The General Assembly of the Union of Radio and Television of the OIC Member States chose the UAE for membership in the Executive Council during its latest session held virtually. Emirates News Agency reported that the decision underscores the country’s standing in the media field and its contributions to enhancing cooperation among media institutions while boosting the regional and international presence of Arab and Islamic media. Mohammed Saeed Al Shehhi the Secretary General of the National Media Council described the election as recognition of the UAE’s advanced media model. He linked the outcome to leadership directives that prioritize investment in personnel knowledge and modern technologies.
Al Shehhi stated in remarks carried by WAM that the UAE takes pride in its selection to the Executive Council and looks forward to collaborating with fellow member states. The official emphasised converting this membership into practical steps for experience exchange content development and professional training in the media sector. He added that the country remains committed to leveraging its expertise and partnerships to back responsible media that reflects societies and cultures while amplifying their global influence. Such efforts according to Al Shehhi help shape shared media priorities and build institutions equipped for technological and professional shifts.
The OIC States Broadcasting Union established in 1975 with the approval of the Sixth Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers maintains a membership of 57 Islamic countries and operates from its headquarters in Jeddah according to the Union of News Agencies of the OIC Countries. The body functions as a platform for joint media action that promotes peaceful coexistence and collective efforts aligned with the broader goals of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Its current leadership includes Dr Amr Mamdouh El-Leithy as president alongside Saudi Minister of Media Salman bin Yusuf Al-Dosari who presides over the General Assembly and Executive Council. Recent assembly sessions have featured comparable elections with Qatar securing renewal of its Executive Council membership for the 2026-2027 term as reported by Qatar Tribune.
Union activities in the preceding year included 13 training courses that engaged more than 500 participants from 35 countries along with the launch of a news and programme exchange unit and a cloud platform for media content sharing. These initiatives form part of a broader push to advance digitisation and joint production across member states as highlighted in updates from participating delegations. The UAE’s entry into the Executive Council positions it to contribute directly to such programmes and to help set priorities for media collaboration in the coming cycle. Similar gatherings have also approved events such as Qatar’s planned hosting of the second OSBU media forum in Doha during March 2027.
Al Shehhi noted that strengthening partnerships with regional and international organisations supports the formulation of joint media agendas and the development of capable institutions. He expressed confidence that these ties will elevate the visibility and impact of member states’ media while spotlighting their cultures and concerns on the world stage. The National Media Council official further stressed the media’s role as a partner in development and a facilitator of dialogue among peoples. This perspective aligns with the union’s longstanding mandate to foster professional standards across broadcasting entities in the Islamic world.
Membership in the Executive Council grants the UAE a voice in guiding the union’s strategic direction including decisions on training exchanges and content initiatives that serve 57 member nations. The virtual format of the October 5 2026 assembly allowed broad participation from media officials across the OIC bloc and produced outcomes that reinforce collective media resilience amid evolving global challenges. Al Shehhi’s comments following the vote reaffirmed the UAE’s dedication to responsible journalism that bridges communities and advances cross-cultural understanding. Officials from other elected members including Egypt which secured re-election have echoed comparable commitments in parallel announcements.
