Dubai to leverage more control with new media office
Posted by Savita Sauvin on January 12, 2010 at 12:15 PM
In an attempt to more tightly control its image following news of Dubai's US$26 billion debt, the Gulf Arab emirate's leader has established a new media office to handle all government-related media, Reuters reported Sunday.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum has announced a new law "to establish Dubai Media Office, which will be annexed to the ruler's court," and handle all media relations for the ruler, crown prince and government officials, by combining existing government public relations units: Dubai Press Club, Falcon & Associates and Brand Dubai, according to a statement.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum has announced a new law "to establish Dubai Media Office, which will be annexed to the ruler's court," and handle all media relations for the ruler, crown prince and government officials, by combining existing government public relations units: Dubai Press Club, Falcon & Associates and Brand Dubai, according to a statement.
The new office is "another sign of greater autocratic control," Christopher Davidson, professor of Middle East politics at UK's Durham University and author of "Dubai: The Vulnerability of Success," told Zawaya Dow Jones. "There is a growing anti-Western tinge to Dubai, especially towards the British Press."
The new media office will monitor and analyse the news published by local, Arab and international media organisations about Dubai, and also monitor the latest public opinion trends regarding events, WAM Emirates News Agency reported.
Following news of Dubai's high debts, UK title The Sunday Times was pulled from shelves Nov. 29, while its sister publication, The Times, was censored across the U.A.E. for a Dec. 5 story that criticised how Sheik Mohammed was handling the economy, according to Zawaya Dow Jones. Meanwhile, Dubai-based newspapers have begun treading lightly when it comes to the subject of Dubai's economy, with the Gulf News telling journalists to avoid using the words "default" or "bailout," an internal memo obtained by Dow Jones stated.
The new media office will monitor and analyse the news published by local, Arab and international media organisations about Dubai, and also monitor the latest public opinion trends regarding events, WAM Emirates News Agency reported.
Following news of Dubai's high debts, UK title The Sunday Times was pulled from shelves Nov. 29, while its sister publication, The Times, was censored across the U.A.E. for a Dec. 5 story that criticised how Sheik Mohammed was handling the economy, according to Zawaya Dow Jones. Meanwhile, Dubai-based newspapers have begun treading lightly when it comes to the subject of Dubai's economy, with the Gulf News telling journalists to avoid using the words "default" or "bailout," an internal memo obtained by Dow Jones stated.
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