UAE’s Image Nation, Majid Al Futtaim and MBC partner to develop local film, TV content

The partnership will support regional projects from inception to distribution

JCDecaux wins 10-year advertising contract for Abu Dhabi’s new Midfield Terminal

Abu Dhabi’s Dhs10bn Midfield Terminal is slated to open by the end of this year

Jeddah-based newspaper Saudi Gazette stops print-run, goes digital-only

The Jeddah-based English language newspaper began in April 1976

Dubai Lynx – sessions to watch

As the region’s creative industry prepares for the annual Dubai Lynx festival, we take a look at some of the highlights at this year’s event

Saudi Arabia says has ‘nothing to do’ with Bezos-AMI dispute

Jeff Bezos accused American Media Inc of trying to blackmail him due to political pressures

Netflix begins streaming its first Emirati TV series, Justice

The 18-episode series has been produced by Image Nation Abu Dhabi and Beelink

Dubai radio presenter James Aramouni dies at 28

James Aramouni joined Shock Middle East in October 2017 as the Dance 97.8 Drive Time presenter

Netflix pulls comedy episode in Saudi after receiving complaint

The episode discussed Saudi’s role in the killing of Jamal Khashoggi

WhatsApp down for users

UAE Central Bank warns against opening fraudulent WhatsApp messages

Malicious WhatsApp messages claiming to be from the central bank are being forwarded

Up to 80% of UAE residents plan trips to take photos for social media

Survey finds 33 per cent plan and practice their poses for the photos beforehand

Dubai-based OSN CEO Martin Stewart departs, new chief appointed

OSN board member Patrick Tillieux takes over the role with immediate effect

Kuwaiti investment firm KIPCO hires Goldman Sachs for OSN sale

Dubai-based pay-TV operator OSN has been facing fierce competition in the region

Revealed: Top 10 ‘simplest brands’ in the UAE, Saudi Arabia

Google tops the UAE list, while fast food chain Al Baik takes the top spot in the Saudi ranking

Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds in Abu Dhabi for shooting ‘6 Underground’

The film’s cast and crew of over 300 people will spend 30 days in the UAE shooting at four locations

Up to 77% of UAE, Saudi Twitter users find the platform ‘trustworthy’

Users from the two countries depend extensively on Twitter for news, finds study

UAE issues new guidelines for social media adverts

Advertising for alcohol, narcotics and tobacco in all its forms is prohibited

Video of ‘fire’ on flydubai plane is fake – officials

The “fire” was just lighting on the plane’s wing, says Dubai Media Office

UAE Vice President Sheikh Mohammed reaches two million LinkedIn followers

The Dubai ruler also has nearly 9.5 million Twitter followers

UAE telecoms operator du partners with Amazon Prime Video

Streaming service Amazon Prime Video launched in the UAE in December 2016

WhatsApp down for users

Abu Dhabi police deny child kidnapping, detain sisters for posting ‘fake news’

A viral video alleged that an Emirati girl was abducted by an African woman

Indian actors Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif in Abu Dhabi for Bollywood film Bharat

Bharat is the fourth major international production to film in Abu Dhabi this year

Saudi says working with Turkey to investigate journalist’s disappearance

Jamal Khashoggi disappeared after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Tuesday

Saudi-owned MBC to introduce Persian channel

The company wants to tap the young populations of Iran and other Farsi-speaking countries

Lebanese PM affirms support to Kuwait amid media controversy over Sheikh Sabah

Lebanon-based Al-Manar TV aired an interview with a journalist who made allegations against the Kuwaiti ruler

UAE’s Vox to open cinema in Riyadh’s Al Qasr Mall

Vox has said it plans to open 600 screens in Saudi Arabia over the next five years

Saudi awards cinema licence to fourth operator

Saudi authorities plan to set up around 350 cinemas with over 2,500 screens by 2030

Dubai daily Gulf News to shut down its tabloid newspaper Xpress

There will be no staff layoffs, confirms editor-in-chief

Netflix increases some UAE prices

The company is now charging in local currency for users in the UAE and Saudi

Saudi suspends Twitter account for sharing image offensive to Canada

The move comes even as Saudi Arabia remains embroiled in a diplomatic row with Canada

Saudi awards cinema licence to third operator

Al-Rashed plan to open 30 cinemas within three years