Arab Media Summit announced by Dubai Press Club

Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Vice Chairperson and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council and President of the Dubai Press Club, announced the launch of the Arab Media Summit on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai. The Arab Media Summit will function as the umbrella organization for major media events that the Dubai Press Club organizes.

Through this effort, DPC’s events and activities centered on debate and knowledge sharing in the media business will have a uniform platform.

Under the auspices of the Arab Media Summit, the 22nd Arab Media Forum, scheduled for May 28–29, and the second Arab Youth Media Forum, scheduled for May 27, will take place.

The Arab Media Summit will include the 23rd Arab Media Award and the 4th Arab Social Media Influencers Award, which will be presented during the next Arab Media Forum.

The announcement was made today during a press conference at the Dubai Press Club, which was also attended by the general secretariat of the Arab Media Award, members of the organizing committees for the Arab Youth Media Forum and the Arab Media Forum, and Mona Ghanem Al Marri.

According to Al Marri, the Arab Media Summit will provide a prominent forum for the sharing of ideas, perceptions, knowledge, and firsthand experiences that may assist the media sector in fulfilling the ambitions of the people in the area.

In order to guarantee that Arab media can fulfill its obligations as a crucial partner in sustainable development, the Summit will bring together media experts to address the sector’s changes and difficulties.

During the press conference, the 22nd Arab Media Forum’s organizing committee, chaired by Mona Ghanem Al Marri, also disclosed the agenda.

This year’s forum, which is the leading forum in the Arab world for discussing the future of the region’s changing media landscape, will include notable politicians, executives from the media industry, chief editors, and notable writers, thinkers, influencers, and content creators from the United Arab Emirates, the Arab world, and the region.

A number of talks aimed at analyzing the major political, economic, social, technical, and cultural advancements propelling the media’s metamorphosis as well as the industry’s own part in the changes engulfing the area will take place during the 2024 conference.

This forum’s extended agenda has been designed to include important media concerns as well as the advantages and disadvantages of the changing social and economic environments in the area and throughout the globe. According to Al Marri, the media industry is essential in informing the public and increasing awareness of developments that have a direct impact on people’s lives.

“Several confidential sessions with experts and professionals to address different subjects directly influencing the media business will be held during the Arab Media Forum. The objective is to provide concepts and recommendations that would improve the Arab media’s ability to successfully carry out its mandate.”

She also emphasized that the goal of the second Arab Youth Media Forum is to empower the region’s next generation of media professionals and influencers.

In the main session themed “Aspirations of the Youth,” prominent speakers include Dr. Sultan AlNeyadi, UAE Minister of State for Youth, and Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of the King for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs and National Security Adviser, who will be present.

Regarding the additional activities included in the Arab Media Summit, Al Marri said that the Arab Media Award, which is still the premier initiative in the area for recognizing excellence in media, would keep developing.

“We’re determined to add more up-and-coming media talent to the Arab Media Award’s next board of directors. The present board’s tenure ends with this year’s edition, and the next board will concentrate on updating the award to stay up to date with developments in regional and international media.”

‘Future of Yemen’, where Yemen’s Prime Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak will discuss his vision for establishing a permanent peace in Yemen and the role of the media in fostering dialogue and peaceful coexistence, is one of the major sessions of the 22nd Arab Media Forum.

At the ‘Charting the GCC’s Future’ main session, the Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary General, Jasem Albudaiwi, will discuss how further media integration within the GCC will help the region take a unified stance on important topics and strengthen ties among its citizens.

The UAE President’s Diplomatic Advisor, Dr. Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, will speak with Sky News Arabia’s Faisal bin Huraiz one-on-one. The topic of discussion will be current regional issues and how they affect the growth of the Arab and Gulf regions.

The session titled ‘Tech Updates in Media’ will include a speech by Omar Sultan Al Olama, the Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications. Dr. Mohammed Qasim will serve as the moderator for this session, which will examine how technology may be used to further media excellence in a setting where cutting-edge technologies are transforming the business.

Abdul Rahman Al-Mutairi, Kuwait’s Minister of Information and Culture, will discuss media growth in the nation in a discussion session about the Ministry of Information’s digital transformation plan.

Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram and VKontakte, two of the most widely used social media applications worldwide, is one of the international industry leaders taking part in the talks at the Arab Media Forum.

The 22nd Arab Media Forum, which is scheduled for May 28–29, will have a number of topics on its agenda, as emphasized by Dr. Maitha Buhumaid, Director of the Dubai Press Club. Additionally, she emphasized the importance of the second Arab Youth Media Forum, which is set to take place on May 27 and is aimed at strengthening the region’s next generation of media professionals and influencers.

Together, these events will include 40 side events in addition to approximately 110 major discussion, private, and workshop sessions. Over 250 speakers and 200 well-known media personalities are scheduled to attend the activities, which are anticipated to draw over 4,000 attendees, 200 of whom will be from outside the United Arab Emirates.

According to Buhumaid, a number of new media projects targeted at Arab and local youth will be introduced during the Arab Media Forum. These include specialized updates on the latest developments in new media and a brand-new initiative centered on the industry’s creative sector.

She pointed out that youngsters are a major focus of both the Arab Youth Media Forum and the Arab Media Forum.

