Law No. (8) of 2003
Establishing the
Dubai Media Incorporated[1]
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We, Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, do
hereby issue this Law.
In implementing the provisions
of this Law, the following words and expressions will have the meaning
indicated opposite each of them unless the context implies otherwise:
|
Ruler: |
His
Highness the Ruler of Dubai. |
|
Government: |
The
Government of Dubai. |
|
UAE: |
The
United Arab Emirates. |
|
Emirate: |
The
Emirate of Dubai. |
|
DMI: |
The
Dubai Media Incorporated. |
|
Chairman: |
The
chairman of the Board of Directors of the DMI. |
|
Dubai
TV: |
A
network of TV channels known as Dubai TV, and its various economic, sports,
and other channels, including Dubai Radio Station and its branches and
affiliated corporations. |
|
Al
Bayan Newspaper: |
The
newspaper duly established and licensed in the Emirate, including its
branches and affiliated corporations. |
|
DMD: |
The
Dubai Media Department. |
|
CEO: |
The
chief executive officer of the DMI. |
|
Board
of Directors: |
The
board of directors of the DMI. |
|
Management: |
The
administrative body responsible for management of the DMI, including the CEO. |
|
Media: |
The
use of human, technical, and electronic resources for publishing,
disseminating, printing, and distributing written, digital, and audio
information. This includes, but
is not limited to, ground, satellite, and
online television and radio broadcasting; television and radio production; paper
and electronic press, printing, and publishing; and other available media and
publications. |
|
Possessions: |
The
devices, equipment, goods, materials, machines, supplies, and other property
owned, procured, or produced by the DMI. |
A public corporation named the
“Dubai Media Incorporated” is hereby established in the Emirate. The DMI will have an independent legal personality and financial
liability, financial and administrative
autonomy, and the legal capacity
required to undertake all legal acts that ensure the achievement of its
objectives. The DMI may sue and be sued in its own name and may appoint any
person to represent it in any judicial proceedings before judicial authorities.
The DMI will be managed on a commercial for-profit basis.
The DMI is hereby deemed the
legal successor of Dubai TV and Al Bayan Newspaper. All
obligations, assets, movable and immovable property, rights, and privileges of Dubai TV and Al
Bayan Newspaper, and of their branches and
affiliated corporations, are hereby transferred to the DMI. This includes any
usufruct or usage rights owned, enjoyed, or held by Dubai TV and Al Bayan Newspaper, such as distribution
rights, licensing rights, lease rights, performance rights, public transmission
rights, printing and publishing rights, reproduction rights, recording rights,
and any other relevant rights. This also includes, but is not limited to:
1. all executed
contracts and agreements to which Dubai TV or Al Bayan Newspaper is a party,
namely the contracts executed in respect of any rights or
privileges related to any channels; frequencies; broadcasting rights; or
satellite, wired, or wireless telecommunication, including those related to
ground stations, relay stations, and other associated rights;
2. all intellectual property rights,
including copyrights, rights in intellectual works, related
rights, trademarks,
broadcasting rights,
publishing rights,
performance rights, public transmission rights, reproduction rights, production rights,
recording rights,
or other rights owned, enjoyed, or held by Dubai TV and Al
Bayan Newspaper
or licensed to them. This
includes all data and documents related to any of these rights;
3. collecting any amounts or funds;
claiming rights; suing
debtors; and
taking any legal action required for protecting the property
and rights of Dubai TV, Al Bayan Newspaper, or the DMI
in its capacity as their legal successor;
4. any corporation, company, or branch
wholly or partially owned by, or affiliated to, Dubai TV or Al Bayan Newspaper;
and
5. all documents, data, and records
related to the work and activities of Dubai TV and Al Bayan Newspaper.
The head office of the DMI
will be located in the city of Dubai. The DMI may, for the purpose of achieving
its objectives and goals, establish branches and offices within and outside of
the UAE. The DMI will have the right to
establish corporations or companies solely or in partnership with other
Government authorities, individuals, or companies, in accordance with the
relevant decisions of the Board of Directors.
