UAE’s IMI takes full control of Sky News Arabia amid Sudan coverage scrutiny

UAE’s IMI takes full control of Sky News Arabia amid Sudan coverage scrutiny Submitted by MEE staff on Mon, 06/01/2026 - 03:14 UK broadcaster hands operational control to IMI while allowing channel to keep Sky News Arabia name Emiratis stand in front of Sky News Arabia logo during network launch in Abu Dhabi, 6 May 2012 (Marwan Naamani/AFP) Off Sky on Sunday announced the end of its joint ownership of Sky News Arabia, transferring full strategic and operational control of the Arabic-language broadcaster to its   United Arab Emirates -based partner, International Media Investments (IMI), while allowing the channel to continue using the Sky brand under a multi-year licencing agreement. The move marks the end of a partnership that began in 2010 when Sky and IMI launched Sky News Arabia to compete with regional broadcasters across the Middle East and North Africa.  Under the agreement, IMI will assume full ownership of the network's operations. Financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed. "The time is right for this change and we look forward to continuing our relationship in the next phase of Sky News Arabia," David Rhodes, executive chairman of Sky News Group, said in a statement. Rhodes said the company was proud of what had been built through its partnership with IMI and described the change as the next stage in the broadcaster’s development. IMI said the agreement reflected the maturity of Sky News Arabia as a regional media organisation and would allow it to pursue further growth and innovation under sole ownership. IMI is an Abu Dhabi-based media investment company owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE vice president and ...

Original source: Middle East Eye