Ahmed bin Mohammed directs to double the media sector’s contribution to Dubai’s GDP from 1.4% to 3% by 2033.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Media Council, chaired the council meeting, where the key performance indicators for Dubai media during the next phase and the most important targets for the sector were presented in line with the comprehensive development process that Dubai is witnessing with the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, “may God protect him,” and contributes to achieving the ambitious strategic goals of various vital and major sectors, including the media sector.

His Highness stressed that the media is an important industry and that there is a great opportunity to double its contribution to the economic development process in Dubai. His Highness said: “The media sector is able to participate in achieving the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33… by doubling its contribution to the emirate’s domestic product… Our goal is to activate this role by strengthening the partnership between the government and private sectors… We have a clear mission to provide all the capabilities that support media institutions and companies within a framework of good governance and clear business rules that help them carry out their mission and guarantee them opportunities for growth and success.”

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum directed the Dubai Media Council to work to increase the media sector’s contribution to Dubai’s gross domestic product from 1.4% to 3% by the year 2033, stressing that the next stage requires continuing to enhance innovation in various media initiatives and projects, continuing to invest in young national competencies, and providing them with a supportive environment to enable them to develop qualitative content that reflects Dubai’s status and leadership.

His Highness stressed the importance of accelerating the digital transformation of Dubai media, stressing that the media within its digital environment plays an important role with a wide scope of influence in terms of enhancing community awareness, supporting Dubai’s future plans, and consolidating its influential global presence, which requires the development of innovative tools and solutions that keep pace with the global technological revolution and meet the aspirations of the audience of recipients, whether inside or outside the country.

During the meeting, His Highness followed an explanation of the performance indicators developed by the Council for the media sector in Dubai up to the year 2033, in light of what has been achieved so far within the paths covered by these indicators, which relate to the media sector’s contribution to the emirate’s gross domestic product, and enhancing Dubai’s exports of media products while benefiting from the significant expansion of digital platforms, and in light of the establishment of the film and electronic games committees, which enhances the chances of achieving tangible successes in this field. The performance indicators also included targets for attracting foreign direct investment, and the necessary incentives. So.

Performance indicators also include enhancing local production of ownership, in addition to developing private media companies and enhancing their chances of success, as well as increasing incentives that attract talent and supplying the media sector with more distinguished competencies based on the growing position of Dubai among the cities that attract talent globally, in addition to the strategic communication index in light of the expansion of Dubai’s circle of influence in the digital environment and the expansion of the circle of followers of news and information issued by the Dubai Government Media Office, and targeting higher rates of spread regionally and globally.

For her part, Her Excellency Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Vice President and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council, reviewed the great positive results of the transfer of powers to regulate the media sector in the Emirate of Dubai to the Council, in accordance with the provisions of Law No. (29) of 2024 regarding the Dubai Media Council, which granted it more powers while expanding its scope of competence to implement plans to develop the media sector in Dubai in an effective manner characterized by efficiency and speed of performance and keeping pace with rapid global development, reaching the highest levels of competitiveness according to the highest standards.

Her Excellency explained that the Dubai Media Council assuming its responsibilities as the main official body concerned with regulating media activities in the emirate, issuing permits and licenses for those activities, and ensuring that they are compatible with authentic Emirati culture, traditions, and values, contributes to strengthening the Council’s efforts in consolidating Dubai’s position as a center for media creativity and a destination for creative people who are able to enrich its media message in accordance with specific professional rules and clear regulatory frameworks.

In turn, His Excellency Nihal Badri, Secretary General of the Dubai Media Council, explained that the Council focused during the year 2025 on cooperation with the academic sector and important local and international universities, to discuss the future of media policies and ways to develop young talents. The Council also launched the first edition of the Dubai Film and Electronic Games Forum within the Arab Media Summit 2025, and the Council began strengthening its business governance and developing its organizational structure by establishing two new committees affiliated with it, which are the “Dubai Film Sector Development Committee” and the “Dubai Games Committee.” “Electronic”.

With regard to supporting talents and refining professional and professional skills, Her Excellency indicated that the Council will implement during the year 2025 the “Media Leaderships Programme” within its first batch, and the “Media Knowledge Exchange Programme” aimed at learning about the best global experiences in the field of media work to benefit from them in developing Dubai media, while the Council continues to enhance the goals of the “Emirati Media Talent Pledge” and train media talents and media students, while the year 2025 witnessed more efforts to strengthen cooperation with the most important Arab and international media institutions.

During the meeting, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum approved the integrated digital strategy for Dubai Media Incorporated and its multi-track network. His Highness was briefed on the progress made in the field of digital transformation for the institution, and listened to an explanation about the main components supporting this transformation, including the “Awan” platform, which represents the digital application of the corporation’s television broadcast content, and the objectives of its development in light of a comprehensive study prepared in cooperation with local and international experts, and the capabilities supporting the expansion of its audience. Locally and regionally, and achieving the widest possible spread at the Arab and global levels.

Dubai Media Incorporated provided an explanation of the main pillars of the corporation’s digital strategy, foremost among which are advanced content and the production of original works, partnership with technology pioneers and its most important developers, and a vision based on a comprehensive analysis of the media market and global practices.

The Foundation presented the objectives of the strategy regarding enhancing digital identity with Emirati content of a global nature, by presenting a local narrative that reflects Emirati identity and culture and celebrating heritage and innovation, with a focus on youth and producing content suitable for digital platforms, and paying attention to new and increasingly widespread digital media forms, including podcasts, and other ways to enhance the presence of Dubai media in the rapidly developing digital environment.

In the context of supporting youth and the new generation of Emirati media leaders and cadres, members of the “Dubai Media Incorporated Youth” attended the meeting of the Dubai Media Council upon the invitation of the Council, as a gesture of encouragement to members of the initiative launched by “Dubai Media” in October 2025 as a commitment to creating national and specialized professional models, and in a way that supports the goals of the “National Youth Agenda 2031.”

At the conclusion of the meeting, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum met with members of the Foundation’s “Creative Makers – Emirati Photographer” program, which is concerned with preparing and qualifying the next generation of media professionals, by empowering young national competencies and training them, in accordance with the best international standards.

Also, His Highness met with members of the “Leadership Diploma” program launched by Dubai Media in cooperation with the IMI Media Academy, and in academic partnership with the International Foundation for Advanced Education and Leadership (ILLAF Train UK), to develop the capabilities of leaders of the second and third levels of national competencies in the institution.

The meeting was attended by members of the Dubai Media Council, Malek Al Malek, Hala Badri, Aisha Miran, Mohammed Al Mulla, Younis Al Nasser, Issam Kazim, His Excellency Abdullah Humaid Belhoul, Khalfan Jumaa Belhoul, and Muhammad Ali Lootah, in addition to Rashid Al Marri, as rapporteur.