The emirate of Fujairah, following in the footsteps of neighboring Dubai, has established Fujairah Media, which includes a “Creative City” for TV channels, radio stations, newspapers and additional media services. The project, a joint venture between the emirate’s Fujairah Investments and private firm Arab International Media Services is reported to have attracted $50 million in investments, with the first phase of the project slated for completion in 2007. The Creative City is expected to comprise seven phases: an audio visual zone, cinema zone, publishing zone, theatrical arts, design and technology, and training and production. “Developments will depend on uptake and commercial success,” said Mekki Abdulla, director of radio and marketing. To attract companies to the Creative City, located on the new Fujairah highway, firms will be entitled to a tax free status and complete foreign ownership – a strategy that has proved highly successful for the Dubai Media City (DMC).
“We don’t see ourselves as competing with the Dubai Media City. The DMC focuses much more regionally and internationally, we go the other way around, local, regional and international,” Abdulla told MEB. “We focus on smaller businesses and freelancers, creating a haven for intellectual property rights. We see ourselves as complementary and we see ourselves as diverse, not just media.”
Four TV stations are to launch from the city this year: Zoal TV, an Arabic language channel targeted at Sub-Saharan Africa and Sudan; Eez TV, a theme channel on falcons and horses, Marina TV, specializing in yachts and marine life and Dunia TV a family channel.
On the longer term, plans include launching 10 regional satellite TV channels as well as local digital TV channels, according to Abdulla. “We believe TV in the UAE is almost dead because of a lack of quality local content. Digital will be more popular locally,” he added.
Fujairah Media has also established Jebelcom, reportedly the first terrestrial Digital Broadcasting (DVB-H) platform in the Middle East, offering both free and pay-per view TV, and interactive TV and mobile services. Fujairah Media started broadcasting an Arabic language commercial radio station called “FM” in December. The station has access to almost 100 correspondents and journalists globally through an alliance with Radio Monte Carlo (Moyen Orient) and Radio Soleil.