Federal Decree by Law Concerning Media Regulation

Media always plays an important role in the country’s economy. Therefore, media reporting shall be regulated through laws, ensuring the publication of accurate and factual reports about the country. The UAE has made recent developments in the digital world. The media in the UAE is responsible for protecting the country’s values.

Lately, the Federal Decree by Law Concerning Media Regulation has been established in the UAE. This law regulates the digital and traditional media, whether the content is based locally or globally. However, the rules and regulations for UAE media ensure transparency, ethical journalism, and protection of the national identity. The professional and trusted lawyers are consulted by media houses to ensure legal compliance on their end.

The UAE media is governed by the National Media Office (NMO). The law is regulated by the Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 concerning media regulation. The implementation of this law works for social media influencers, digital media, print, and broadcast journalism. Additionally, the law emphasizes on the freedom of expression within boundaries that may not conflict with the political or religious harmony in the country. They will make you understand the media rules and regulations, and try to help you in the case.

Every media house in the UAE has to have a license from the media regulatory authority. The media institutions have to ensure standard content, avoiding any kind of ethical misconduct during publishing or broadcasting. However, the licenses vary from the media product it is. Whether you want to have a TV channel or become a news agency, an authorisation from the media regulatory department is necessary.

The media is vast. Nowadays, social media has given freedom of expression to everyone. There are not too many rules that would ensure appropriate content online. However, the UAE media laws have become strict, preventing false publications and broadcasts: disrespecting Islamic values or other recognized religions.

• Hate speech in any form is prohibited
• The national unity and public order shall not be disrupted.
• Invasion of privacy is strictly prohibited.

Violating any of the rules above will lead to license revocation and suspension. Therefore, professional Dubai law firms shall be hired to ensure accurate protocols to open a media channel.

The advertisements are also restricted under the media laws. The commercials in the UAE should follow the ethical standards. This means any harmful substance cannot be advertised in; print, electronic, or even digital media. The endorsements for drugs, gambling, and other illegal activities are totally restricted in the UAE.

In the new era, social media influencers have to be careful about what content they are producing for the UAE audience or making it in the UAE. The sponsorships should be transparent for video content, whenever posted online or broadcast on television. However, the sponsors should not be promoting any illegal activity. Several lawyers in Dubai are hired by media houses for disputes over advertisement content.

The digital media is followed by individuals, especially seen in older as well younger generations. It allows people to talk freely on any topic they want to. From social media insights, some become social media influencers. With the passing of time, the laws for digital media have also been regulated in the UAE. Those influencers should also be held accountable for their content that is sent to the masses with just one click.

They must have a license to conduct videos online, ensuring the channel is not violating any rules of media law. If there is any breaching activity going on, there will be a heavy penalty for that. However, you should consult Dubai lawyers to avoid any kind of ethical misconduct.f

Journalists are accountable for sharing any kind of news. Whether they are disseminating information through traditional media or digital media, the access to public information is everyone’s right. Therefore, it is essential for journalists to ensure factual reporting and protect national security and the public interest.

Most importantly, journalists should not defame any person or official, nor should they invade anyone’s privacy. In fact, while reporting from the crime scene, the consent of the victim is important. The news should be verified by official sources.

Additionally, journalists should get training and awareness sessions. The legal experts in Dubai law firms can help media houses by letting them know about the rights and responsibilities of journalists and how they can avoid cases of defamation and invasion of privacy.

The media content is intellectual property. Any form of art and creative expressions come on media; therefore, the rights of the artists and journalists are protected under the UAE copyright law. As there are several kinds of violations in the media houses, such as unauthorised use of the media content, the media houses should have proper licenses and copyrights agreement through Dubai law firms.

Since the privatization of media, foreign media have come to the UAE with more media content. However, these foreign media outlets have to follow the media rules and regulations of the UAE, ensuring legal compliance. The UAE media laws are complex for the understanding of foreign media houses. Therefore, hiring Dubai lawyers would be safer for them.

The right to appeal is given to the media houses in the UAE. If they have been penalised by the authorities, then the appeal should be submitted to NMO. The right to appeal is a request for reconsideration of the case. The media entities have more than one shareholder and ownership, therefore, the case could get complex. However, the media entities should hire Dubai law firms that have already dealt with such cases in the past.