24 August 2016
Government-owned news portal began overhaul a few months ago

Dubai Media Incorporated, the official media arm of Dubai government, is restructuring English-language news website Emirates 24/7 and letting go of some staff.

"As part of its continuous development process aimed at enhancing its capabilities and raising its competitiveness, Dubai Media Inc. (DMI) is conducting a restructuring of its online English language newspaper Emirates 24/7," DMI said in an email statement to Zawya in response to a query about job cuts at the website.

"DMI is committed to upholding the rights of all those who are included in this restructuring and will provide compensations as per their contracts," it said, without elaborating on plans for the website.

DMI did not provide details on the total number of staff at the website or the number of layoffs.

The company said the restructuring was part of a comprehensive strategy review.

"Within the framework of a comprehensive transformation initiated a few months ago, DMI is reviewing its strategy across its various divisions, in order to enhance its leadership position, increase efficiency and deliver high quality media products," the statement said.

The Emirates 24/7 website was launched in 2011 as a digital-only spin-off from the Emirates Today newspaper launched by Arab Media Group (AMG) six years earlier. In 2009, AMG was merged with DMI, which also manages other government-owned media assets such as Dubai One television station, Al Bayan newspaper and Dubai Radio.

© Zawya 2016