When I caught up with U.S. media executive Jeff Zucker recently, one thing stood out: he sees the UAE as one of the world’s most exciting places to do business.
In the wake of the Banijay-All3Media $8 billion mega-merger, Zucker told me: “The UAE has been a fantastic investor, a great shareholder, and that’s because they are interested in media.
“They’re patient with their investments, and they’re willing to take chances on the global stage. And that’s just an incredible combination for someone who’s looking to invest in media.”
As CEO of RedBird IMI—a joint venture between RedBird Capital Partners of New York and Abu Dhabi’s International Media Investments (IMI), owner of The National and Sky News Arabia—Zucker played an instrumental role in getting the merger across the finish line.
RedBird IMI previously acquired All3Media in early 2024 for £1.15 billion ($1.5 billion)–its largest deal at the time.
