UAE’s du confirms that beIN Sports has pulled its channels off-air in UAE

The reason for the sudden pullout by the Qatar-based broadcaster was not clear

MBC chairman allowed to travel to Dubai after Saudi detention

Waleed al-Ibrahim was detained in November as part of Saudi’s anti-graft purge

Sony to acquire EMI stake from Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala for $1.9bn

EMI owns or administers more than two million songs from artists including Queen, Kanye West and Drake

Saudi to target young population with new TV channel

SBC will begin broadcasting this week

IMAX plans up to 100 Saudi cinema screens

IMAX is in talks with Vox, AMC and other operators to open new screens in the kingdom

Saudi culture authority signs film deal with IMAX

The two organisations aim to support the kingdom’s blossoming film industry

Music streaming app Spotify eyes Middle East launch

Reports suggest the company hopes to launch UAE services by year-end

UAE’s Majid Al Futtaim opens Saudi’s first IMAX cinema

The company plans to open hundreds more screens in the kingdom over the next five years

UAE council members call for influencer crackdown

The UAE issued a new law governing influencers in February

Dubai denies Moroccan actress died in the city

Media reports had indicated Wiam Al Dhamani passed away in the emirate

Dubai’s Vox to open cinema in Riyadh in “coming days”

The deeply conservative Muslim kingdom is ending a nearly 40-year ban on commercial cinemas

Dubai’s film festival cancels 2018 event

The event organiser has announced a change of strategy moving forward

Qatari owner of Novo Cinemas plans to sell theatres in UAE, Bahrain

The planned transaction highlights moves to decouple cross-border businesses in the GCC after the Qatar boycott

Facebook CEO warns of propaganda “arms race”, vows to prevent election interference

The billionaire’s words followed a scandal involving British consulting firm Cambridge Analytica

Pictures: Dubai’s Emaar launches Middle East’s first dine-in cinema

Emaar plans to roll out the experience to three of its Reel Cinemas locations

Saudi Arabia’s first new cinema in decades to open in April

AMC’s first cinema will be located in the King Abdullah Financial District

Saudi launches official film council

The kingdom lifted a 35-year ban on cinemas at the start of 2018

Saudi sovereign fund to acquire $400m stake in Hollywood’s Endeavor

Endeavor’s units include Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s agency WME

Dubai Lynx: Ones to watch

We look ahead to some of the best talks taking place at this year’s Dubai Lynx International Festival of Creativity

UAE issue new regulation for influencers, e-commerce, news sites

Sites have three months to comply with the new guidelines

Saudi-owned broadcaster MBC to stop airing Turkish dramas

Tensions have been growing between Turkey and some GCC states

Saudi issues cinema regulation as first venues prepare to open

The kingdom announced it would be lifting its 35-year cinema ban in December

Saudi’s PIF acquires stake in US media business for $200m

Penske Media Corp owns Variety, Women’s Wear Daily and a majority stake in Rolling Stone magazine

Saudi Arabia plans to seize controlling stake in broadcaster MBC

Reports claim officials plan to transfer 60 per cent of the regional broadcaster, leaving the remaining 40 per cent with the company’s chairman

MBC’s Ibrahim to keep control of broadcaster after detention

Waleed al-Ibrahim was among hundreds of businessmen arrested in Saudi’s November corruption purge

Dubai Lynx

Dubai Lynx announces top speakers for 2018 festival

Burger King’s chief marketing officer leads an international line-up for the region’s premier creative festival

Saudi sovereign fund eyes $500m investment in Hollywood agency

The funds would be used to help WME, agency of actors Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, expand its operations

Video: Dubai’s Emirates talks upgrade requests in new ad campaign

“Our message is simple – why try so hard to upgrade your seat when you can fly Emirates instead?”

Saudi Arabia begins screening films after lifting of cinema ban

Authorities are sponsoring temporary settings until permanent theatres are opened

Nearly 7 in 10 Saudis plan to visit cinemas

A new survey has revealed a large appetite for film screenings in the kingdom as it prepares to open cinemas