UAE President appoints new chairman, vice chairman of National Media Authority
New authority to unify the country’s media policy and strategy
ABU DHABI – UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has issued two Federal Decrees appointing Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed as Chairman of the National Media Authority and Mohammed Saeed Al Shehhi as Vice Chairman.
The appointments mark a major step in the UAE’s ongoing media governance reforms, consolidating policy, regulation, and national messaging under a single entity.
Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed previously chaired the UAE Media Council and the National Media Office. He has held senior leadership positions in media, healthcare, and energy sectors. Mohammed Saeed Al Shehhi served as Secretary-General of the UAE Media Council and has experience in media, specialised zones, and sports administration.
National Media Authority
The National Media Authority has been established as a federal public entity affiliated with the UAE Cabinet, absorbing the functions of the UAE Media Council, the National Media Office, and the Emirates News Agency (WAM). All related legislative texts, contracts, agreements, and memoranda of understanding have been transferred to the new body.
The Authority is tasked with strategic media planning, proposing national media tones and messaging, and coordinating with federal and local media entities. Its mandate also includes developing policies, legislation, and strategies to strengthen performance across traditional, digital, and emerging media platforms while enhancing the UAE’s global reputation.
Regulation framework
Regulation and licensing form a key pillar of the Authority’s role. It is authorised to propose standards for all media outlets and activities, including digital media, publishing, and entities in free zones. Once approved by the Cabinet, the Authority will supervise implementation, establish content standards, and monitor compliance across all platforms in the UAE.
The Authority is also charged with observing media output, supervising national media narratives, and ensuring content aligns with approved standards. This includes monitoring print, broadcast, digital, and free zone media to safeguard consistency and integrity.
Crisis preparedness
A central focus of the Authority is rapid response to media crises. It will implement mechanisms to detect digital media risks, counter negative or misleading content, and respond to emerging threats. Strengthening professional capabilities and resilience across the media ecosystem is a core objective.
The Authority is also responsible for developing WAM as the UAE’s official channel for news collection, distribution, translation, and global outreach. It will train national media talent, archive news content, and establish an international network of correspondents and offices to support official communication.
Governance structure
The decree-law outlines a comprehensive governance framework, including the powers of the Chairman, the appointment of a Vice Chairman, and the formation of a board of trustees. It allows the Authority to establish or hold shares in companies, register and accredit foreign media representatives, and represent the UAE in regional and international media forums in coordination with relevant authorities.