Media
From The Report: Sharjah 2017
View in Online Reader

Home to the UAE’s largest Arabic-language newspaper, Al Khaleej, a growing number of local and regional television channels, popular radio stations, and a large publishing footprint in books and journals, Sharjah boasts a rich media environment. Despite all this, the establishment of media free zones in the federation’s two largest emirates in recent years – Dubai Media City and Abu Dhabi’s twofour54 – there has been a sense that Sharjah needs to up its game to continue to compete with its neighbours. To that end, the announcement in 2016 of a new media free zone to be built in Sharjah, along with plans for other media-friendly initiatives, has the potential to transform the emirate’s role in the UAE’s media landscape.

This chapter contains interviews with Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman, Sharjah Media Council; and Khalid Omar Al Midfa, General Director, Sharjah Media Corporation.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Zones of interest: New free zones for media and publishing boost sector prospects
OBG
plus

Home to the UAE’s largest Arabic-language newspaper,Al Khaleej, along with a growing number of local and regional television channels, popular radio stations, and a large publishing footprint when it comes to books and journals, Sharjah boasts a rich media environment. Despite all of this, in recent years, with the establishment of media free zones in the federation’s two largest emirates – Dubai Media City in Dubai and twofour54 in Abu Dhabi – there has been a sense that Sharjah needs…

Interview

Spreading the news: Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman, Sharjah Media Council, on improving the emirate’s media exposure
OBG
plus

Interview: Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi What efforts are being undertaken to increase Sharjah’s visibility in international media? SHEIKH SULTAN BIN AHMED AL QASIMI: Despite its many unique qualities, Sharjah is still underrepresented in the global media, especially compared to some of its neighbours. This is something that needs to change, not only because it would likely result in economic benefits in the form of increased investment flows and business activity, but also because we want…

Interview

Digitise and transform: Khalid Omar Al Midfa, Chairman, Sharjah Media City Free Zone Authority, on the transformation of media and technology
OBG
plus

Interview: Khalid Omar Al Midfa What types of private investments are being targeted in the media sector? KHALID OMAR AL MIDFA: Most of the new opportunities in the sector will be chiefly driven by platform thinking. This means that investments in technology, content and talent will be vital to future growth. We are therefore seeking companies that can enable the creation of a media platform and ecosystem. We have identified three main investment categories that foreigners can use to enter the…