The Foreign Correspondents' Club was established in 2019 to provide a platform for regional and international media representatives operating from the UAE and to assist them in their work. The facility helps its members have a better vision for the UAE's activities, events, and achievements, including those related to policymaking, intellectual, cultural and artistic activities, scientific and academic research, economics, trade and tourism.
The Club aims to build and strengthen bridges between UAE government institutions and foreign correspondents who are based in the country, whether they are state correspondents or international journalists visiting the UAE to cover major events. It serves as a venue for members to meet with government officials, politicians, VIPs, business leaders, analysts, academics and authors. The club aims to create a conducive environment for intellectual and cultural exchange and become an important information resource for journalists.
The Club's facilities include a conference room with state-of-the-art audio and video equipment, translation rooms, a main meeting room, office units and a public lounge. The club is expected to function as a social center as well as a media hub and will host regular networking and social events, thereby providing unique opportunities for members to connect with each other.
Since its inception, the club has hosted many conferences and dialogue, cultural and media sessions, in addition to being the body responsible for accrediting foreign correspondents in the country.
The UAE government was restructured in 2020 to ensure a more agile, responsive, and effective structure is put in place to respond in times of emergencies, such as that of COVID 19. Although the Foreign Correspondents Club was effective, it was decided to close the club and decentralize accreditation to local media departments that are also responsible for issuing media licenses.