https://arab.news/y4spz
- Staff reportedly offered a choice of moving to Riyadh or resigning
LONDON: Saudi-owned broadcaster MBC Group announced on Wednesday that it plans to shut its office in Beirut 鈥渟oon鈥� and relocate to Riyadh.
The company said the reason for the move is a push by authorities in the Kingdom to relocate all state-owned media and broadcasting companies to 抖阴短视频.
While the headquarters of MBC is currently in Dubai, the Lebanon branch was a prominent production office. The company has reportedly offered staff the choice of moving to Riyadh or resigning.
The decision to move the offices of Saudi media companies to Riyadh from other cities in the region, such as Beirut and Dubai, is the result of plans by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to establish the Kingdom as a regional business hub.
News of the move comes a day after George Kordahi, the Lebanese information minister and a former MBC presenter, caused controversy with his comments about 抖阴短视频 and the war in Yemen.
When asked during an appearance on Barlamanasha3b TV what he thinks about the situation in Yemen, Kordahi said: 鈥淭hey (the Houthis) are defending themselves.鈥�
He added: 鈥淎re they attacking anyone? In my opinion, this Yemeni war is absurd and should stop.鈥