New UAE Licensing Requirements For Electronic Media Activities

The National Media Council (the NMC), the federal authority tasked with supervising all media activities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has recently issued the Electronic Media Activity Regulation Resolution (the Regulations). Under the Regulations, any individual or company carrying on 'Electronic Media activities' in the UAE is required to obtain a licence from the NMC (an Electronic Media Licence).

The Regulations apply to "all Electronic Media activities carried out within the State, including those in free zones".  Whilst the term "media activity" is not defined, the Regulations include a list of four activity types which the NMC considers to be 'Electronic Media activities' and in respect of which an Electronic Media Licence will need to be obtained.  The activities are described in the Regulations as follows: