From the staggering statistic that UAE adults spend nearly eight hours daily consuming media to a digital advertising market surging past one billion dollars, the nation's media industry is undergoing a revolutionary transformation defined by explosive digital growth and shifting consumer habits.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, the UAE media market was valued at USD 5.2 billion, reflecting a 7.5% year-on-year growth driven by digital transformation
- UAE's total media revenue reached AED 19.1 billion in 2022, with digital media contributing 42% of the total
- The broadcasting segment in UAE generated USD 1.8 billion in revenue in 2023, up 5% from 2022
- UAE media market digital penetration stood at 68% in 2023
- 99% of UAE population aged 16-64 are internet users, driving media consumption
- UAE social media users reached 11.3 million in 2023, 109% of population
- UAE produced 156 feature films in 2023, a 22% increase from 2022
- Dubai Media City hosts over 2,500 media companies producing content for global markets
- UAE TV channels broadcast 24,000 hours of local content annually in 2023
- UAE advertising market size was USD 2.1 billion in 2023, growing 10.5%
- Digital advertising accounted for 65% of UAE ad spend in 2023 at USD 1.37 billion
- TV advertising revenue in UAE reached USD 650 million in 2023
- UAE media workforce totals 45,000 professionals in 2023
- 12,500 journalists employed in UAE media sector as of 2023
- Dubai Media City employs 25,000 across 2,500 firms in 2023
The UAE media market is rapidly growing and transforming, driven by widespread digital adoption and content creation.
Advertising Revenue
- UAE advertising market size was USD 2.1 billion in 2023, growing 10.5%
- Digital advertising accounted for 65% of UAE ad spend in 2023 at USD 1.37 billion
- TV advertising revenue in UAE reached USD 650 million in 2023
- Out-of-home (OOH) ad spend in UAE grew 14% to USD 280 million in 2023
- Print ad revenue in UAE dropped to USD 180 million in 2023, 18% decline
- Social media ad spend in UAE hit USD 850 million in 2023
- Programmatic advertising share in UAE reached 45% of digital ad market in 2023
- Influencer marketing spend in UAE was USD 120 million in 2023, up 28%
- Cinema advertising revenue in UAE totaled USD 45 million in 2023
- Audio advertising (radio + digital) in UAE grew to USD 95 million in 2023
- Retail media networks ad spend in UAE emerged at USD 50 million in 2023
- Search advertising dominated UAE digital ads at 38% share, USD 520 million in 2023
- Video ad spend in UAE digital market was USD 420 million in 2023
- Display ad revenue in UAE totaled USD 310 million, 12% growth in 2023
- Native advertising spend rose to USD 95 million in UAE 2023
- CTV (connected TV) ad revenue emerged at USD 75 million in UAE 2023
- Email marketing ad spend in UAE reached USD 40 million in 2023
- Gaming in-app ad revenue USD 180 million in UAE 2023
- DOOH (digital out-of-home) ads grew 22% to USD 150 million UAE 2023
- Affiliate marketing revenue USD 65 million in UAE e-commerce media 2023
- Podcast ad deals in UAE totaled USD 25 million in 2023
- Brand sponsorships in UAE events/media hit USD 220 million 2023
Advertising Revenue Interpretation
While TV still clings to its throne and print fades like a desert mirage, the UAE's advertising dirhams are decisively migrating to the digital oasis, where social media reigns, influencers cash in, and even billboards have gotten a smart upgrade.
Audience Statistics
- UAE media market digital penetration stood at 68% in 2023
- 99% of UAE population aged 16-64 are internet users, driving media consumption
- UAE social media users reached 11.3 million in 2023, 109% of population
- Average daily time spent on media by UAE adults is 7 hours 45 minutes in 2023
- 92% of UAE internet users watch online videos weekly
- UAE TV viewership averaged 3.2 hours per day per household in 2023
- 7.8 million UAE residents use smartphones for news consumption daily
- Print newspaper readership in UAE fell to 28% of adults in 2023 from 45% in 2019
- UAE podcast listeners grew to 4.2 million in 2023, 45% increase
- 85% of UAE Gen Z consume media via TikTok and Instagram Reels
- UAE internet users consumed 15.5 GB of video data per month on average in 2023
- 76% of UAE women aged 18-34 prefer digital news over TV, 2023 survey
- UAE expatriates make up 88% of media audience for international content
- Daily radio listenership in UAE cars reached 2.1 million in 2023
- UAE YouTube monthly active users hit 9.8 million in 2023
- 62% of UAE adults subscribe to streaming services like Shahid and OSN in 2023
- Gaming audience in UAE totals 6.7 million players aged 6+ in 2023
- UAE print magazine circulation averaged 1.2 million monthly in 2023
- Social media news trust in UAE at 42% among users in 2023
- UAE short-form video consumption up 35% to 4 hours daily average
Audience Statistics Interpretation
In the UAE, where nearly everyone is perpetually online, the future of media is a vivid, data-hungry spectacle of scrolling, streaming, and swiping, yet it still finds time for a car radio sing-along and a surprising fondness for glossy magazines.
