Ahmed Al-Shara'a, the President of Syria, participated in the opening of the Arab Media Summit in Dubai on Tuesday with a keynote speech titled "The Future of Syria." This is the first time a Syrian president has attended this event.
The organizers of the summit announced that this three-day event at the Dubai World Trade Center is considered the largest media summit in its history, featuring over 175 sessions with more than 400 speakers from 23 countries across 8 different forums.
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Cybersecurity Challenges in Dubai
Ahmed Al-Shara'a stated in an interview on the sidelines of the summit that it seems tensions in the region are "on the rise," but the countries in the region must maintain their calm and cooperate with each other. On the sidelines of the event, the United Arab Emirates provided more details about the cyberattacks it has faced this year.
Dr. Mohammed Al-Kuwaiti, Chairman of the UAE Cybersecurity Council, announced that every missile or drone attack on a port, refinery, or airport has been accompanied by a cyberattack on the same target. He emphasized the need to establish an international convention to regulate state behavior in cyberspace.
Growth and Transformation in Dubai's Media Sector
Dubai also presented new statistics regarding its media sector. Nahl Badri, Secretary-General of the Dubai Media Council, announced that media now constitutes 1.4% of the emirate's GDP, while this figure was only 0.5% in 2023. The council aims to increase this figure to 3% by 2033.
Badri emphasized the importance of retaining companies in Dubai, stating, "We are not only looking to attract companies but also striving to retain them." He noted that the definition of media has also expanded to include film, gaming, podcasts, and influencers in addition to journalism.
At this summit, panels featuring Gulf drama actors, media activists, and representatives from the United Nations discussed the role of media in people-to-people diplomacy. Dr. Ali Rashid Al-Nuaimi, Chairman of the Defense and Interior Affairs Committee of the Federal National Council of the UAE, stressed the need for investment in people-to-people diplomacy and stated that media should take the lead in this area.
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