Magazines and newspapers will reappear in public places such as hotels, cafes and restaurants after their distribution was suspended last year to stem the spread of Covid-19.
Media companies, distributors and readers should continue to follow precautionary measures as services resume, the Media Regulatory Office of the Ministry of Culture and Youth said on Wednesday.
“The decision to lift distribution restrictions for newspapers and magazines in public places is in line with the national strategy towards promoting the recovery of all sectors, including the media, from the repercussions of the pandemic,” said Rashid Khalfan Al Nuaimi, executive director of the Media Regulatory Office.
“I would like to commend the spirit of co-operation and support that we received from the distribution companies during the first period of the Covid-19 outbreak.
“In co-operation with our partners, we are delighted to resume the distribution of publications in public places and to play an essential role in revitalising this important sector.”
In March 2020, the National Media Council ordered the distribution of newspapers, magazines and marketing material to be suspended owing to fear the virus could survive on paper.
The ban applied to places in which several people were likely to handle the same printed materials.
But newspapers and magazines remained on sale in large shops, and subscribers continued to receive copies of titles they had paid for.
The decision to resume distribution was made after consultations with major newspaper and magazine distributors in the UAE.
Government authorities and media companies also discussed measures that could help the publishing sector to return to normality.
Dr Al Nuaimi said the entire sector, including newspapers and magazines, witnessed strong growth during the three years before the pandemic began.
There were 107,808 publications in English, Arabic and other languages spoken in the Emirates from 2017 to 2019. Of these, 8,984 were art or cultural titles.
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