Amending
Law No. (5) of 2022
Establishing the
Dubai Media Council[1]
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We, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler
of Dubai,
After perusal of:
Federal Law by Decree No. (57) of 2022 Establishing the UAE
Media Council;
Federal Law by Decree No. (55) of 2023 Regulating Media and
its Implementing Bylaw;
Law No. (15) of 2014 Concerning the Dubai Development
Authority and its amendments;
Law No. (8) of 2021 Concerning Human Resources Management of
Executive Directors/ Chief Executive Officers in the Government of Dubai;
Law No. (5) of 2022 Establishing the Dubai Media Council
(the “Original Law”); and
Decree No. (66) of 2024 Designating the Competent Authority
in the Emirate of Dubai for the Purposes of Implementing Federal Law by Decree
No. (55) of 2023 Regulating Media,
Do
hereby issue this Law.
Articles (2), (5), (6), (7), and (13)
of the Original Law are hereby superseded by the following:
The
following words and expressions, wherever mentioned in this Law, will have the
meaning indicated opposite each of them unless the context implies otherwise:
|
UAE: |
The United Arab Emirates. |
|
Emirate: |
The Emirate of Dubai. |
|
Ruler: |
His Highness the Ruler of Dubai. |
|
Government: |
The Government of Dubai. |
|
Executive Council: |
The Executive Council of the Emirate of Dubai. |
|
DMC: |
The Dubai Media Council. |
|
Chairman: |
The Chairman of the DMC. |
|
Managing Director: |
The vice chairman and managing director of the DMC. |
|
General Secretariat: |
The General Secretariat of the DMC. |
|
Secretary General: |
The Secretary General of the DMC. |
|
Media Establishments: |
The companies or other establishments that are
engaged in, and influence, the Media sector; and that are fully or partially
owned by the Government, including by the free zone authorities. |
|
Media: |
All the human, technical, electronic, and digital
resources dedicated for the transmission, dissemination, printing, and
distribution of written, digital, visual, and audio content. This includes,
but is not limited to, terrestrial and satellite television and radio
broadcasting; webcasting; digital casting; television, radio, and cinematic
production, including films and series; electronic games production; paper
and electronic press, printing, and publishing; social media; and other
present and future Mass Media and means of publication. |
|
Affiliated Entity: |
The Government Entities affiliated to the DMC
pursuant to this Law. |
The DMC will have the following
objectives:
1.
to consolidate Media efforts in the
Emirate to adopt an effective, comprehensive, and strategic Media vision at the
local, regional, and international Media levels;
2.
to develop the Media strategy of the
Emirate to enhance its position as a leading Media hub at the local, regional,
and international levels;
3.
to develop a system for measuring
the efficiency of Media channels and content; and to follow up the
implementation of Media strategies to ensure their success;
4.
to boost the competitive edge of the
Emirate in the Media sector, with a view to enhancing its regional and
international influence and serving its national plans;
5.
to protect the Emirate’s reputation
in the Media and promote its success stories;
6.
to promote the Emirate as an
international hub for young Media talents by supporting and developing Emirati
Media cadres; and
7.
to develop and promote the film and
electronic gaming industries through relevant supporting research, development,
and innovation.
a.
The
DMC is the Government Entity in charge of the Media sector in the Emirate. The
DMC is exclusively authorised to represent the Emirate
and its local entities before federal and local entities in the UAE, and before
regional and international organisations, with respect to all matters related
to the Media sector. The DMC is hereby vested with the authority to exercise
the duties and powers required for the achievement of its objectives. In
particular, the DMC has the duties and powers to:
1.
develop, and supervise the
implementation of, the general Media strategy of the Emirate and strategic
plans for the Media sector, in line with the strategic plan of the Emirate;
2.
approve the overall vision and
strategic framework of the work of Media Establishments in the Emirate, and
oversee the achievement by these establishments of the DMC objectives;
3.
establish specialised performance
indicators for Media Establishments to enhance their competitiveness at the
local, regional, and international levels;
4.
approve the strategic objectives of
the DMC, and the initiatives, projects, programmes, studies, and
recommendations that are related to the work and activities of the DMC and that
are implemented by the Affiliated Entities;
5.
coordinate, develop, and approve the
policies related to the Media sector in the Emirate;
6.
implement the strategies required
for promoting and supporting the film and electronic gaming industries at both
the local and international levels;
7.
approve the work plans and
programmes of the DMC; and review, and assess the implementation of, the same
on an annual basis;
8.
boost strategic relationships with
the local, regional, and international Media by entering into partnerships;
9.
