The National Media Authority was established by Federal Decree-Law No. (11) of 2025 as a federal public authority affiliated with the UAE Cabinet. It enjoys legal personality, as well as financial and administrative independence, and possesses the necessary legal capacity to undertake all legal acts and actions required to achieve its objectives and implement its mandates. Under this decree, the Authority replaces the UAE Media Council, the National Media Office, and the Emirates News Agency (WAM) in all of their functions, rights, and obligations.

Mandates of the Authority

The National Media Authority shall assume the following mandates:

• Propose the State’s strategic media orientations and public media messages, and coordinate with media entities across the UAE to ensure the unification of such orientations and messages, align media policies at the federal and local levels, unify the State’s media discourse domestically and internationally, and submit them to the Cabinet for approval.
• Propose and develop policies, legislation, and strategies related to regulating and developing the national media sector, enhancing the State’s name and reputation, and addressing media crises faced by the State, in coordination with relevant authorities, and supervise their implementation following Cabinet approval.
• Propose legislation, regulations, standards, and frameworks necessary to regulate and license media outlets and media activities, including digital media and electronic publishing, encompassing those operating in free zones, and supervise their implementation following Cabinet approval.
• Establish media content standards in coordination with relevant authorities.
• Monitor and track all printed, published, and broadcast media content within the State, including free zones, as well as information related to public opinion trends concerning the State, analyze such content, and take the necessary actions in accordance with applicable legislation.
• Prepare, assess, and monitor the State’s media narrative and contribute to enhancing its positive image.
• Develop and implement programs, mechanisms, and measures necessary to manage media crises facing the State, propose appropriate solutions to address or contain them in coordination with relevant authorities, and develop professional capabilities, mechanisms, and applications that support the national media ecosystem for early detection of crises arising from digital media threats, negative media content, and/or media disinformation.
• Provide support and advisory services to relevant authorities in all matters related to media affairs, contributing to raising national awareness and ensuring the availability of appropriate information to address media crises.
• Register and accredit journalists and correspondents of foreign media outlets operating in the State, including those based in free zones.
• Develop strategic partnerships with regional and international media institutions.
• Develop the Emirates News Agency (WAM) as one of the Authority’s sectors and as the official national channel supporting the dissemination, distribution, and translation of approved official State news.
• Regulate the transmission, broadcasting, redistribution, and use of news content received from various local, regional, and international sources, in line with the State’s media policy domestically and internationally, in a manner that supports and highlights the concept of national unity.
• Provide newspapers, publishing houses, contracted news agencies, radio and television stations, as well as individual and institutional subscribers and social media platforms, with news, articles, reports, and local and international images in accordance with best journalistic practices and professional ethics.
• Process, edit, and publish news and journalistic materials in Arabic, English, and any other required languages, including linguistic review and proofreading.
• Receive, collect, and transmit local and international news, images, and journalistic content through a qualified network of correspondents.
• Contract with a global network of correspondents, establish local and international offices subject to approval, and supervise their operations.
• Manage and lead media delegations accompanying official visits, and coordinate such visits with relevant authorities, based on mandates issued by the Cabinet.
• Archive local and international news and journalistic content, and provide paid news services and media content.
• Train and qualify national media professionals, particularly those involved in news gathering and distribution in multiple languages worldwide.
• Represent the State in media capacities at regional and international levels, and at media conferences and events inside and outside the State, as mandated and in coordination with relevant authorities.
• Establish and regulate a comprehensive database of information and data related to the Authority’s mandates, in coordination with relevant authorities, and ensure integration and data exchange.
• Conduct specialized studies and research in areas related to the Authority’s mandates, and analyze phenomena, risks, and trends related to the State’s interests and priority areas.
• Exercise any other mandates assigned to it pursuant to applicable laws, regulations, or Cabinet-issued resolutions.