Newspapers of the United Arab Emirates, from Dubai to Sharjah

In the United Arab Emirates, the news is read in Arabic in Al Ittihad, Al Khaleej, Al Bayan or Emarat Al Youm, and in English in Gulf News, Khaleej Times and The National, alongside the WAM agency and news channels, almost all free online.

From the 1971 federation to the first dailies

The Emirati press was born with the federation proclaimed in December 1971. Al Ittihad, published in Abu Dhabi since 1969, is its senior title, joined by Al Khaleej in Sharjah, then by the English-language dailies Gulf News and Khaleej Times, launched in Dubai in 1978.

Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah: three publishing hubs

Each major emirate has its own press group. Al Ittihad and The National belong to Abu Dhabi, Al Bayan and Emarat Al Youm to Dubai Media Incorporated, while Dar Al Khaleej in Sharjah publishes Al Khaleej and the English-language daily Gulf Today.

What editorial line do the main dailies follow?

The national dailies closely follow the positions of the federal government and the ruling families. They differ mainly in tone and subject matter: Emarat Al Youm, launched in 2005, favours crime stories and practical services, while Al Khaleej prefers regional analysis.

English for a largely expatriate population

Foreigners make up a large majority of residents, mostly from India, Pakistan, the Philippines or Europe. Hence the weight of Gulf News, Khaleej Times and The National, founded in Abu Dhabi in 2008, which non-Arabic-speaking residents often read first.

Following South Asian communities from Dubai

Gulf editions of Malayalam newspapers from Kerala, radio stations in Hindi or Urdu and pages devoted to Indian visas serve this diaspora. To put these stories in context, the Indian press online remains the natural companion read for residents and observers alike.

24.ae, Erem News and mobile alerts

The 24.ae portal and Erem News, both based in Abu Dhabi, publish continuously in Arabic. The major dailies run mobile apps, WhatsApp channels and Instagram accounts, widely followed for weather warnings, Dubai traffic updates and public holiday announcements.

WAM, the source of official statements

The Emirates News Agency, known as WAM and created in 1976, distributes presidential decrees, official visits and cabinet decisions. Its dispatches, in Arabic, English and several other languages including French, serve as the reference point for newsrooms across the country.

Public television and news channels

Dubai TV, Abu Dhabi TV and Sharjah TV each answer to the authorities of their emirate. Sky News Arabia, an Arabic-language channel based in Abu Dhabi since 2012, covers the whole Arab world and is worth comparing with other titles of the Arab world press.

Business, finance and sport coverage

Arabian Business, published in English and Arabic, follows Emirati property, aviation and markets. The sports pages of the dailies cover the Pro League football championship, horse racing at Meydan and the Formula 1 Grand Prix held at Yas Marina.

A strict legal framework for the media

The media operate under a federal media law and the oversight of the UAE Media Council, created in 2021. Cybercrime legislation also applies to online publications, and self-censorship on political or religious subjects remains widespread among journalists and commentators.

Free access, PDF editions and paywalls

Most Emirati dailies remain free online, funded by property and car advertising. Some offer a digital PDF edition or a subscription for their archives, while printed copies are still sold in supermarkets and at petrol stations throughout the emirates.

Comparing with Gulf neighbours

To check a regional story, cross-reference Emirati titles with the Saudi press and international media. The contrast is useful on diplomacy in Yemen, relations with Iran or the Abraham Accords signed in 2020, where official framing can differ sharply.

Keeping up with UAE news from abroad

1. Pair an Arabic-language daily such as Al Ittihad or Al Bayan with an English title such as Gulf News or Khaleej Times.
2. Check WAM for decrees, appointments and federal cabinet decisions, available in several languages.
3. Install the Khaleej Times or The National app to receive alerts from Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
4. Watch Dubai TV or Abu Dhabi TV live during National Day on 2 December.
5. Compare Emirati coverage of a regional issue with that of Sky News Arabia and an international outlet.

Access and subscriptions for Emirati media

Practical pointers on the Emirates

• Languages: Arabic for national titles, English for a large share of the media
• News agency: WAM, Emirates News Agency
• Broadcasting: Dubai TV, Abu Dhabi TV, Sharjah TV, and Sky News Arabia in Abu Dhabi
• Oldest daily: Al Ittihad; English titles: Gulf News, Khaleej Times, The National
• Business: Arabian Business
• Time zone: UTC+4, no daylight saving time
• Currency: UAE dirham (AED)

Mistakes to avoid when reading UAE media

• Taking a job or visa offer circulated on WhatsApp in the name of Gulf News as information verified by the newspaper.
• Confusing Al Khaleej of Sharjah with the word Khaleej found in many Gulf media names, such as Khaleej Times.
• Reading a Sky News Arabia report as a simple Emirati dispatch when the channel covers the whole Arab world.
• Forgetting that a public holiday or rain announcement can vary from one emirate to another.
• Sharing an old video of flooding in Dubai as if it showed the latest downpour.

Common questions about the Emirati press