Established in 2009 as a government entity to run media broadcasts from Sharjah, Sharjah Media Corporation was transformed into Sharjah Broadcasting Authority (SBA) in 2019. The company runs several television and radio channels, the most prominent being Sharjah TV, which was founded in 1989. SBA’s channels target both Emiratis and expats.
Media assets
Television: Sharjah TV, Sharjah Sports, Al Wusta, Al Sharqiya, Sharjah 2
Radio: Sharjah Radio, Quran Radio, Pulse 95
State Media Matrix Typology
Captured Public/State-Managed (CaPu)
Ownership and governance
SBA operates as a government agency under the umbrella of the Sharjah Government. Governing bodies are appointed directly by the Supreme Council of Sharjah. A regulatory update came in 2021 when Decree Law No. 2 was issued by Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, effectively tightening government oversight. Under this law, SBA must secure approvals from the Sharjah Media Council—a politically affiliated regulatory body—before undertaking any core media activities. As of mid-2025, the SBA is led by Salem Ali Al Ghaithi, who assumed the role of Director in 2023.
Source of funding and budget
SBA follows a mixed funding model: it generates commercial revenue primarily through advertising, supplemented by state subsidies. According to data collected by the Media and Journalism Research Center by May 2024, government contributions represent under 50% of its annual operating budget. However, full financial disclosures for 2024 and 2025 remain unavailable.
Editorial independence
While SBC faces no explicit legal constraints on editorial direction, its output is heavily influenced by top-down management. Appointments by government decree and required oversight by the Sharjah Media Council ensure that SBA’s content consistently aligns with state-approved messaging. As with other UAE-affiliated broadcasters, SBA rarely, if ever, critiques Emirati authorities.
Despite occasional coverage of cultural, soft-feature stories, there is no legal statute, external audit, or independent oversight body guaranteeing editorial freedom. Consequently, watchdogs view the SBA as an arm of the regime, rather than an autonomous media entity.
July 2025