develop relations with international
organisations and institutions engaged in Media production and distribution, by
strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation;
10. monitor
the content printed, disseminated, transmitted, and broadcast by Media
Establishments on all Media platforms within the Emirate; and take the
necessary action in respect thereof;
11. review
the fees and charges for the services provided by the Affiliated Entities; and
submit the relevant recommendations to the competent entities in the Emirate;
12. review
reports on the performance of the DMC, the committees formed by the DMC, and
the Affiliated Entities; and make the necessary decisions in this respect;
13. follow
up and supervise, in coordination with the Concerned Entities in the Emirate,
the Media management of crises;
14. support
Media Establishments and enable them to perform their role in the society in an
environment of responsible freedom and independence, while maintaining an advanced level
of professionalism;
15. approve
the Media programmes, projects, and initiatives aimed at enhancing the
Emirate's reputation in the Media and maintaining its positive image; and
supervise the implementation of these programmes, projects, and initiatives by
the Affiliated Entities;
16. approve
the projects and initiatives related to supporting, developing, maintaining,
and encouraging emerging Media talents;
17. provide
training and educational opportunities to develop and enhance the skills of
local talent; and to strengthen their design, production, and marketing
capabilities in the film and electronic gaming industries;
18. attract
local and foreign investments in the film and electronic gaming industries and
provide incentives to investors, in coordination with, and subject to the
approval of, the Concerned Entities in the Emirate;
19. promote
international cooperation in the film and electronic gaming industries through
participation in international festivals and entering into partnerships with
foreign entities;
20. approve
the creation and development of digital platforms to facilitate the production
and distribution of films and electronic games;
21. promote
local films and electronic games in international markets, and support local
brands;
22. study
and review the legislation regulating the Media sector, Mass Media, and Media
Activities; propose drafts of legislation that would support their regulation
and development with a view to coping with rapid changes in the Media
landscape; and submit the same to the competent entities in the Emirate to take
the appropriate actions in respect thereof;
23. review
the content of films and electronic games to ensure compliance with applicable
legislation and ethical standards of the community;
24. approve
specialised performance indicators for measuring compliance with the general
policies and strategic plans related to the Media sector; and make the
appropriate decisions in this respect;
25. coordinate
and cooperate with the concerned federal and local entities on making available
all information, data, and statistics that serve the development of the Media
sector in the Emirate;
26. liaise
and coordinate with the concerned federal and local entities to ensure the
integration and alignment in developing policies and programmes affecting the
film and electronic gaming industries;
27. hold
exhibitions and other events related to the Media sector and to the film and
electronic gaming industries; and organise conferences, missions, visits, and
training programmes and workshops at the local and international levels;
28. collect
data on the film and electronic gaming industries, and prepare reports
analysing industry performance and informing policy development;
29. establish
companies, solely or in partnership with other persons; and invest in, enter
into partnerships with, hold shares in, forge mergers with, or acquire shares
or stocks in, companies and corporations that conduct Media Activities or other
activities which support the DMC in achieving its objectives within and outside
of the UAE, in accordance with the legislation in force in the Emirate;
30. own
and take lease of the movable and immovable property required for the
achievement of the DMC objectives and for enabling it to perform its functions;
and
31. exercise
any other duties or powers required for enabling the DMC to achieve its
objectives, as vested in it under the legislation in force in the Emirate or
assigned to it by the Ruler or the Chairman of the Executive Council.
b.
The
DMC may delegate any of its duties and powers under paragraph (a) of this
Article to the Managing Director, to any of the Members of the DMC or of the
committees it forms, or to the Secretary General, provided that such delegation
is specific and in writing.
c.
The
functions assigned to the DMC under this Law will not prejudice the duties and
powers vested in the Dubai Development Authority
pursuant to the above-mentioned Law No. (15) of 2014, the resolutions issued in
pursuance thereof, and other legislation in force in the Emirate.
a.
A
Chairman
will be appointed to the DMC by a decree issued by the Ruler.
b.
The
Chairman
will undertake general supervision of the work of the DMC and issue the
resolutions required for enabling the DMC to achieve its objectives and perform
its functions under this Law, the resolutions issued in pursuance hereof, and
other legislation in force in the Emirate. For this purpose, the Chairman will
have the duties and powers to:
1.
approve the general policy and the
strategic and development plans of the DMC;
2.
approve the services, work,
projects, and activities that the DMC intends to perform;
3.
approve the annual budget and
financial statements of the DMC;
4.
approve the organisational structure
of the DMC and submit the same, through the General Secretariat, to the
Executive Council for final approval;
5.
approve the bylaws and resolutions
regulating the administrative, financial, and technical work of the DMC; and
6.
perform any other duties assigned to
him by the Ruler or the Chairman of the Executive Council.
c.
The
Chairman may delegate any of his duties or powers under paragraph (b) of this
Article to the Managing Director or Secretary General, provided that such
delegation is specific and in writing.
a.
The
following
entities are hereby affiliated to the DMC:
1.
the Government of Dubai Media Office
and its affiliates; and
2.
the Dubai Media Incorporated.
b.
Each of the Affiliated Entities will
retain the legal personality granted to it under the legislation establishing
it or regulating its work; and will exercise the duties and powers assigned to
it by such legislation under the financial and strategic supervision of the
DMC, provided that these duties and powers do not conflict with the functions
of the DMC.
c.
The Chairman is hereby authorised to
make all decisions related to the human resources affairs of the Executive
Directors and Chief Executive Officers of the Affiliated Entities, who will be
governed by the above-mentioned Law No. (8) of 2021 and the resolutions issued
in pursuance thereof.
d.
The Managing Director is hereby
authorised to approve the policies and strategic plans of the Affiliated
Entities, as well as any other duties or powers related thereto that may be
assigned to him by a resolution of the Chairman.
e.
The General Secretariat must
coordinate and cooperate with the Dubai Government Human Resources Department for
the purpose of appointing and placing the Executive Directors/ Chief Executive Officers of the
Affiliated Entities into the relevant approved employment bands applicable to these
positions in the Government of Dubai, prior to the Chairman’s approval of the
relevant resolutions.
This Law comes into force on the day on which
it is issued, and will be published in the Official Gazette.
Mohammed
bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Ruler of Dubai
Issued in Dubai on 10 December 2024
Corresponding to 9 Jumada
al-Thaniyah 1446 A.H.
©2025 The Supreme Legislation Committee in the
Emirate of Dubai
[1]Every effort has been made to produce an
accurate and complete English version of this legislation. However, for the
purpose of its interpretation and application, reference must be made to the
original Arabic text. In case of conflict, the Arabic text will prevail.