The two-day Arab Media Forum (AMF) built around the theme ‘Bridging Arab Media Through Technology’ opened at the Monarch Hotel in Dubai. In its seventh edition, the AMF has brought together over 500 top regional and international media professionals and intellectuals to hold in-depth discussions on how the transformation of technology has impacted the local, regional and international media.
Welcoming the participants, Shaikh Maktoum, in his keynote address, underlined the importance of the event as an “important platform for constructive dialogue among Arab and international media experts”.
Referring to Dubai’s remarkable success as a leading media centre, Shaikh Maktoum said: “Dubai has excelled in all sectors, establishing itself as a leading global media hub. We attribute this success to His Highness Shaikh Mohammed’s vision that recognizes the key role of media and technology as cornerstones for our development.”
He added: “Dubai has translated this futuristic vision on the ground through leading initiatives such as Dubai Internet City and Dubai Media City that have successfully integrated media and technology, the two main building blocks for establishing a knowledge economy. “The Arab Media Forum has consolidated Dubai’s status as a prime media platform for the exchange of views and ideas on the future of the industry in the region.”
Shaikh Maktoum noted: “ Modern technologies have resulted in enhancing the global impact of media. As part of this phenomenon, the Arab media is now playing a major role on the political, economic and social landscape. It is therefore vitally important for Arab media organizations to utilise the opportunities offered by technology advancements.”
Day one at the AMF also explored the role of technology and its applications as the main driving elements of the industry. The discussions shed light not only on the impact of new technologies on the Arab media, but also on the new forms of media engineered by the technological revolution, such as User Generated Content (UGC) and on-line newspapers. It also promises to chart a new course for the activities of the Dubai Press Club, which is making consistent efforts to keep pace with developments in the industry.
Since its first edition in 2001, the Arab Media Forum has gone on to become the most important media event in the entire Middle East, attracting the attention of media circles all over the world.
The specialised workshops held on the sidelines of the forum focused attention on media and technology in the region. Curtains will come down on the two-day forum today with a gala ceremony to present the Arab Journalism Awards, celebrating and honouring the works of regional media professionals for their valuable contribution to the industry.