The DMI aims to:
1. serve as
an advanced, leading, and pioneering media organisation that uses the latest
technologies and electronic equipment to provide the best media content while
ensuring quality production and presentation with a view to building up the DMI
reputation in the fields of television, radio, and journalism;
2. develop plans and strategies aimed
at developing television and radio production, and journalism; and at
developing, in general, media-related work and relevant fields, means,
concepts, and functions in the Emirate;
3. support and contribute to the
Government's general plan to develop all areas of the Emirate's economy by
developing a sense of national responsibility, promoting and preserving the UAE
cultural heritage, promoting the Emirate as a global economic and tourism hub,
and raising and promoting cultural and media awareness. This will be achieved
by using the DMI media resources and outlets, employing
national media professionals, and developing and improving these resources in
cooperation with Government authorities and the private sector;
4. conduct all media activities, such as
radio, television, and journalism activities, using
all available technological and electronic means. These include, but are not
limited to, media production, publishing, printing,
marketing, advertising, and distribution;
5. establish corporations and companies
solely or in partnership with other persons; or
invest or hold shares in companies, agencies, or institutions engaged in
similar activities as those of the DMI or in activities which help the DMI in
achieving its objectives within and outside of the Emirate. The DMI may have these entities affiliated to it,
merge therewith, or acquire them;
6. provide media-related services and
consultancy; conduct studies and research on the media profession; and propose
laws as required for the development of
media-related work and media organisations, and for the protection of
intellectual property rights and other media-related rights;
7. own, take lease of, or lease
out movable and immovable property, as may be required to achieve its
objectives; and dispose of that
property in any legal manner; and
8. conduct all activities related to
the DMI business and objectives, including engaging in
commercial, industrial, and financial activities; and investing and using funds
in various fields of media in coordination and cooperation with local and
federal government departments, international organisations, and private
entities.
a. The DMI will be managed by a Board
of Directors comprised of a Chairman and eight (8) members. The Chairman and
members will be appointed, and their remuneration will
be determined, pursuant to a decree of the Ruler. The tenure of the Board of Directors will be
three (3) years.
b. The Board of Directors will draft
its terms of reference and submit the same to the Chairman for approval.
The Board of Directors will
undertake all acts that ensure the achievement of the DMI objectives. This
includes, but is not limited to:
1. developing the organisational,
functional, and financial structure of the DMI, and
its wholly or partially owned, or affiliated, corporations and companies; and
submit the same to the Chairman for approval;
2. appointing technical and
administrative staff members specialised in media, in accordance with the
internal bylaws of the DMI; and engage consultants, companies, and other entities
specialised in media with a view to supporting the DMI in conducting its business;
3. entering into contracts and
agreements and obtaining licences as
required to achieve the DMI objectives. This includes establishing local or
international companies or corporations; or holding shares in, merging
with, or acquiring companies;
4. determining the fees and charges to be
collected by the DMI in return for the services it provides;
5. approving the activities, projects,
strategies, and plans required for the achievement of the DMI objectives;
6. obtaining the loans and financing
required for the achievement of the DMI objectives. For this purpose, the Board
of Directors may mortgage assets and property, and provide all guarantees and
security required for the same; and
7. preparing the
annual budget of the DMI and submitting the same to the Chairman for approval.
A CEO will be appointed to the DMI by the Board of Directors. The CEO will supervise the management of the DMI, administer its affairs, implement
the Board of Directors decisions, and represent the DMI in its dealings with
third parties and before judicial authorities.
a. The DMI will have an independent
budget. The financial year of the DMI will commence on 1 January and will end
on 31 December of each year.
b. The CEO will, no later than three
(3) months from the end of each financial year of the DMI, provide the Board of
Directors with a report on the activities and financial position of the DMI for
the financial year then ended, accompanied by the
auditor’s report.
c. One or more auditors, from
amongst the audit firms licensed in the UAE, will be
appointed to the DMI by the Board of Directors for a renewable term of one (1)
year. The
remuneration of auditors will be determined by the Board of Directors.
The financial resources of the
DMI will consist of:
1. financial support allocated by the
Government to the DMI;
2. revenues generated from the DMI activities and services;
3. returns on investments realised by
the DMI from its projects;
4. aids and gifts provided by others and approved by the Board of Directors to support the
financial resources of the DMI with a view to achieving its objectives in
accordance with the laws and bylaws in force in the UAE;
5. proceeds
from commercial advertisements;
6. proceeds
from the sale and lease of the DMI property and rights; and
7. any other revenues realised by the
DMI through conducting its activities under
this Law.
The DMI will be exempt from
all taxes and customs duties on all its imports that are required for its business and for the achievement of its objectives.
Any provision in any other law will be repealed to the extent that it contradicts the provisions of this Law.
This Law will be published in
the Official Gazette and will come into force on the day on which it is
published.
Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Ruler of Dubai
Issued in Dubai on 15 July 2003
Corresponding
to 15 Jumada al-Ula 1424 A.H.
©2021
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.