Legislation Details
- Full Title: Federal Decree by Law Establishing and Regulating the National Media Authority
- Law Type: Federal Decree-Law
- Law Number: [number] of 2025
- Issued Date: 30 Sep 2025
- Effective Date: 01 Jan 2026
- Official Gazette: No. 808
- Sector: Government Affairs
- Status: Active
- Number of Articles: 34
- Chapters/Parts: 0
- Amendments: 0
Summary
This Federal Decree-Law establishes and regulates the National Media Authority, a federal public authority with legal personality, financial and administrative independence. The Authority is tasked with proposing the UAE's strategic media directions, policies, and legislation; regulating and licensing media outlets; monitoring media content; managing media crises; and developing the Emirates News Agency (WAM) as the official channel for disseminating state news. The Authority reports to the UAE Cabinet and is led by a Chairman and Secretary-General. (Federal Decree by Law Establishing and Regulating the National Media Authority, 2025, Arts. 1-2, 4) The law aims to unify the UAE's media discourse, enhance the country's reputation, and address media crises. It is significant for businesses and individuals in the UAE as it establishes the regulatory framework for all media activities, including electronic media and publishing. The Authority's powers to propose legislation, set content standards, and monitor media will impact media operators in the country. (Federal Decree by Law Establishing and Regulating the National Media Authority, 2025, Arts. 4, 13)
What is the scope and purpose of this law?
The law establishes the National Media Authority, a federal public authority with legal personality, financial and administrative independence. The Authority is tasked with proposing the UAE's strategic media directions and policies, regulating and licensing media outlets, monitoring media content, managing media crises, and developing the Emirates News Agency (WAM) as the official channel for disseminating state news. The Authority reports to the UAE Cabinet. (Federal Decree by Law Establishing and Regulating the National Media Authority, 2025, Arts. 1-2, 4)
What are the key definitions under this law?
The law provides the following key definitions:
- State: The United Arab Emirates
- Authority: The National Media Authority
- Chairman: The Chairman of the Authority
- Secretary-General: The Secretary-General of the Authority
Any other terms used in the law shall have the meanings assigned in Federal Decree-Law No. 55 of 2023 Regarding the Regulation of Media, unless the context requires otherwise. (Federal Decree by Law Establishing and Regulating the National Media Authority, 2025, Art. 1)
What are the main obligations and requirements?
The law imposes the following key obligations on the National Media Authority: 1. Proposing the UAE's strategic media directions and public media messages, and coordinating with media entities to ensure their unification and alignment with federal and local policies. (Federal Decree by Law Establishing and Regulating the National Media Authority, 2025, Art. 4(1)) 2. Proposing and preparing policies, legislation, and strategies relating to the regulation and development of the national media sector, enhancing the UAE's reputation, and addressing media crises. (Federal Decree by Law Establishing and Regulating the National Media Authority, 2025, Art. 4(2)) 3. Proposing legislation, regulations, standards, and principles necessary to regulate and license media outlets and activities, including electronic media and publishing. (Federal Decree by Law Establishing and Regulating the National Media Authority, 2025, Art. 4(3)) 4. Setting media content standards in coordination with the concerned authorities. (Federal Decree by Law Establishing and Regulating the National Media Authority, 2025, Art. 4(4)) 5. Monitoring and following up on media content within the UAE, including free zones, and undertaking necessary procedures. (Federal Decree by Law Establishing and Regulating the National Media Authority, 2025, Art. 4(5))
What licensing, registration, or approval requirements exist?
The law grants the National Media Authority the power to propose legislation, regulations, standards, and principles necessary to regulate and license media outlets and media activities, including electronic media and electronic publishing, even those operating in free zones. (Federal Decree by Law Establishing and Regulating the National Media Authority, 2025, Art. 4(3)) The law also empowers the Authority to register and accredit media professionals and correspondents of foreign media outlets in the UAE, including those operating in free zones. (Federal Decree by Law Establishing and Regulating the National Media Authority, 2025, Art. 4(9))
Which authorities or bodies are responsible for enforcement?
