Mada Media, Dubai’s official regulator for Out-of-Home (OOH) advertising permits, recently convened its Strategic Partners Forum, gathering key investors and stakeholders to solidify collaborations, streamline regulatory compliance, and accelerate investment opportunities across the emirate’s sophisticated outdoor media landscape. Held on January 23, 2026, the assembly, attended by Mada Media’s leadership and prominent OOH investors, underscored the entity’s commitment to balancing commercial vibrancy with the preservation of Dubai’s visual identity and urban planning goals. The forum served as an essential platform for addressing emerging market trends, discussing crucial legislative updates, and soliciting investor insights to foster sustainable sector growth.
Regulating Growth and Encouraging Innovation
The primary impetus for the Strategic Partners Forum was to deepen regulatory alignment and operational efficiency within Dubai’s outdoor advertising ecosystem. A core agenda item emphasized establishing unified frameworks to ensure full adherence to the emirate’s legislative mandates, particularly the Out-Of-Home Advertising Manual.
Central to Mada Media’s strategy is driving digital transformation and encouraging the adoption of advanced technologies, thereby positioning Dubai at the forefront of the global OOH market. This push for modernization is designed to enhance market attractiveness while upholding safety standards and preventing visual clutter.
Mansoor AlSabahi, CEO of Mada Media, opened the session by welcoming the strategic partners and stressing the necessity of continuous engagement with major investors. He noted that such routine interaction ensures compliance with regulatory changes and technical guidelines while fostering crucial knowledge sharing regarding innovation and evolving challenges in the global OOH sector.
Consolidating Momentum for Sustainable Investment
AlSabahi articulated that Mada Media is moving beyond its foundational phase and is now focused on consolidating its role as a sector leader driving sustainable growth. “By ensuring compliance with technical standards, and driving digital transformation, we aim to create a market that is commercially attractive while enhancing Dubai’s beauty,” he commented.
The regulatory body’s forward-looking strategy seeks to strike a delicate balance between achieving operational excellence and ensuring investor profitability. This balance is being realized through the creation of high-value investment opportunities. AlSabahi specifically highlighted upcoming tenders for strategically located signage across Dubai’s main arteries, among other initiatives aimed at drawing both capital and international brands.
The forum featured an in-depth presentation by Daniel Bunyan, Partner at Strategy&, who offered an analysis of global best practices and emerging trends within the OOH industry. Collaborative workshops followed, allowing participants to review industry challenges and contribute directly to the regulator’s future policy development.
Aligning OOH with Dubai’s Vision 2040
The outcomes of the forum’s workshops will directly inform Mada Media’s corporate strategy for managing and developing the sector. These actionable recommendations are set to expand investment avenues, attract major global brands, and stimulate economic activity, all while safeguarding Dubai’s sophisticated urban aesthetic and global reputation.
All proposed initiatives are meticulously aligned with the emirate’s broader sustainability objectives and the ambitious Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan. By proactively engaging with major investors, Mada Media continues to advance its core vision: preserving the visual appeal of Dubai, enhancing sustainability, ensuring public and traffic safety, and preventing visual pollution. Simultaneously, these actions play a vital role in economic development by promoting capital attraction and reinforcing Dubai’s reputation as a dynamic hub for outdoor media and urban innovation.
Moving forward, investors can anticipate clearer frameworks for technological adoption, streamlined processes for permit issuance, and regular updates on high-value investment tenders designed to capitalize on Dubai’s rapid economic and infrastructural expansion.