ABSTRACT
The media in the UAE has witnessed massive development since the establishment of the UAE Federation in 1971. From one television channel and three radio stations, the UAE now hosts more than 15 national television channels, 25 radio stations, and hundreds of broadcast outlets across several media zones, not to mention the boom in the printing industry in the UAE by the early 1990s. The UAE authorities arguably aim to employ their media (and free zone policy) to boost its soft power, while consolidating its national identity and setting the national agenda. Right from its inception, the UAE media, primarily broadcasting, has been the main organ of the state for maintaining its national culture, heritage, and traditions.
