support across the public and private sectors. Mohammed Saeed Al Shehhi, Secretary-General of the UAE Media Council, was joined by Maitha Majed Al Suwaidi, Executive Director of the Media Strategy and Policy Sector. From TECOM Group, Abdulla Belhoul, CEO, along with Majed Al Suwaidi, Managing Director of Dubai Media City, and Ammar Al Malik, Executive Vice President of Commercial Leasing, also participated. The presence of such senior leadership signified a collective endorsement of the Council’s forward-looking media vision and its role as a catalyst for industry growth and modernization.
A Future-Ready Media Facility
The new headquarters is purpose-built to meet the evolving demands of the media landscape. Designed to offer both flexibility and functionality, the workspace integrates collaborative zones, innovation labs, and digital-first infrastructure. It supports the Council’s need for rapid policy adaptation and cross-departmental coordination.
During his tour of the facility, Chairman Abdulla Al Hamed highlighted the significance of creating an environment conducive to strategic thinking, operational efficiency, and human capital investment. The layout of the headquarters supports seamless communication between strategy teams, regulatory units, and outreach programs. It also reflects a commitment to environmental sustainability and technological integration.
Building on a Vision of National Empowerment
At the heart of the UAE Media Council’s mission is the goal to empower Emirati talent and place them at the forefront of the media sector. Abdulla Al Hamed, in a meeting with staff during the inauguration, emphasized that the new headquarters is not just a workplace. It is a platform for nurturing national talent, promoting creativity, and placing human capital at the core of media development.
The Council is committed to identifying, training, and enabling the next generation of Emirati media professionals. It aims to build an ecosystem where local content thrives, creative freedom is encouraged, and policy frameworks are adaptable to new media realities. The Council’s physical presence in a globally integrated media hub symbolizes its intent to balance national identity with global standards.
Accelerating Media Policy and Sector Reform
The inauguration sets the stage for the UAE Media Council to accelerate its efforts in crafting a new era of media policy reform. Abdulla Al Hamed outlined the need for all departments to maintain the momentum gained since the Council’s formation and step up implementation in key areas.
Particular focus is now placed on translating the national media strategy into actionable programs. These include streamlining media licensing through digital platforms, updating regulatory codes to reflect emerging formats like digital broadcasting and podcasting, and developing integrated services that support ease of business for startups and large media organizations alike.
The Council aims to create a legislative ecosystem that not only safeguards content integrity but also encourages innovation. Policies are being designed to strike a balance between openness and accountability, enabling new ideas to flourish while maintaining ethical and cultural boundaries.
Driving Innovation and Local Content Creation
One of the primary ambitions of the UAE Media Council is to foster a culture of creativity and to support the production of original Emirati content. The new headquarters is envisioned as a creative nucleus that brings together media practitioners, entrepreneurs, academics, and policy-makers to jointly develop strategies for content creation, storytelling innovation, and audience engagement.
The Council will initiate talent accelerators, funding opportunities, and strategic partnerships to elevate the quality and visibility of UAE-produced media. Through collaboration with schools, universities, and private-sector incubators, the Council plans to embed media skills in early education, preparing a future-ready workforce that can navigate and shape the global media landscape.
Moreover, the headquarters will serve as a staging ground for creative experimentation, where new formats such as virtual reality, interactive journalism, and AI-driven narratives can be tested, refined, and scaled for regional and global audiences.
Strengthening Institutional Capability and Global Competitiveness
With a future-ready facility now operational, the UAE Media Council is better positioned to build strategic alliances and participate more actively in international media forums. The Council is taking steps to establish itself as a global thought leader in digital media regulation, ethics in journalism, and innovative communication.
Part of this global outlook involves creating structured engagement with international content producers, regulators, and institutions. By exchanging knowledge, standards, and practices, the UAE Media Council seeks to influence global media discourse while also reinforcing its domestic excellence.
The Council’s enhanced institutional capacity allows it to expand its research functions, develop real-time monitoring frameworks, and offer in-depth analytics that guide regulatory decision-making. It is also working on building its presence across major global indices and media rankings to showcase the UAE’s progress and leadership in shaping the future of information dissemination.
A Hub for Collaboration, Research, and Policy Design
Beyond day-to-day operations, the new headquarters will serve as an epicenter for high-level media research, strategy formulation, and cross-sector dialogue. Plans are in motion to establish think tanks, organize international symposia, and host forums focused on critical themes such as misinformation, media literacy, and content sustainability.
Research conducted at the facility will feed directly into legislation and strategic frameworks, helping ensure that policies are both informed by evidence and shaped by industry realities. The Council also envisions the headquarters as a neutral space for policy innovation, where private media companies, public agencies, and civil society can come together to build a shared vision for the media of tomorrow.
In the broader context, the UAE Media Council’s new headquarters demonstrates a strong commitment to transparency, stakeholder inclusion, and long-term impact. Every square meter of the facility has been designed to reflect a new era of participatory governance, where media development is no longer top-down but collaborative and community-driven.
