UAE’s Bid to Buy Stake in Telegraph Sparks Uproar Over Media Sovereignty in UK

Watan-A storm of political and media controversy has erupted in the United Kingdom following the revelation of a UAE-backed plan to purchase a 15% stake in the Daily Telegraph, one of the country’s most prominent conservative newspapers.

The move—pushed through an investment firm supported by Abu Dhabi—has reignited a longstanding concern in British journalism: Is media sovereignty now for sale?

The proposal has drawn strong condemnation in the House of Lords, particularly from key Conservative figures. Lord Forsyth, chair of the Conservative Lords Association, labeled the plan a “shameful surrender to foreign lobbying forces,” warning of the dangers posed by regimes “that do not respect freedom of expression” gaining a foothold in Britain’s press institutions.

🔴خطة إماراتية لشراء حصة في صحيفة بريطانية عريقة تشعل تمردا داخل مجلس اللوردات.. هل يباع صوت الصحافة بدراهم عيال زايد؟👇 pic.twitter.com/a6tFFCU5u1

— وطن. يغرد خارج السرب (@watanserb_news) May 22, 2025

In response, the UK government is working to revise media legislation to define minimum thresholds for foreign ownership—especially from “non-hostile” nations. Officials insist that the law will block any direct editorial interference, but opponents argue that even indirect influence could compromise the Telegraph’s editorial stance, especially on sensitive issues like human rights and UAE foreign policy.

The upcoming vote in the House of Lords is shaping up to be a litmus test: will Britain draw a red line protecting press freedom from foreign capital, or will Gulf money breach the gates of British journalism?

Analysts warn that if Abu Dhabi succeeds, it could pave the way for further Gulf takeovers of influential Western media outlets—triggering a fundamental shift in global media independence. Many fear this is part of a broader trend of “authoritarian whitewashing” through elite media platforms.