A report in Al-Nashra stated that the Saudi Crown Prince expects all Saudi media companies to operate from home ground.
News channels Al Arabiya and Al Hadath, both part of MBC Group, will begin transferring their operations from Dubai to Saudi Arabia starting this month based on instructions from Saudi Crown Prince HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), according to reports in various newspapers. The Saudi government has a 60% stake in MBC Group as of 2018.
A report in Al-Nashra stated that the transfer is expected to take place in three phases, with phase one scheduled for this September and phase two in January, when production within Riyadh must reach at least 12 hours. A date has not been confirmed for the third phase although this period will include concluding existing contracts with staff and creating new ones.
The report added that the Saudi Crown Prince expects all Saudi media companies to operate from home ground. In a parallel move, His Highness also announced on Monday that no government contracts will be awarded to companies that do not have a regional HQ based in Saudi Arabia.
BroadcastPro ME has reached out to Al Arabiya for comment.
