Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Media Council, the 11th session of the Emirates Media Forum will be launched today, organized by the Dubai Press Club, with the participation of an elite group of national leaders, senior officials, media figures and content makers in the Emirates, to discuss the role of the national media in light of the rapid regional and international changes, and to enhance the readiness of the national media system to keep pace with challenges and create a positive impact. The forum, which will be held over the course of a day, will discuss… One, at the Mandarin Oriental Downtown Hotel in Dubai, under the slogan “The UAE is a Red Line”, a group of topics at a very important time, amid rapid regional developments and the successive challenges and tests the region is witnessing, which emphasized the importance of the role of the media as an essential partner in protecting national awareness, consolidating confidence and enhancing societal cohesion.
Forum sessions
The forum’s agenda includes many influential sessions, including a main session entitled “When the Nation is Tested… What Does the Media Do?” The head of the National Media Authority, Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Hamed, will speak, and the media session at Dubai Media Incorporated will be moderated by Nada Al Shaibani.
The forum devotes one of its sessions to discussing the post-crisis stage, through a session entitled “What comes after the crisis?” The Chairman of the Defense, Interior and Foreign Affairs Committee of the Federal National Council, Dr. Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, will speak, and the media session will be moderated by Mona Al Raisi from the Sharjah Broadcasting and Television Authority.
The forum also highlights the economic and investment status of the UAE through the session “The UAE is a safe haven and an investment that does not lose,” in which the founder of Emaar and Noon and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Eagle Hills, Mohammed Al Abbar, speaks, and the session is moderated by the editor-in-chief of Al Bayan newspaper, Hamid bin Karam.
The forum also addresses the security and national dimension of recent events, through the session “Safe Skies… and a Reassured People,” in which the official spokesman for the Ministry of Defense, Brigadier General Pilot Abdel Nasser Al-Humaidi, speaks about national efforts in enhancing the security of society and the reassurance of its members, and the importance of integration between national institutions in crisis management. The session is moderated by journalist Mohammed Al-Ahmad, from the Abu Dhabi Media Network.
National media dialogue
On this occasion, Vice President and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council and President of the Dubai Press Club, Mona Ghanem Al Marri, confirmed that the UAE Media Forum is being held this year at a pivotal moment that requires a professional and national pause to re-read the role and responsibilities of the media in light of the rapid changes that the world and the region are witnessing.
She said: “The 11th session of the forum is of exceptional importance, as it comes after a phase during which the region witnessed one of the most sensitive and complex periods in recent years, and the challenges and tests that accompanied it at the political, security, economic, and media levels. In this context, the forum seeks to open a responsible national dialogue about the role of the media in times of crises, and its ability to protect awareness, enhance confidence, and consolidate the national narrative, based on the firm conviction that the media is a major partner in creating stability and supporting the development process.”
She added: “The Emirati media, with its values derived from the vision and directives of our wise leadership, today presents an advanced model that combines speed of response, clarity of the message, and commitment to the truth, and these are components that we are keen to develop and confirm as the basis for media work, believing that building trust is the greatest thing that the media can achieve, and that the strength of the national message lies in its ability to reach people at the right time, from its reliable sources,” stressing that the Emirati media during the recent period was an essential partner in promoting Public awareness and strengthening confidence in national institutions.
Unconventional topics
Director of the Dubai Press Club, Maryam Al Mulla, confirmed that the 11th session of the forum is being held at an exceptional stage that requires consideration of the role of the media and its responsibilities towards society and the nation, and its contribution to protecting its gains and achievements. She said, “This year’s forum discusses current regional developments and the role of the media in enhancing community awareness and consolidating national values and constants.”
She added: “We were keen for this year’s forum to keep pace with the exceptional phase that the region is going through and the challenges it brings, by presenting a set of topics that go beyond the traditional media debate to a more comprehensive and deeper dialogue about awareness, trust, the national narrative, and the pivotal role of the media in times of major transformations.”
She added: “This session of the forum brings together various parties concerned with media work under one roof, to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the Emirati media, anticipate its future, and enhance its readiness to keep pace with the requirements of the next stage. We also highlight the inspiring national experiences that demonstrated their positive contribution during the last stage, in parallel with the forum’s goal – within its various sessions – to establish a culture of dialogue and exchange of experiences, in a way that serves the development of the national media and enhances its presence and influence locally, regionally and globally.”
Since its inception in 2013, the Emirates Media Forum has continued to perform its role as a comprehensive national platform for media dialogue, contributing to formulating common visions between the various components of the Emirati media scene, and supporting the process of developing national media, keeping pace with the UAE’s ambitions and vision for the future, and enhancing its ability to consolidate its development, humanitarian and economic model, as it is one of the most successful and influential models at the global level.
The forum’s program this year reflects a shift in the nature of media debate, from focusing on the challenges of the traditional media industry to discussing issues related to national security, community awareness, public trust, media narratives and their impact, which reflects a growing awareness of the role that the media plays in protecting national gains and enhancing the stability of societies during crises.