The National Media Authority is established as a federal public authority that reports to the UAE Cabinet. The Authority is led by a Chairman, whose appointment and grade are determined by a Federal Decree. (Federal Decree by Law Establishing and Regulating the National Media Authority, 2025, Arts. 2, 5) The Authority may also have a Board of Trustees consisting of 3 to 8 members, including the Chairman of the Board. The Board provides advice and counsel to the Chairman and may submit proposals on the Authority's policies, strategies, and activities. The Cabinet may assign the Board to follow up on the performance of the Chairman, Deputy Chairman, and Secretary-General. (Federal Decree by Law Establishing and Regulating the National Media Authority, 2025, Art. 6) The Authority has a Secretary-General, whose appointment and grade are determined by a Federal Decree upon the recommendation of the Chairman. The Secretary-General is accountable to the Chairman for implementing the Authority's policies, strategies, and regulations, and for the proper conduct of its technical, administrative, and financial affairs. (Federal Decree by Law Establishing and Regulating the National Media Authority, 2025, Art. 7)
What rights and protections does this law provide?
The legislation does not specify any explicit rights or protections provided under this law. (Federal Decree by Law Establishing and Regulating the National Media Authority, 2025)
What are the penalties for non-compliance?
The legislation does not specify any penalties for non-compliance with the provisions of this law. (Federal Decree by Law Establishing and Regulating the National Media Authority, 2025)
What fees, charges, or financial provisions are specified?
The law outlines the following financial resources of the National Media Authority: 1. Annual financial appropriations allocated to the Authority in the UAE's general budget. 2. Gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and endowments (waqf) made to the Authority and accepted by the Chairman. 3. Any other resources generated by the Authority through the exercise of its competences. (Federal Decree by Law Establishing and Regulating the National Media Authority, 2025, Art. 9) The law also states that the Authority's funds shall be managed, and its financial and accounting affairs organized, in accordance with the applicable legislation and systems in force in the federal government. (Federal Decree by Law Establishing and Regulating the National Media Authority, 2025, Art. 10)
What exemptions or exceptions apply?
The legislation does not specify any exemptions or exceptions under this law. (Federal Decree by Law Establishing and Regulating the National Media Authority, 2025)
How are disputes resolved under this law?
The legislation does not provide any information on dispute resolution mechanisms under this law. (Federal Decree by Law Establishing and Regulating the National Media Authority, 2025)
What are the key deadlines and time limits?
The legislation does not specify any key deadlines or time limits under this law. (Federal Decree by Law Establishing and Regulating the National Media Authority, 2025)
How does this law interact with other UAE legislation?
The law references the following related UAE legislation: - Federal Law No. 1 of 1972 Regarding the Competences of Ministries and the Powers of Ministers, as amended - Federal Decree-Law No. 7 of 2020 Regarding the Establishment of the UAE Government Media Office (GMO), as amended - Federal Decree-Law No. 49 of 2022 Regarding Human Resources in the Federal Government - Federal Decree-Law No. 55 of 2022 Establishing the National Media Office - Federal Decree-Law No. 57 of 2022 Establishing the UAE Media Council - Federal Decree-Law No. 55 of 2023 Regarding the Regulation of Media (Federal Decree by Law Establishing and Regulating the National Media Authority, 2025, Preamble)
When did this law come into effect?
This Federal Decree-Law was issued on 30 September 2025 and will come into effect on 1 January 2026. (Federal Decree by Law Establishing and Regulating the National Media Authority, 2025, Issued Date, Effective Date)
Source Documents
This article analyses Federal Decree by Law Establishing and Regulating the National Media Authority for legal research and educational purposes. For the purpose of interpretation and application, reference must be made to the original Arabic text. In case of conflict, the Arabic text prevails. This does not constitute legal advice.