Media City Qatar

Media City Qatar is a government-established media hub located in Qatar. It was founded in 2019 through Amiri Law No. 13 of 2019 and serves as a regulator, developer, and investor for media and creative industries.[1]

Media City Qatar operates under a specific legal framework offering certain incentives, including full foreign ownership and tax exemptions.

Location

Media City Qatar's offices are set up in Doha’s business district, West Bay. In September 2024, Media City Qatar confirmed the relocation of its permanent headquarters to Msheireb Downtown Doha.[2]

History

2019–2020

Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani officially established Media City Qatar on May 30, 2019, through Amiri Law No. 13 of 2019.[3][4] The law created a media-focused zone with its own legal personality and an independent budget.[3]

In its first full year of operation, Media City Qatar focused on establishing frameworks to attract media businesses and build partnerships. It introduced incentives similar to those offered in other Qatari free zones, including zero corporate tax for up to 20 years, full foreign ownership, and streamlined regulations. Pre-approved by MCQ, media companies can register through the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) and operate under Media City Qatar’s umbrella.[5]

2021–2023

In February 2021, Media City Qatar signed an agreement with the European news organization Euronews which agreed opening a Euronews regional office within Media City Qatar and establishing the Euronews Academy, focused on training media professionals.[6] The academy began offering courses in English and Arabic in partnership with journalism schools and local universities, and Euronews also committed to producing content from Qatar on topics such as business, culture, and current affairs.[6]

In 2022, it signed a multi-year agreement with Singapore-based Group ONE Holdings, known for its mixed martial arts and sports media platform ONE Championship, including co-producing episodes of The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition Season 2.[7]

2024–present

In 2024, Media City Qatar pursued consolidation and introduced new initiatives. In January, it signed a memorandum of understanding with the Qatar Financial Centre Authority (QFCA) to simplify the process of establishing media companies. Under this agreement, the QFC registers firms pre-approved by Media City Qatar, issuing licenses to operate in Qatar.[8] The QFC handles administrative and legal processes, such as company formation and tax matters, while Media City Qatar oversees compliance with media regulations.[8]

In February 2025, CNN and Media City Qatar officials formalized plans to establish a Middle East content hub in Doha.[9][10] Under the agreement, CNN will establish a Middle East content hub in Media City Qatar, adding to its existing presence in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, which will produce digital content and a weekly program for CNN International.[10]

In April 2025, dpa, a German news agency, expanded its operations in the Middle East and will open an office in Media City Qatar.[11]

In May 2025, Media City Qatar announced that Bloomberg Media will expand its broadcast operations in Qatar by setting up a new expanded studio in Doha.[12]

The statute classifies Media City Qatar as an entity empowered to license media businesses and issue regulations. By late 2019, the government appointed a board of directors chaired by Sheikh Abdulla bin Ali Al Thani.[13] Companies register through the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) but operate under Media City Qatar’s media rules.

In August 2024, Jassim Mohamed Al Khori was appointed chief executive officer (CEO) of Media City Qatar.[14]

Initiatives

Qatar Economic Forum

In September 2020, Media City Qatar signed an agreement with Bloomberg Media to create the annual “Qatar Economic Forum, Powered by Bloomberg,” and the first edition was held in Doha in 2021.[15] During the 2023 Qatar Economic Forum, Media City Qatar extended its partnership with Bloomberg Media through 2027.[5]

Qatar Esports Forum

Media City Qatar also hosts the Qatar Esports Forum which it established with SNRG in May 2024.[16][17]

References

  1. ^ "صاحب السمو يصدر قانوناً بإنشاء المدينة الإعلامية".
  2. ^ "انتقال مقر المدينة الإعلامية إلى مشيرب".
  3. ^ a b "Amir issues Law on Media City". 31 May 2019.
  4. ^ "Amir issues law establishing Media City". 30 May 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Qatar's media industry expands with state support and modern technology - Qatar 2024 - Oxford Business Group". 20 May 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Media City Qatar signs strategic partnership with Euronews". 3 February 2021.
  7. ^ "Group ONE Holdings and Media City Qatar announce strategic long-term global partnership". 22 June 2022.
  8. ^ a b "Media City Qatar Enters into an Agreement with QFC to Boost Qatar's Media Ecosystem".
  9. ^ "CNN launches new operation in Qatar amid regional rivalry: What we know - AL-Monitor: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012".
  10. ^ a b "CNN to expand Middle East operations with new hub in Qatar". 2 February 2025.
  11. ^ "Dpa launches editorial hub in Qatar and expands reporting from the Gulf region". 15 April 2025.
  12. ^ https://qna.org.qa/en/news/news-details?id=media-city-qatar-bloomberg-media-to-set-up-expanded-studio-in-qatar&date=21/05/2025
  13. ^ "H.E. Sheikh Dr. Abdulla bin Ali al Thani".
  14. ^ "Media City Qatar appoints Eng. Jassim Mohamed al Khori as CEO". 19 August 2024.
  15. ^ "Bloomberg Media and Media City in Qatar Announce Agreement to Develop Economic Forum".
  16. ^ "Media City Qatar and SNRG launch Qatar Esports Forum". 9 May 2024.
  17. ^ "Industry leaders discuss future of esports at Qatar Esports Forum 2025". 17 April 2025.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.