The Dubai Press Club (DPC) has announced the launch of the Arab Media Summit, under the auspices of which the 22nd Arab Media Forum May 28-29, and the second Arab Youth Media Forum (May 27) will take place in Dubai, creating a unified platform for DPC’s events, promoting knowledge exchange and dialogue in the media industry, a report said.

The 23rd Arab Media Award and the fourth Arab Social Media Influencers Award, will be held at Arab Media Forum, Emirates News Agency, WAM, said.

Mona Ghanem Al Marri, head of the Arab Media Forum, said that the Arab Media Summit will serve as a high-profile platform for the exchange of ideas, insights, expertise and experiences that can help the media industry contribute to realising the aspirations of the people of the region.

“The summit will bring together media professionals to discuss the sector's transformations and challenges, ensuring that Arab media can fulfil its responsibilities as a key partner in sustainable development.”

The forum will serve as a premier platform in the Arab world to discuss the future of the region’s evolving media landscape, this year’s forum will feature the participation of prominent politicians, media industry leaders, editors in chief, distinguished writers, thinkers, influencers, and content creators from the UAE, the Arab world and the region.

The forum will feature a series of discussions focused on analysing the key political, economic, social, technological and cultural developments driving the media’s transformation, as well as the sector’s own role in the changes sweeping the region.

Al Marri also highlighted that the second Arab Youth Media Forum will be dedicated to empowering the next generation of media professionals and influencers in the region.

Saying that the Arab Media Award recognises media excellence in the region, she said: "We are committed to including more young media talent in the next Board of Directors of the Arab Media Award. This year’s edition marks the end of the current board's term, and the new board will focus on evolving the award to keep pace with both regional and global media advancements."

The main sessions at the 22nd Arab Media Forum include the ‘Future of Yemen’, which will see Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak, Prime Minister of Yemen, sharing his vision for building a lasting peace in Yemen and the role of the media in promoting dialogue and peaceful coexistence.

Jasem Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, will speak at another main session called ‘Charting the GCC’s Future’ on how closer integration of media in the GCC will help the region adopt a united approach on vital issues and strengthen bonds between its people.

Dr Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, Diplomatic Advisor to the UAE President, will engage in a one-on-one conversation with Faisal bin Huraiz of Sky News Arabia. The discussion will cover current regional challenges and their repercussions on the development of the Gulf and Arab region.

Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, will speak at a session titled ‘Tech Updates in Media’.

In a dialogue session, Abdul Rahman Al-Mutairi, Minister of Information and Culture of Kuwait, will speak about media development in the country in light of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Information’s digital transformation strategy.

Global industry leaders participating in the discussions at the Arab Media Forum include Pavel Durov, Founder of Telegram and VKontakte, two of the world’s most popular social media apps.

Dr Maitha Buhumaid, Director of the Dubai Press Club, said the events will feature over 110 main, dialogue and closed sessions and workshops as well as 40 side events.

It is expected to bring together more than 4,000 participants, including 200 from outside the UAE, the events feature over 250 speakers and 200 prominent media figures.

Buhumaid revealed that the Arab Media Forum will see the launch of several new media initiatives aimed at serving youth at both Arab and local levels. These include specialised reports on new media trends and a new programme dedicated to a creative sector in the industry.

The forum will also highlight the success stories of Arab women in senior positions in global media organisations, and delve into the complex world of disinformation and AI in media.