Media City Qatar
Media City Qatar is a government-established media hub located in Qatar. It was founded in 2019 through Amiri Law No. 13 of 2019 and serves as a regulator, developer, and investor for media and creative industries.
Media City Qatar operates under a specific legal framework offering certain incentives, including full foreign ownership and tax exemptions.
Location
Media City Qatar's offices are set up in Doha’s business district, West Bay. In September 2024, Media City Qatar confirmed the relocation of its permanent headquarters to Msheireb Downtown Doha.History
2019–2020
Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani officially established Media City Qatar on May 30, 2019, through Amiri Law No. 13 of 2019. The law created a media-focused zone with its own legal personality and an independent budget.In its first full year of operation, Media City Qatar focused on establishing frameworks to attract media businesses and build partnerships. It introduced incentives similar to those offered in other Qatari free zones, including zero corporate tax for up to 20 years, full foreign ownership, and streamlined regulations. Pre-approved by Media City Qatar, media companies can register through the Qatar Financial Centre and operate under Media City Qatar’s umbrella.
2021–2023
In February 2021, Media City Qatar signed an agreement with the European news organization Euronews which agreed opening a Euronews regional office within Media City Qatar and establishing the Euronews Academy, focused on training media professionals. The academy began offering courses in English and Arabic in partnership with journalism schools and local universities, and Euronews also committed to producing content from Qatar on topics such as business, culture, and current affairs.In 2022, it signed a multi-year agreement with Singapore-based Group ONE Holdings, known for its mixed martial arts and sports media platform ONE Championship, including co-producing episodes of The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition Season 2.
2024–present
In 2024, Media City Qatar pursued consolidation and introduced new initiatives. In January, it signed a memorandum of understanding with the Qatar Financial Centre Authority to simplify the process of establishing media companies. Under this agreement, the QFC registers firms pre-approved by Media City Qatar, issuing licenses to operate in Qatar. The QFC handles administrative and legal processes, such as company formation and tax matters, while Media City Qatar oversees compliance with media regulations.In February 2025, CNN and Media City Qatar officials formalized plans to establish a Middle East content hub in Doha. Under the agreement, CNN will establish a Middle East content hub in Media City Qatar, adding to its existing presence in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, which will produce digital content and a weekly program for CNN International. Also in February 2025, Media City Qatar signed an agreement with Huawei at Web Summit Qatar 2025 to develop a smart media campus in Qatar supported by advanced AI infrastructure and cloud-based media platforms.
In April 2025, dpa, a German news agency, expanded its operations in the Middle East and will open an office in Media City Qatar.
In May 2025, Media City Qatar announced that Bloomberg Media will expand its broadcast operations in Qatar by setting up a new expanded studio in Doha. That same month, Microsoft Qatar agreed to contribute to Media City Qatar's Media Innovation Lab and launch joint training programs. Media City Qatar also announced its cooperation with Qatar Development Bank to run acceleration programs and talent development initiatives in Qatar. Additionally, in May 2025, Media City Qatar received the "Innovative Partnership Driving AI Excellence Award" at the Google Cloud Summit Doha 2025, in recognition of its leadership in AI-driven media innovation.
In October 2025, Media City Qatar announced its support for two original Arabic drama series, When I Saw and Behind the Scenes, at MIPCOM Cannes 2025, which are scheduled to air in 2026.
Legal framework and governance
The statute classifies Media City Qatar as an entity empowered to license media businesses and issue regulations. By late 2019, the government appointed a board of directors chaired by Sheikh Abdulla bin Ali Al Thani. Companies register through the Qatar Financial Centre but operate under Media City Qatar’s media rules.In December 2025, Hamad Omar A. Al-Mannai was appointed chief executive officer of Media City Qatar.