Emirati Media Grants 3K Advertising Licenses to Applicants from 80 Nationalities

The UAE Media Council has issued over 3,000 "advertiser" permits to applicants from more than 80 nationalities, showing strong demand for the country's new media regulation framework. This system aims to empower content creators while protecting their rights and boosting trust in digital advertising.

Mohammed Al Shehhi, Secretary-General of the UAE Media Council, announced these numbers during the UAE Media Forum at Dubai's Museum of the Future. He explained that the advertiser permit responds to major shifts happening in the advertising sector right now.

The permit system regulates ads created by individuals and content creators on digital platforms. But here's where it gets interesting - it also protects both advertisers and content creators by setting clear standards for advertising practices.

Al Shehhi said the council is working with several federal agencies to create specific rules for health, real estate, and financial ads made by content creators. Anyone providing guidance or advertising content in these areas must have proper qualifications and knowledge to protect public trust.

This represents the UAE's biggest legislative overhaul in media regulation ever. The council developed this new framework between 2023 and 2025, creating what Al Shehhi calls the largest legislative development project in the country's history.

The regulatory work includes a comprehensive media regulation law, three cabinet decisions, six media policies, and several guidance manuals. The council coordinates continuously with all seven emirates to ensure efforts work together and maintain unified direction.

What makes this framework different is its flexibility and forward-thinking approach. The new system gives local emirates expanded economic powers, helping them attract global media companies and institutions. This should help the national media sector grow and diversify.

The council focuses on monitoring media content, especially foreign content, to maintain unified standards across the country. Meanwhile, most economically-focused licenses have been transferred to local authorities in each emirate.

For investors and media companies, this creates clearer pathways into the UAE market while maintaining content standards. The decentralized licensing approach means businesses can work more directly with individual emirates, potentially speeding up approval processes and creating more tailored business environments.