The government-owned Emirates media publishes the Al Ittihad newspaper and owns Abu Dhabi’s radio and television stations. Another newspaper, Al Bayan, is also government-owned, as are most television and radio stations. The country’s largest English- and Arabic language newspapers, Al Khaleej and Gulf News, are privately owned. By law, the Media Council, which is appointed by the president, licenses all publications and issues press credentials to editors. Laws also govern press content and proscribed subjects. Media Council censors review all imported media for content.
On 6 October 1969 TV broadcasting in the country was started from Abu Dhabi.
Limits on media freedom are being challenged by the establishment of Dubai Media City (DMC) and twofour54 Abu Dhabi, free zones intended to attract media, service providers and businesses, as well as publishers, broadcasters, music companies, and production firms. In addition to tax benefits, companies locating there have been guaranteed that the government will not censor their news and information content, provided certain relatively liberal guidelines of taste and propriety are met.