Emarat Al Youm
Product brand
UnclaimedEmarat Al Youm is an Arabic-language newspaper published in Dubai by Dubai Media Incorporated, covering United Arab Emirates affairs and subjects of interest to Arab readers.
Last updated August 24, 2026
Overview
Emarat Al Youm, whose Arabic name means “The Emirates Today,” is an Arabic-language newspaper based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It was first published on 20 September 2005 and developed as a domestic-focused newspaper aimed primarily at readers in the UAE and the wider Arab readership. Its coverage centers on political, social, legal, economic, community, and other public-interest topics connected with the Emirates, alongside broader subjects relevant to Arabic-speaking audiences. The newspaper was originally owned and published by Arab Media Group. In October 2009, ownership and publishing responsibility moved to Dubai Media Incorporated, a Dubai-based media organization. That transition placed Emarat Al Youm within a larger media portfolio that also included the English-language publication Emirates 24/7. The change represented an important corporate turning point, although the newspaper retained its Arabic-language identity and domestic editorial focus. Emarat Al Youm operates in both print and online formats. Its digital edition became sufficiently prominent to rank as the twenty-second most visited website in the Middle East and North Africa region in 2010, according to the cited reference material. The newspaper has therefore functioned not only as a traditional daily publication but also as a digital news outlet serving readers seeking UAE news and Arabic-language reporting online. The publication has also encountered legal and editorial controversy. In July 2009, an Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal ordered the closure of both its print and online editions for 20 days and fined the editor after an article published in October 2006 alleged that some thoroughbred race horses belonging to members of the ruling family had been given steroids. The newspaper resumed publication on 26 July 2009. This episode became one of the most significant publicly documented events in its history, highlighting the legal and political sensitivities surrounding reporting in the United Arab Emirates. The newspaper received the Political Journalism Award from the Dubai Press Club in 2013. Sami Al Reyami has been identified in reference material as its editor-in-chief. Emarat Al Youm’s brand proposition is grounded in Arabic-language journalism with a strong UAE orientation rather than in international general-interest reporting. Its principal offering is the newspaper itself, distributed through print and digital channels. Detailed current information about its ownership structure, present leadership, circulation, revenue, and official web presence is not established by the supplied sources.
History
Emarat Al Youm was launched on 20 September 2005 as an Arabic-language newspaper in Dubai. Its editorial remit was principally domestic: the publication reported on affairs in the United Arab Emirates and addressed subjects considered relevant to Arab readers. From its inception, the brand occupied the newspaper segment of the UAE media market, with a focus on Arabic journalism rather than an English-language international-news proposition. The newspaper was initially owned and published by Arab Media Group. A corporate change took place in October 2009, when Dubai Media Incorporated assumed both ownership and publishing responsibility. This placed Emarat Al Youm within the Dubai Media Incorporated portfolio and aligned it with other media activities, including the English-language daily Emirates 24/7. The ownership transition was one of the publication's principal organizational milestones. The newspaper's history also includes a significant legal dispute concerning editorial content. An article published in October 2006 alleged that certain thoroughbred race horses belonging to members of the ruling family had been administered steroids. In July 2009, the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal responded by ordering the closure of the paper's print and online editions for 20 days and imposing a fine of $5,445 on its editor, according to the cited reference. Emarat Al Youm relaunched on 26 July 2009, ending the suspension. The episode remains the best-documented controversy associated with the newspaper and illustrates the legal constraints and sensitivities affecting journalism in the UAE. Emarat Al Youm expanded its relevance beyond the physical newspaper through its online edition. In 2010, the online version was reported to be the twenty-second most visited website in the Middle East and North Africa region. This indicates that the brand had achieved a meaningful digital audience at a time when regional newspapers were increasingly developing web-based distribution. The publication later received institutional recognition for its reporting. In 2013, the Dubai Press Club awarded Emarat Al Youm its Political Journalism Award. Sami Al Reyami has been identified as the newspaper's editor-in-chief in the available reference material. The supplied sources do not establish the full sequence of editors, current circulation, commercial performance, present ownership arrangements beyond Dubai Media Incorporated, or a verified current official website. Accordingly, those details remain unspecified.
- 2013
Political Journalism Award
[1]The Dubai Press Club awards Emarat Al Youm its Political Journalism Award.
- 2010
Regional digital audience milestone
[1]The online edition is reported as the twenty-second most visited website in the MENA region.
- 2009
Ownership and publishing transfer
[1]Dubai Media Incorporated becomes the newspaper's owner and publisher, replacing Arab Media Group in those roles.
- 2009
Temporary court-ordered suspension
[1]The print and online editions are ordered closed for 20 days following a court case over a 2006 article; the newspaper relaunches on 26 July.
- 2005
First publication
[1]Emarat Al Youm publishes its first issue on 20 September as an Arabic-language newspaper based in Dubai.
Products and positioning
An Arabic-language UAE news brand focused on domestic affairs, public-interest reporting, and topics relevant to Arab readers.
Newspaper · 2005
Emarat Al Youm daily newspaper
The core Arabic-language print publication, launched in 2005 and focused on news and issues in the United Arab Emirates, together with topics of broader interest to Arab readers. Its coverage is positioned around domestic reporting and public-affairs journalism.
Digital news publication
Emarat Al Youm online edition
The newspaper's web-based edition extends the Emarat Al Youm brand beyond print and provides digital access to its Arabic-language news coverage. The edition was temporarily suspended with the print newspaper in 2009 and was later reported to have ranked among the most visited websites in the MENA region in 2010.
Controversies
2009
Court action over horse-steroid allegations
A 2006 article alleged that some thoroughbred race horses belonging to members of the ruling family had been given steroids. In July 2009, the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal ordered the newspaper's print and online editions closed for 20 days and fined its editor $5,445. The publication resumed on 26 July 2009.
Brand decisions
2009
Transfer of ownership and publishing responsibility to Dubai Media IncorporatedM&ABackground
Emarat Al Youm had been owned and published by Arab Media Group since its launch.
Action taken
In October 2009, Dubai Media Incorporated assumed both ownership and publishing responsibility for the newspaper.
Aftermath
The newspaper became part of Dubai Media Incorporated's media portfolio, which also included the English-language publication Emirates 24/7.
2009
Relaunch after temporary suspensionOtherBackground
A court order suspended both the print and online editions for 20 days over an article published in 2006.
Action taken
Emarat Al Youm resumed publication on 26 July 2009.
Aftermath
The relaunch restored the newspaper's print and digital presence after the court-ordered interruption.
Recent events
- 2013
Emarat Al Youm receives Dubai Press Club Political Journalism Award[1]
Other
The publication was recognized with the Political Journalism Award by the Dubai Press Club.
Sources1 sources
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