Saudi Arabia, Abu ­Dhabi media ­authorities ink collaboration deal

ABU DHABI: The media authorities of Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi have signed an agreement under which they seek to boost the industry regionally.
The memorandum of understanding was signed by the General Commission of Audiovisual Media (GCAM) of Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi’s Media Zone Authority (MZA), the regulatory body of the emirate’s twofour54 media zone.
The agreement aims to strengthen ties between both organizations and enhance the sharing of knowledge, according to a statement.
The two authorities will also collaborate on initiatives that will support the goal under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 reform plan to foster job creation and boost small and medium enterprises in the media sector.
The agreement was signed by Maryam Al-Mheiri, CEO of the Media Zone Authority, and Redha Al-Haidar, general director of GCAM.
“At MZA, we actively support the growth of the region’s media industry as it contributes significantly to local GDPs and is a key economic driver in supporting governments’ diversification efforts,” Al-Mheiri said.
“The new agreement with GCAM reflects our ongoing commitment to the development of the region’s thriving media landscape.”
Al-Haidar said: “The media sector is an exciting and rapidly evolving industry — rich with opportunities for the youth of Saudi Arabia to learn, grow, and express their creativity. At GCAM we’ve been taking active steps to nurture this industry as per the National Transformation Program 2020, which has seen the complete revamping of the audiovisual media ecosystem.
“We are delighted to be partnering with MZA to exchange knowledge and create opportunities in the media sector for the Saudi and Emirati youth.
“We look forward to working with the region’s leading creative hub to share knowledge, best practice, and expertise that will help us achieve the bold vision outlined in Vision 2030.”