The Museum of the Future in Dubai hosted the tenth edition of the Emirati Media Forum — an event that traditionally gathers everyone who shapes the country’s information agenda. The forum was held under the patronage of Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Media Council. It was attended by Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, head of Dubai’s Culture and Arts Authority.
The event organiser, Dubai Press Club, invited editors-in-chief, digital platform leaders, journalists, authors, and content creators. The award ceremony covered print media, television, radio, and digital outlets. Among the awardees was Al Khaleej newspaper, represented by Executive Editor-in-Chief Raed Barkawi.
Competition for talent
Barkawi made an unexpected statement: private media companies need more support to retain talented employees in an increasingly competitive environment. It was a rare moment of candor at an official event, where discussions usually focus on achievements and future perspectives. Yet his words hit a nerve within the entire industry.
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The UAE media market is transforming. Traditional outlets compete with digital platforms, local media with international ones, and all of them with bloggers and influencers who build audiences faster than conventional newsrooms. In this context, retaining a good journalist, editor, or video producer becomes harder. People move where pay is higher or schedules are more flexible.
This problem extends beyond the media. A similar situation can be seen in many fields, where professionals receive offers from international companies or switch to freelancing. Fresh UAE real estate news regularly highlights how housing demand has shifted: professionals are now seeking apartments with workspaces, reliable internet, and convenient transport links.
Working from home has become the norm, increasing demand for home management solutions for busy professionals in the UAE — services that help save time on everyday tasks. Media professionals, like those in other industries, face similar challenges. Their schedules are disrupted, boundaries between work and personal life blurred, and time for routine matters is scarce. Companies that offer not only salaries but also solutions for comfortable living gain a clear advantage in the competition for talent.
Private versus public
The forum emphasized the contribution of the media to the country’s development under the leadership of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The UAE presents its development model as a source of inspiration for other nations, and the media plays a visible role in that vision.
However, Barkawi’s statement raises an important question: can private publications compete on equal footing with state-backed structures that have access to larger budgets?
- Public media receive funding, technology, and infrastructure.
- Private outlets rely on advertising and subscriptions — unstable sources of income in an era when readers are used to free content.
- A talented journalist can choose between a newsroom with limited resources and a large government media organization offering higher pay and better conditions. Or even move to the commercial sector, where their skills are equally valued — in copywriting, PR, or content marketing.
- Private publications find themselves in a difficult position: they must offer competitive salaries while surviving in an advertising market that has long shifted toward social networks and search engines.
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The tenth media forum became not only a celebration of achievements but also a reminder of the challenges ahead. Private media outlets need systemic support if the country wants to preserve diversity of voices and competition of ideas. Otherwise, the market risks becoming a monopoly of large players, making it increasingly difficult for independent publications to survive.
