UAE-backed news website Hyphen, which covers Muslim life in Britain and Europe, is set to close after its Abu Dhabi-based parent company decided to withdraw funding, putting the jobs of around 18 journalists and contributors at risk.
The publication, which launched in 2022, is owned by Link Media Corporation, which has confirmed that it is consulting staff over proposed redundancies following a decision by its UAE parent company to cease funding Hyphen from 2027.
The decision was first reported by Press Gazette, which obtained confirmation from Link Media chief executive Martin Newland.
Hyphen was established to cover the social, cultural, economic and political experiences of Muslim communities in Britain and Europe, with a particular emphasis on identity, integration, lifestyle and social issues.
Its closure would bring an end to a four-year publishing venture that failed to deeply resonate with British Muslims and whose financial future depended on continued support from its overseas owners.
UAE connections
Hyphen’s UAE ownership was controversial given Abu Dhabi’s longstanding hostility towards the Muslim Brotherhood and other movements associated with political Islam.
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The Emirati authorities have pursued an aggressive campaign against the Muslim Brotherhood domestically and internationally, including efforts to influence how the organisation and its alleged affiliates are treated in Britain and Europe.
In 2015, The Guardian reported that the UAE had threatened to jeopardise major arms deals, investment and intelligence cooperation with Britain unless the government took stronger action against the Muslim Brotherhood.
Investigations by European journalists have also exposed Emirati-backed intelligence and influence operations targeting individuals and organisations in Europe allegedly associated with the Brotherhood.
A 2023 investigation by Mediapart and the European Investigative Collaborations consortium revealed that a Swiss intelligence company had supplied the UAE with information about more than 1,000 individuals and hundreds of organisations purportedly linked to the Brotherhood, including people and institutions with no established connection to the movement.
However, there is no verified evidence that Hyphen itself participated in such activities or that its editorial coverage was directed by the Emirati government.
Editorial coverage
Hyphen positioned itself as a publication seeking to connect Muslim and non-Muslim audiences through journalism about Muslim life in Britain and Europe.
Its editorial coverage included food, fashion, arts, family life, identity and integration, alongside reporting on Islamophobia, discrimination, immigration, education and politics.
Unlike Muslim media organisations with an explicitly Islamic or campaigning editorial mission, Hyphen generally adopted a broader social and cultural approach to Muslim identity.
Some of its coverage also explored subjects that are taboo for Muslims, particularly LGBTQ identities and sexuality.
In May 2023, the publication ran a photo essay examining the experiences of Muslims identifying as LGBTQ, including their relationships with religion, family and Muslim communities.
In June 2026, it published a feature about Lujane Oud, a Muslim drag performer who uses performances and social media to discuss Arab and Islamic history.
Such coverage reflected an approach to Muslim identity that opposed Islamic teachings on sexuality and gender.
Nevertheless, Hyphen also produced political and investigative journalism addressing issues affecting British Muslims. Its reporting included investigations into Islamophobia, mosque security, immigration, education and financial institutions.
The publication is edited by Burhan Wazir, an experienced journalist who previously worked for The Observer, The Times and Al Jazeera.
Former Telegraph editor
Link Media’s chief executive, Martin Newland, has a long history in both British conservative journalism and the UAE media industry.
He was editor of the right-wing Daily Telegraph between 2003 and 2005 before moving to Abu Dhabi, where he became the founding editor-in-chief of The National in 2008.
The National was originally published by Abu Dhabi Media Company, a government-backed media organisation.
Newland subsequently became editorial director of The National in 2009, overseeing the newspaper’s expansion into other platforms.
He now heads Link Media Corporation, which owns both Hyphen and Arabian Gulf Business Insight, a business news publication also launched in 2022.
Confirming the proposed closure, Newland told Press Gazette: “Link Media Corporation Ltd regrets to announce that it is consulting with staff at Hyphen on redundancy proposals.”
He said the decision followed plans by the company’s UAE parent to cease funding Hyphen from 2027 because of a strategic realignment during a difficult economic period.
Newland added: “Hyphen was launched four years ago to cover the social, economic and cultural issues and opportunities surrounding integration of Muslim communities in the UK and Europe.”
He said the publication had won awards and become part of wider discussions about Muslim integration and thanked its journalists for their professionalism and dedication.
Millions in losses
Financial statements filed with Companies House in July reveal the scale of Link Media’s dependence on its UAE parent company. The company’s accumulated losses reached £13.47 million by the end of 2025, compared with £9.48 million a year earlier.
Its debts to its parent company increased from £11.16 million to £16.85 million during the same period, while its net liabilities rose to £9.94 million.
The accounts identify its ultimate controlling company as Alnajma Holdings SP LLC, based in Abu Dhabi. In the financial statements, Link Media’s directors acknowledged the company’s dependence on financial support from its parent company to continue operating.
However, the financial figures cover Link Media Corporation as a whole, including its other publishing activities, rather than Hyphen alone. The accounts therefore do not establish how much money was spent specifically on the Muslim-focused publication.
The funding withdrawal comes amid a sharp economic downturn in the UAE following this year’s US-Israeli war against Iran, which has severely disrupted tourism, aviation, trade and investment across the Gulf.
According to the International Monetary Fund, the UAE economy is forecast to contract by 3.9% in 2026, while Dubai’s overnight visitor numbers fell by 44% during the first eight months of the year. However, it remains unclear whether the economic impact of the war directly influenced the decision to withdraw funding from Hyphen.
The company has not announced a definitive date for Hyphen’s closure, and the website continues to publish articles while redundancy consultations take place.
