Despite the feeling of injustice, Arabic media and news outlets were still in the infancy phase, with little human or financial capital to internationally combat the negative exposure.

However, I am beginning to notice some signs in the international media terrain of an attempt by Middle Eastern stakeholders to engage in the media control game. After all, ruling regimes in the MENA region know the power of information control and closely direct local media in their respective countries.

Call me a conspiracy theorist, but my observations of seemingly unrelated events do raise the possibility of a coordinated effort by influential stakeholders in the MENA region to go tit-for-tat with the powers that be in the international media control game. Below are 4 recent reasons for my hypothesis:

1. Dubai Media City: Another over-the-top development project in Dubai created to house international media outlets and to upgrade local media talent and expertise. In mid 2003, the ‘International Media Production Zone’ was launched in the DMC.

2. In late 2006, Qatar-based ‘Al-Jazeera’ news channel launched an English version for international broadcasting. After much controversy, the channel was allowed to be accessed via pay-satellite and cable in the USA.

3. In May 2007, Saudi SABIC company acquired GE Plastics for $11 Billion, effectively making SABIC the world’s largest basic chemicals company. Know what else GE has that would be of interest now that good relations have been established with cash-heavy Saudi? The NBC/CNBC news networks and Universal Studios.

4. In June 2007, Dubai-based Capital Plus Holding Co. announced plans to build a media complex in Florida that could rival studios in Hollywood.

This attempt by MENA outlets to venture into mainstream international broadcasting doesn’t always bode well in some circles, specially when the programming of channels like ‘Al-Jazeera’ is not in line with party stories coming out of the White House and the Pentagon. Does anyone remember what happened when the US asked Al-Jazeera to stop reporting what is going on in Iraq? The US forces bombed Al-Jazeera office in Baghdad with a missile in 2003 (only 2 years prior, the US bombed the Al-Jazeera HQ in Kabul). Then a US tank fired on the Palestine Hotel that was housing about 200 ‘non-embedded’ journalists. Almost all of them left the area after this incident. Hurray for censorship!

Do you see what I see?

More information on the news can be found at Zawya.

Whoudathunkit? A Dubai firm acquiring a stake in American aviation? After the stink raised by Congress in 2006 about Dubai Ports World coming to own some US port holdings as part of their takeover of the British P&O company? DP World was forced to sell off the US holdings of P&O to an American operator for an undisclosed amount.

I guess I am glad to see that the government of Dubai (a shareholder of DAE) learned their lesson from the DP World experience and discovered that the path to American acquisition is through Capitol Hill. Even with the President on your side (Bush threatened to Vito Congress’ decision to block the DP World deal in 2006), you must win the politicians to do business in the USA.

I am certain that Flaherty, Canada’s Federal Minister of Finance, is keeping a close eye on this deal. With his recent announcement of the Tory intention to “spell out the grounds on which Ottawa could block unwelcome corporate takeovers by foreign, state-owned companies”, Flaherty is faced with the same concerns in Canada that were expressed by US Congress during the DP World debacle.

It’s time for Canadian lobbyists and PA consultants to sharpen their teeth and get involved in the policy development stage of Canada’s new effort. John Duffy, that next $200k of Dubai’s sour black gold could be yours!

The Middle East Times announced yesterday the takeover of Canada’s Northrock Resources Limited (a Calgary-based Oil & Gas company) by the Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) for $2 Billion dollars. This comes not too long after Saudi Prince ‘Alwaleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Alsaud’ (Forbes’ fifth richest man in the world) bought the Fairmont for CAD $4.5 Billion in 2006, and Dubai Ports picking up Vancouver’s Centerm terminal that controls 25% of container traffic arriving at Canada’s west coast.

Controversy always ensues when Middle Eastern companies go for such bids in Canada or the US. Articles swarm with ‘concerned’ citizen comments about terrorism, radical Islam taking over the world, diluting national identity, and general mistrust of the intentions of those “Eh-rabs’. But, look closely below the surface:

Northrock had already been acquired by US-based ‘Pogo Producing Company‘ in 2005, who turned around and sold it to TAQA. The Prince’s purchase of the Fairmont was orchestrated by Los Angeles private equity firm ‘Colony Capital‘, and DP World came to own the Vancouver terminal as part of its take over of the British P&O Oriental Steam Navigation Company.

There is no place for stereotyping in international business. Canadians at home must embrace globalization in all its colors, races, and religions as much as they preach it abroad.