On the first day of the Arab Media Summit 2025, Her Excellency Mona Ghanem Al Marri, vice chairperson and managing director of the Dubai Media Council, president of the Dubai Press Club, and chairperson of the organizing committee of the Arab Media Summit, met with members of the Arab Young Media Leaders Program, organised by the Arab Youth Center. The session was moderated by Sadeq Jarrar, Executive Director of the Arab Youth Center.
During the meeting, Al Marri highlighted key aspects of the media landscape in the UAE and the region and shed light on experiences in supporting and empowering youth in this vital sector.
Nurturing young media talent
She shed light on the pioneering role of the Dubai Press Club and its various initiatives, most notably the Arab Media Summit 2025. She also highlighted the summit’s main events, including the Arab Media Forum, the Arab Youth Media Forum, and the Arab Social Media Influencers Summit, in addition to the Arab Media Award, the Ibda’a – Arab Youth Media Award, and the Arab Social Media Influencers Award.
Al Marri emphasised that a significant part of these initiatives focuses on youth, underscoring their commitment to nurturing young media talent and providing a fertile environment for creativity through specialized awards and supportive training programs.
Al Marri stresses importance of keeping pace with modern technologies
At the Arab Media Summit 2025, Al Marri also spoke about the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in empowering youth and involving them in decision-making positions, giving them ample space to contribute to planning, ideation and implementation, especially in areas related to shaping the future.
In addition, she stressed the importance of youth possessing passion, perseverance and patience, noting that opportunities are not waited for but created. She pointed out that thinking outside the box and the ability to read and analyze the media landscape are essential tools for creating opportunities today in a highly competitive environment.
“Those who don’t have a story to tell will become part of a story told by others. We must tell our stories in multiple languages and using modern tools that befit the talents and skills we possess,” she stated.
She also emphasised the importance of specialization, particularly in cultural and historical content, linking it to the art of storytelling as one of the most important aspects of media influence. Her Excellency explained that it is essential for young people to have the skills necessary to keep pace with modern technologies and to master the art of storytelling in all its forms.
UAE University and Dubai Media Council join hands
On the opening day of the Arab Media Summit 2025, the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) and the Dubai Media Council (DMC) announced a strategic partnership, where the two institutions will undertake joint initiatives focused on developing training programs and knowledge-driven projects that serve the community and promote national identity.
The partnership also seeks to support initiatives that address the fast-evolving media landscape and help cultivate a new generation of skilled Emirati professionals capable of shaping a dynamic media narrative aligned with the UAE’s vision and values.
Both parties will also work together to implement specialized practical training programs for university students, support media coverage of research projects and key national events, provide training opportunities within leading media organizations, and launch community and cultural initiatives with a strong national focus.
Ibda’a – Arab Youth Media Award
On day one of the Arab Media Summit 2025, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum honored the winners of the ninth edition of the ‘Ibda’a – Arab Youth Media Award’. Sheikh Mohammed congratulated the winners across the award’s diverse categories, commending their outstanding and original creative contributions.
The Ibda’a Award attracted 2,736 entries from across the Arab world. The Dubai Press Club established clear criteria to ensure a fair and transparent judging process, guaranteeing equal opportunities for all participants. Each winning entry received a cash prize of $5,000.
