UAE Media / Entertainment LawCabinet Resolution No. (22) of 2017 Regarding Licenses for Media Related Activities

Article (1) Definitions For the purposes of this Resolution, the following terms and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed thereto, unless the context otherwise indicates: State : United Arab Emirates. Council : National Media Council. Board Chairman : Chairman of the Council’s Board of Directors. Authority : Telecommunications Regulatory Authority. Media Activities : Any activities relating to the production, transfer, broadcast, distribution

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Cabinet Resolution of 2017 Regarding Licenses for Media Related Activities 2 and transmission of printed, digital, audio and visual information through the media, including the press, print, audio-visual broadcasting and film activities, and any other relevant activities specified by the Council. The Media : The means used for the transfer of any media activities of all types and forms, including electronic or any other information technology means. Electronic Media : It is the media activity that is practiced through electronic publishing tools and means. Person : The natural or judicial person. Publication : Any writing, drawing, musical piece, photograph or other means of expression in any material, whether it is printed, audio or visual, if it can be circulated in any way, including electronic or digital ways, or any other technical means. Media content : Any information or messages, express or implied, contained or referred to, directly or indirectly, by the publication of any kind whether broadcast directly or recorded and then broadcast, or re-broadcast or delivered to the public by any means, including but not limited to performance, presentation, films, drama, plays, advertisements, etc. License : The permission issued by the Council to allow the practice of the media activity in accordance with the provisions of this Resolution. Licensee : The person who obtains the license in accordance with the provisions of this Resolution. Establishment : The enterprise, company or any entity that carries out the media activity. Radio and Television Activity : Any radio or television broadcasting that delivers to the public or certain categories of it signals, sounds or writings of any kind, through channels, waves, transmitters and other techniques, means and methods of broadcasting or transmission. Foreign Publication : A publication that is licensed and circulated outside the State, periodically on either regular or irregular dates. Supplement : Any of the additions annexed to a publication such as those dealing with health, culture, sports or advertising and others.

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Article (4) Requirements of the Licensee Subject to the provisions of relevant legislation, the license shall be granted under the provisions of this Resolution to any national(s) of the State or of GCC countries, and it shall be required that the applicant: 1. Does not have a license issued thereto that has been suspended or cancelled, nor has an establishment of his own been closed down; and it is required that he has never been prevented from practicing a media activity, unless the reasons for the relevant resolution or judgment have been removed, as appropriate. 2. There should not be any financial dues that he owes to the Council. 3. Should not be less than (25) years of age, Gregorian calendar. However, the requirement of age may be exempted from by a resolution of the Council. 4. Has exhibited good conduct, and enjoy good reputation. 5. Has never been convicted of an offense violating honor or trust, unless he was rehabilitated or pardoned by the competent authorities. 6. Has an appropriate educational qualification as determined by the Council. 7. Any other conditions, requirements or controls whether established by the Council or required by the nature of the activity to be licensed.

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Article (6) Requirements for License Application 1. The application for a license shall be submitted to the Council according to the forms prepared for this purpose, provided the following be complied with: a. The application should be signed by the person in whose name the license is to be issued, or by his legal representative. b. The documents specified by the Council should be attached to the application. 2. The forms referred to in subsection (1) of this article should include the following: a. Detailed data on the person requesting the license to be issued in his name and on behalf of his partners, if any. b. Nature and details of the media activity to be licensed. c. The place where the media activity to be licensed is intended to be practiced. d. The trade name of the establishment, provided that it is not inconsistent with the provisions of the legislations and public order of the State, nor shall it be identical or similar to any other name, which would be confusing. e. Any other data or studies requested by the Council. 3. Should the applicant be a national of the GCC countries or a company established in accordance with the legislation in force in any of them, the following extra conditions shall be met: a. Submit a written statement to the effect that the applicant is not prevented from engaging in the media activity in the country of which he is a national or the company was established in accordance with its legislation, as appropriate. b. The media activity to be licensed should be one of the activities permitted to be practiced

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Cabinet Resolution of 2017 Regarding Licenses for Media Related Activities 5 according to the Cabinet Resolution No. (4) of 2007 or any other resolution replacing it. 4. The license application without attaching thereto the documents referred to in this article may be decided on only in exceptional cases estimated by the Council. In such cases, the reasons for accepting the application should be given.

Article (11) Validity Period of the License and Renewal Thereof 1. The license shall be valid for a period of one year, renewable for similar periods, on condition that the application for its renewal be submitted to the Council within a period not exceeding thirty (30) days from the license expiration date. 2. The license shall be deemed cancelled after thirty (30) days from its expiration date, unless it is renewed in accordance with the provisions of this Resolution. 3. Notwithstanding the provisions of sub-section ‘1’ of this Article, the licensee may apply to renew the license for a period not exceeding three (3) years, provided that the prescribed fees are paid for each year.

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Cabinet Resolution of 2017 Regarding Licenses for Media Related Activities 7 4. The Council shall issue a resolution approving the license renewal application that is in compliance with the provisions of this Resolution.

Article (13) Obligations of the Licensee The licensee and all those who represent or work for him shall comply with the provisions of this Resolution and the relevant legislation in the State, including: 1. Adherence to the type of the media activity and all the conditions under which the license has been granted. 2. Obtaining the Council’s prior approval of any modification relating to the license. 3. Submission of any data or information requested by the Council. 4. Non-violation of the basic principles and standards of media content set out in the relevant legislation and resolutions. 5. Compliance with the instructions and controls drawn up for the practice of media activities by the Council. 6. Respecting the values of society and taking into consideration the requirements of the public interest. 7. Paying the fees and financial dues and submitting the guarantees provided for by relevant legislation. 8. Submitting the license renewal application within the specified periods.

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Article (18) General Provisions 1. The Council’s jurisdiction to issue the license shall not prejudice the licensee’s responsibility for obtaining the approvals and permits from any other entity, in accordance with the requirements of relevant legislation and resolutions. 2. Licensee may not issue any supplement to the publication until after submitting an application and obtaining the Council’s approval in accordance with the conditions and procedures established by the Council in this regard. 3. The licensee may submit a request to suspend the valid license in accordance with the conditions determined by the Council. 4. The Licensee whose license is revoked may apply for a new license only after at least (90) days have elapsed since the date of the license revocation resolution.

Article (19) Violations and Penalties Without prejudice to any penalty or procedure provided for by the relevant legislation, the Council may, in case of a violation of the provisions of this Resolution, impose any of the penalties set forth in this Article, as follows: 1. Cancellation of the license in any of the following cases: a. Provision by the licensee or his representative of inaccurate, wrong, falsified or misleading information when submitting the application for the license or thereafter. b. Failure to engage in the licensed media activity within sixty days from the date of issuing the resolution to approve the license application. c. Cessation of the practice of the licensed media activity for sixty days, whether consecutive or separate, in one single year without obtaining the Council’s approval to do so. 2. Closure of the establishment for a period not exceeding six (6) months renewable, in case of violation of the provisions of any of the articles (3), (12) and (13) of this Resolution. 3. Closing down the unlicensed establishment permanently.

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