The 8th edition of the Emirati Media Forum was held on 10 April, 2023, at the Dubai Press Club (DPC). Organised by the DPC, the event brought together leading media personalities, heads of media institutions in the UAE, prominent writers, and intellectuals.
Speaking on the occasion, HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Media Council, said that the media must take advantage of new opportunities brought in by the evolution of technology and work to mitigate challenges that could hamper the industry’s growth. “We seek to accelerate the growth of Dubai’s media sector and enhance its ability to keep pace with the rapid changes sweeping the industry worldwide. We firmly believe in the media’s ability to serve as a key partner in driving Dubai’s development,” he adds.
Sheikh Ahmed also emphasized the importance of upskilling media professionals to handle new tools and technologies. He comments, “Technology is changing the way many sectors operate. Dubai’s advanced infrastructure and capabilities place it in an ideal position to shape its own bright future. The media must play a strong role in helping the emirate achieve its objectives.”
The Emirati Media Forum also hosted a panel discussion featuring HE Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, and advisory board member of the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), on the rapid transformation in technology and its impact on various industries, including media.
Al Olama stated that the UAE has always been in the forefront of adopting new technologies and making significant investments in building a world-class infrastructure, including facilitating the graduation of 400 AI experts in collaboration with leading universities around the world. “From an early stage, the country has invested in empowering people and developed an integrated strategy for artificial intelligence. The world’s largest companies in AI and other advanced technologies have chosen the UAE as their regional or global headquarters, further cementing the country’s position as a hub of innovation,” he says.
The Minister pointed out that the expected economic impact of AI on various global sectors in the next 10 years is a staggering $7 trillion.
Al Olama also spoke of how AI can help increase the volume and quality of Arabic content online and how media institutions can utilize AI technologies to develop and summarise content in different formats with minimum human intervention. Citing the use of computer-generated imagery (CGI) in video game art and film special effects as an example, the Minister says, “In the past, producing such clips required specialized teams and complicated equipment. Today, these clips can be made within seconds with just a few simple commands on a mobile device.”
Speaking on how technological advancements provide media with exceptional opportunities for creative expression, DPC President Mona Al Marri says, “Technological evolution is rewriting the rules of the media sector. Media professionals must stay abreast of new media technologies and utilize them to provide engaging and credible content to their audiences. The discussions at the Emirati Media Forum explored how advanced digital technologies such as artificial intelligence can be deployed to raise competitiveness of the UAE media sector.”
First held in 2013, the Emirati Media Forum serves as a platform to discuss the current state of the media industry, build communication bridges within the various media fields, help local media gain new insights on ways to develop leadership and capabilities required to accelerate growth, and examine challenges and opportunities in the industry.
