The American news agency “Bloomberg” revealed that Saudi news networks such as “Al-Arabiya” and “MBC” affiliated with Prince “Muhammad bin Salman” are leaving Dubai and returning to Riyadh.
According to Pak Sahafat International Group, quoted by Rai Al-Youm newspaper, disputes between Saudi Arabia and the UAE have entered a new phase of “soft” tension in recent days, when the American news agency “Bloomberg” today, Wednesday revealed that Saudi news networks such as “Al Arabiya” and “MBC” are affiliated with the prince. “Muhammad bin Salman” is leaving Dubai and returning to Riyadh.
This is in line with the Saudi Crown Prince’s decision to ban any business activities of Arab or foreign companies, unless they move their offices to Riyadh.
Bin Salman seems to have decided to start doing this with Saudi media companies in order to pave the way for any excuse and excuse for them, while his language says: “We started working with our Saudi companies and institutions. ».
Many people he spoke to on condition of anonymity said that staff members of Al-Arabiya and Al-Hadath networks were informed last Monday about the manner and plans for the transfer from Dubai to Riyadh.
According to Bloomberg, the sources added that “this action will be done in several stages”, adding: “Their first goal is to produce a 12-hour news program from Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, in early January 2022.”
The sources stressed that “gradually and with the completion of the facilities, the gradual transfer of the remaining employees will take place” and “the network has assured its employees that the workforce will not be adjusted”.
According to the news agency, Saudi Arabia is pressuring international companies to relocate their offices in the Middle East to Saudi Arabia from the beginning of 2024, otherwise they run the risk of losing their operations in the region’s largest economy.
The news agency quoted Sam Barnett, managing director of MBC Media Group, the largest radio station in the Middle East and North Africa, as saying that, “The Saudi company’s plans to establish a new office in Riyadh, announced last year, are on track.”
Barnett added: “MBC Media Group plans to maintain a stronger presence in its regions.”
It should be noted that, according to a statement issued by the official Saudi news agency last February, from the beginning of 2024, the Saudi government and government-sponsored institutions will sign contracts with foreign companies based in the Middle East with offices in other countries except Saudi Arabia.
The move is aimed at preventing “economic wastage” and supporting job creation, the agency added.
It should be noted that the relations between the UAE and Saudi Arabia are facing coldness and turmoil these days, which began with the unilateral compromise of Saudi Arabia with Qatar and without coordination with its ally, the UAE, in order to implement the “Al-Ala” agreement, which forced the UAE to took quick steps to reconcile with Turkey and Qatar.