Saudi state-owned media companies will move staff this month from Dubai to Riyadh, as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pushes for the kingdom to become a regional capital of commerce in the Arab world, media reports said.
The decision follows an earlier Saudi move to stop giving state contracts to companies and commercial institutions with Middle East headquarters in any other country in the region.
According to Reuters, Al-Arabiya and Al Hadath TV channels informed their employees this week that they plan to broadcast 12 hours a day from Riyadh by next January.
It could take them up to two years to complete the relocation.
A newly created television news channel, Al- Sharq News, as well as MBC Group, the Middle East’s largest media company, are also mulling moves to Riyadh.
Dubai Media City, the UAE’s media hub, houses hundreds of media company headquarters.Â