This is in line with Dubai’s and the UAE’s dedication to elevating youth development and empowerment in order to support their contributions to the advancement of several industries, including the media.

The panel discussion “Palestine Through the Lens of Arab Media,” which focuses on media coverage of the Palestinian cause during the current fighting in Gaza, is one of the other important events of this year’s Arab Media Forum. The discussion will examine how Arab media reports on the war, emphasizing how western media is seen to be biased and to apply double standards.

The panel will also address how Arab media, at a time when the situation is wreaking havoc on Gaza and creating great human suffering, can successfully promote the Palestinian cause. Prominent figures from the Arab media are on the panel, including Mohammed Al Hammadi, an Emirati columnist, Egyptian novelist Emad El Din Adeeb, and chief editor of Asharq Al-Awsat Ghassan Charbel.

Subsequent panel discussion titled ‘Impact of US Elections on the Region’ will explore the noteworthy consequences that this year’s US elections will have on the area. The session will give the audience the chance to hear from distinguished Arab journalists and scholars, including Raghida Dergham, Abdel Latif El Menawy, and Dr. Mohammad Al Rumaihi. It will be facilitated by TV presenter Naoufer Ramoul from Dubai Media.

The event will also showcase Arab women who have achieved success and hold prominent roles in international media companies. ‘Arab Voices… Global Impact’ is the title of the session, which will include Samia Nakhoul, Global Foreign Policy Editor at Thomson Reuters, and Caroline Faraj, Vice President and Chief Arabic Editor at CNN. CNN TV host Eleni Giokos will serve as the discussion’s moderator.

In a thought-provoking session titled “The Middle East: A Vision for Stability,” Dan Murphy, anchor of CNBC, will discuss the prospects for regional peace and stability with Afshin Molavi, senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Institute of the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, and Mina Al-Oraibi, editor in chief of The National.

At a session titled “Media Investments Shaping the Future,” media investments will take center stage. Rani Raad, CEO of International Media Investments, will be the guest speaker at the event, which will be facilitated by Hadley Gamble, CNBC anchor and senior international correspondent. The topic of discussion will include media investment patterns as well as the financial difficulties the sector is now facing. The impact of world events on regional media investments will also be discussed.

A session entitled ‘Streaming and the Future of Entertainment’ will focus on the proliferation of streaming services. The CEOs of Dubai Media, YANGO’s MENA Region Director Roman Shimansky, and SHASHA’s Nasser Almomen will discuss the revolutionary changes that streaming platforms are bringing about in the media landscape.

A separate session will explore the intricate realm of misinformation and artificial intelligence in the media, including the perspectives of writer and journalist David Patrikarakos. ‘Disinformation and AI in Media’ is the title of the session, which will cover the issues media outlets have when trying to verify information before publishing it, the impact of deepfakes and fake news on social media platforms, and their ubiquity. The discussion will also look at how artificial intelligence is increasingly producing news and misinformation in the Arab world.

Participating in a session that explores his media path is renowned media and content developer Bassem Youssef. This session will examine significant events and turning points in his life, with an emphasis on his move from a medical profession to the media.

Other forum sessions will provide insightful information for media professionals who want to remain educated and ahead of the curve in the business, covering everything from cutting-edge trends to pressing issues. These include, among others, Talk Show: An Ideal World, Charisma vs. Beauty on Screen, DP World’s Journey through Short-Term Relief & Long-Term Sustainability, and Ethical Practices in National Media.

‘Media Pioneers’ is an event that brings together pioneers in Dubai’s media sector to offer ideas from their vast experience, according to Nehal Badri, Secretary General of the Dubai Media Council, who made this announcement at today’s press conference. The event, which spans three days and includes seven workshops, aims to inspire the next generation of media workers.

Members of the Arab Media Forum’s organizing committee, including Shaima Al Suwaidi, director of Brand Dubai, the creative branch of the Government of Dubai Media Office, said that the forum would include high-caliber goods and ideas from Brand Dubai’s ‘Proudly from Dubai’ network.

Through the event, Brand Dubai hopes to highlight the creativity and innovation influencing the business and entrepreneurial culture of the emirate as well as share success stories of fascinating and inventive companies that were founded and launched there.

Additionally, a number of activations that showcase cutting-edge AI-driven media applications will be arranged by Brand Dubai.

On May 28, the esteemed Arab Media Award will recognize exceptional accomplishments in print, internet, and broadcast media in the area. The accomplishments of digital influencers will be honored at the Arab Social Media Influencers Summit Award event on May 29.

Ten masterclasses, organized in association with preeminent international digital platforms, will be offered during the Arab Youth Media Forum. The masterclasses aim to convey the experience and information that rising professionals need to flourish in a fast-expanding digital world while also providing young media professionals with a vital chance to polish their professional abilities. Leading international media firms, including Meta, TikTok, X, YouTube, LinkedIn, SnapChat, Dolby, and VFX Mojo, will be teaching the masterclasses.

A number of well-known Arab writers and their influential literary works will be honored during the 22nd Arab Media Forum. Authors will be able to interact with guests and highlight their literary achievements during book signing sessions. The forum’s dedication to fostering the growth of the Arab literary and artistic community is reflected in the sessions.