Dubai: Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed, Chairman of the National Media Office and the UAE Media Council, emphasized that the global competitiveness and relevance of media institutions hinge on their ability to adapt to emerging technologies and understand their application.
According to Emirates News Agency, Al Hamed, speaking during a ministerial panel at the 23rd edition of the Arab Media Forum, highlighted the essential shift from traditional media to technology-driven platforms. He warned that media entities that fail to embrace this transformation risk becoming obsolete.
Al Hamed stated, ‘Media platforms that fail to adapt to modern technologies will vanish,’ and noted that the transformation is still in its early stages, evolving rapidly and continuously. He called for a responsible and conscious use of modern tools.
The session featured several Arab media leaders, including Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi from Kuwait, Dr. Ramzan bin Abdullah Al Noaimi from Bahrain, Ahmed El-Meslemany from Egypt, and Paul Morcos from Lebanon, and was moderated by Hind Al Naqbi from Dubai Media Incorporated.
Al-Mutairi emphasized the role of Arab media institutions in adapting to digital shifts, noting that about 70 percent of news consumption now happens through social media. He stressed the importance of speed, credibility, and transparency in maintaining public trust and relevance in the Arab world.
He also highlighted that media credibility relies on ethical codes and strategic coordination to ensure accurate and meaningful content delivery.
El-Meslemany advocated for a renewed vision of Arab unity, grounded in shared values rather than ideological agendas, to promote a more cohesive Arab society.
Paul Morcos underscored the need for content sharing among Arab media outlets to facilitate the transition to tech-enabled models. He praised the Arab Media Summit for providing a platform to share expertise and develop a collective media cooperation vision, especially in response to challenges posed by artificial intelligence.
Dr. Ramzan Al Noaimi pointed out the importance of embracing technological advancements, particularly AI, to produce impactful Arabic content. He called for resource allocation and training programs to explore these technologies and warned against fearing modern technologies, instead turning them into opportunities.
Al Noaimi also stressed harmonizing media and telecommunications laws due to their interconnected nature and highlighted the pivotal role of youth in leading transformation and adapting to AI-driven changes.
El-Meslemany added that media should reflect national achievements and partner in scientific and developmental progress. ‘We must move forward scientifically and productively,’ he stated.
Reinforcing this stance, Al Hamed reiterated that media institutions need to adapt their approaches to engage individuals and communities in a digital-first era, gain trust, and address the concerns of Arab citizens. He warned that institutions failing to align with this mission would lose their audience, noting some major global outlets have lost up to 60 percent of their viewership while individual voices gain influence.
He cautioned that modern media platforms operate across borders without regard for national laws or cultural values. He urged media institutions to swiftly adopt new technologies, improve content, and regain public trust.
Al Hamed also stressed equipping school students with media literacy to discern real from fake news and navigate the digital media landscape effectively.
Al-Mutairi concluded by emphasizing the importance of institutional memory and past successes in guiding media development strategies. He cited Kuwait’s efforts to align platforms with technological changes while expressing Arab identity, asserting that media aligning with societal awareness becomes more sustainable and progressive.
He lauded the Arab Media Summit for encouraging a productive exchange of ideas that helps reshape Arab media institutions and prepare them for the future.