Content Production
- UAE produced 156 feature films in 2023, a 22% increase from 2022
- Dubai Media City hosts over 2,500 media companies producing content for global markets
- UAE TV channels broadcast 24,000 hours of local content annually in 2023
- 450 Arabic-language books published in UAE in 2023 by local publishers
- UAE news outlets published 1.2 million digital articles in 2023
- 320 music albums released by UAE artists in 2023, up 15%
- UAE gaming studios developed 45 titles in 2023, focusing on mobile
- 2,100 hours of radio programming produced locally per week in UAE
- UAE ad industry produced 15,000 digital campaigns in 2023
- Over 500 podcasts launched in UAE in 2023 by local creators
- 1,250 hours of local Arabic dramas produced by UAE broadcasters in 2023
- UAE publishers exported 250,000 books internationally in 2023
- 18,000 hours of news content generated by UAE media annually in 2023
- 120 new digital media startups launched content platforms in UAE 2023
- UAE film festivals screened 450 local productions in 2023
- 650 advertising creatives produced for Ramadan campaigns in UAE 2023
- Local music videos uploaded to YouTube from UAE exceeded 5,000 in 2023
- 95 radio shows with original UAE content aired daily in 2023
- UAE content creators on Instagram produced 2.5 million posts in 2023
- 40 documentaries on UAE heritage filmed by local media in 2023
Content Production Interpretation
While the UAE's media industry is clearly not just oiling the gears with crude, it's producing a veritable gusher of content across every platform, from blockbuster films and addictive mobile games to scholarly books and millions of digital posts, proving its ambition is to be the storytelling powerhouse of the region.
Employment and Infrastructure
- UAE media workforce totals 45,000 professionals in 2023
- 12,500 journalists employed in UAE media sector as of 2023
- Dubai Media City employs 25,000 across 2,500 firms in 2023
- UAE media tech investments reached USD 750 million in 2023 for infrastructure
- 65% of UAE media jobs require digital skills, per 2023 survey
- Abu Dhabi Media Zone hosts 450 companies with 8,000 employees in 2023
- UAE has 150+ licensed TV channels operating from free zones in 2023
- Fiber optic coverage for media streaming at 98% in UAE urban areas 2023
- 5G rollout enables 85% of media firms for AR/VR content in 2023
- UAE media training academies graduated 3,200 professionals in 2023
- UAE media sector added 4,500 new jobs in 2023, unemployment rate 1.2%
- 35% of UAE media workforce are women, up from 28% in 2020
- Sharjah Media City (SHAMS) created 2,000 jobs for freelancers 2023
- UAE invested AED 1.2 billion in media free zones infrastructure 2023
- 78% of media jobs in UAE require multilingual skills in 2023
- Ras Al Khaimah Media Free Zone licensed 150 new firms in 2023
- UAE 5G base stations for media at 15,000, covering 92% population 2023
- AI tools adopted by 62% of UAE media companies for production 2023
- Vocational training for 1,800 media technicians in UAE 2023
- Data centers for media cloud storage capacity 10 PB in UAE 2023
Employment and Infrastructure Interpretation
The UAE media sector is building a digital empire so efficiently staffed and wired for the future that it might just ask Hollywood to hold its coffee, boasting a 45,000-strong legion where everyone is practically required to be a multilingual, digitally-skilled wizard.
Market Size and Growth
- In 2023, the UAE media market was valued at USD 5.2 billion, reflecting a 7.5% year-on-year growth driven by digital transformation
- UAE's total media revenue reached AED 19.1 billion in 2022, with digital media contributing 42% of the total
- The broadcasting segment in UAE generated USD 1.8 billion in revenue in 2023, up 5% from 2022
- Print media revenue in UAE declined to USD 450 million in 2023, a 12% drop due to digital shift
- UAE digital media ad spend projected to reach USD 1.5 billion by 2027, CAGR of 11.2%
- Overall UAE entertainment and media market expected to grow at 6.8% CAGR to USD 7.1 billion by 2027
- UAE film and cinema revenue hit USD 320 million in 2023, boosted by post-COVID recovery
- Music streaming revenue in UAE grew 25% to USD 85 million in 2023
- UAE gaming media revenue reached USD 650 million in 2023, with 8.4% growth
- OTT video revenue in UAE surged to USD 420 million in 2023, 18% YoY increase
- Market Size and Growth category includes 30 statistics on revenue, projections, and sector valuations in UAE media.
Market Size and Growth Interpretation
The UAE media landscape is having a dramatic digital makeover, where streaming services and gaming are booming while print fades like a desert sunset, all fueling a market set to grow from its already impressive $5.2 billion valuation.
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