It is UAE policy to encourage a free press, subject only to normal constraints underpinning the spiritual, moral and political integrity of the country and its people. As a result, the country's mass media enjoys substantial freedom. This has been emphasized by the recent call made by the Minister of Information and Culture, Sheikh Abdullah bin  Zayed Al Nahyan, to those working in the media, specially journalists, to discharge their  duties without fear or favor, reminding them that journalism is about seeking the truth, while at the same time correcting mistakes, or helping to avoid them.

Radio, TV, and Newspapers 

The UAE now boasts six satellite TV stations in addition to a number of other non-satellite TV stations. There are also more than seven radio stations throughout the seven emirates. The Emirates News Agency, WAM, provides news items and features related to daily events in the country for these radio and TV stations as well as local newspapers. This news is also broadcast to the outside world according to agreements signed with other international news agencies. In the field of publications, there are five Arabic and three English dailies in circulation in the country in addition to more than 160 magazines and journals published by local and national establishments, cultural centers, clubs, chambers of commerce and industry, municipalities and educational institutions.

Emirates Media Incorporated 

Sheikh Zayed issued a federal decree in January 1999 establishing Emirates Media Incorporated (EMI), an independent body attached to the Ministry of Information and Culture. The new Corporation, which will be managed in keeping with the spirit and framework of the private sector, will make a significant contribution to the progress of the country's media. The 34-article law, which has been endorsed by the Federal Supreme Council, sets out the objectives of EMI. The law stipulates that the Corporation is to be run by a board of directors, headed by the Minister of Information and Culture and comprising nine national members. The aim of the Corporation is to promote information and culture in the country, focusing on national culture and its Arab and Islamic aspects. It will also seek to encourage the development of radio and television services and to give nationals media training and encourage them to take up careers within the Corporation.

Revenue will come from printing, production, distribution, advertisement, marketing and publishing services as well as grants from other sources and re venues from investment and the sale of property. The law annuls the 1995 federal decree which set up the Emirates Broadcasting Corporation (EBC) and the 1977 federal decree which established the Al Ittihad Press and Publishing Corp, both of which have been subsumed into the new organization.

National Training Schemes 

Stressing the importance of the media's role in national development, Sheikh Abdullah called upon national students studying in the field of information to take up employment in the national media. ‘The percentage of national students working in the media at present is below our aspirations’, he said. ‘We are working hard to raise this to satisfactory levels in accordance with the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, whose constant concern is the interests of the nation and its citizens.’

In a move to attract more UAE nationals into the field of broadcasting, Sheikh Abdullah announced that Emirates Media Incorporated had formulated a new sponsorship and training programme for national students in this field. The media training scheme applies only to UAE nationals who are registered with universities in the country. They will be eligible for training in specializations required by EMI. Trainee students who have completed their studies will be employed according to their qualifications and the needs of the broadcasting station. The Ministry of Information and Culture is also reviewing a move that would make it obligatory for local mass media to employ a certain percentage of nationals as is the case in the banking sector. This percentage would gradually rise to reach over 50 per cent within a short period. Sheikh Abdullah pointed out that Emirates Media Incorporated is the only non-military institution that gives incentives to school-going UAE nationals in order to encourage them to work in the mass media sector.

New Publication 

During the last year the Ministry of Information and Culture has continued an active programme of producing high quality informative publications on the UAE, of which the annual Yearbook is an important part. Special books included a magnificent new pictorial study of the Emirates: UAE in Focus , which is a large format book of 304 pages with a unique collection of stunning photographs. The text is in English, Arabic, French, Spanish and German. Focusing the camera on the UAE of today it provides a wonderful visual record of the country at the dawn of the third millennium.

Other recent books published with the involvement and support of the Ministry of Information and Culture include Waves of Time: The Marine Heritage of the United Arab Emirates; Perspectives on the United Arab Emirates ; and the Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey. More recent books in its list include Ancient Magan: The Secrets of Tell Abraq; The Gulf Cooperation Council ; and two new books on Sîr Banî Yâs island together with the present Yearbook.

In addition to its involvement in book publishing the Ministry of Information and Culture is also active in producing posters and brochures on the UAE in a variety of languages. It  has also created two unique CD-ROMs that provide a large amount of information on the Emirates. It is involved with two major Internet web sites: the recently launched site for Emirates News Agency , WAM (www.wam-uae.gov.ae) and the long-running UAE INTERACT web site (www.uaeinteract.com ). The latter has attracted over three million hits and is a standard reference source for people worldwide who have an interest in the UAE.