Saood Abdulaziz Al Hosani has been appointed Director General of Abu Dhabi Media Office, the emirate's central media entity responsible for coordinating government communications and media strategy. His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, issued the resolution on September 21, 2026. The appointment marks a significant leadership change at an institution tasked with overseeing both government communications and the broader creative media ecosystem in one of the Middle East's most economically diversified emirates.
Al Hosani, an Emirati public sector leader with deep roots in Abu Dhabi's governance structures, transitions to the role from his position as Undersecretary of the Department of Culture and Tourism, a post he has held since December 2023. The appointment carries strategic weight, as Abu Dhabi continues efforts to expand coordination across government communications and creative media sectors while positioning itself as a destination for media production and creative industries. The Abu Dhabi Media Office was established in January 2023 as an independent entity with oversight of Abu Dhabi Media Network and the Creative Media Authority. Maryam Eid AlMheiri, who was appointed Chairperson of the Media Office in March 2025, now has Al Hosani as her Director General, adding a new layer of senior executive leadership to the office's governance structure.
Al Hosani brings more than 20 years of combined experience in strategic planning and financial management spanning tourism, culture, media, technology and finance sectors. Prior to his role at the Department of Culture and Tourism, he held several significant positions in Abu Dhabi's financial institutions and government entities, including Chief Financial Officer at Advanced Integrated Systems Company and Head of Finance and Administration at the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, where he served between 2005 and 2010. He also spent five years as Senior Accountant at Abu Dhabi Media Company beginning in 2000, giving him direct prior experience within the media sector he now leads. Al Hosani holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Abu Dhabi's Higher Colleges of Technology. He is also an active member of multiple government and international committees, including the Wellbeing Committee of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and the Finance and Development Committee at the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas.
The Abu Dhabi Media Office holds a mandate that extends well beyond publishing government news. It is responsible for establishing the emirate's media strategy, aligning communications across government entities, regulating and licensing media activities, and supporting development of Abu Dhabi's wider creative media sector. The office also coordinates strategic partnerships with international media organizations and develops initiatives to attract media production and content to the emirate. It manages the Abu Dhabi Media Network, which operates over 20 branded channels and platforms including Abu Dhabi TV, Al Emarat TV, Abu Dhabi Sports Channel, multiple radio stations, newspapers including Al-Ittihad, and digital platforms.
Al Hosani's appointment suggests the leadership intends to leverage his background in destination positioning, international promotion and public sector communications to navigate the media office's dual mandate. His experience at the culture and tourism department, where he oversaw policy and strategy for heritage, creative industries and tourism positioning, aligns closely with the media office's role in supporting creative-sector development and international partnerships. The timing reflects Abu Dhabi's broader diversification efforts and continued emphasis on building out its media and creative industries ecosystem as a strategic economic priority alongside hydrocarbon revenues. However, the September 21 resolution announcement itself does not specify strategic priorities or details on how responsibilities will be divided between the Chairperson and Director General positions.
