The UAE wins membership in the Executive Office of the Council of Arab Information Ministers

The UAE won membership in the Executive Office of the Council of Arab Information Ministers during the office’s meeting held at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States in Cairo, in a new confirmation of the country’s pioneering position in developing Arab media work, and its effective role in formulating joint Arab media policies and initiatives.

This came during the participation of the UAE delegation, headed by Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed, Chairman of the National Media Office and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Media Council, in the 55th session of the Council of Arab Information Ministers, which was held at the headquarters of the General Secretariat in Cairo, in the presence of the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Ahmed Aboul Gheit.

Abdullah Al Hamed stressed that this selection embodies the confidence that the UAE enjoys in the Arab media arena, and expresses the member states’ appreciation for their efforts to enhance joint Arab action, in addition to their role in developing legislative frameworks that support responsible and innovative media capable of keeping pace with developments and anticipating the future.

He pointed out that the UAE will continue to employ its advanced expertise in serving the Arab media work, by supporting initiatives aimed at improving content, empowering competencies, and benefiting from the accelerating pace of digital transformation, which contributes to building a more influential Arab media and the ability to keep pace with the requirements of tomorrow.

Abdullah Al Hamed delivered the UAE’s speech during the meeting, which he began by conveying the greetings of the wise leadership of the UAE, and its deep appreciation to the Arab media ministers for the constructive efforts they are making in serving the media message, and enhancing its presence as an effective tool in spreading awareness, consolidating values, and keeping pace with the challenges and changes in our Arab and global surroundings.

He stressed that the responsibility of the Arab media today goes beyond the limits of coverage and the traditional message, to become an effective force in development and stability, a guardian of identity, and a bridge linking reality and the aspirations of peoples. He pointed out that from here comes the importance of the Arab Media Code of Honor, which represents an ethical and professional framework that reunites the diaspora of media practice on a common basis of honesty, fairness and respect for human dignity, and is not just a theoretical document but a tool for enhancing professionalism and responsibility in media work.

Abdullah Al Hamed pointed out that this charter, in its essence, is not a restriction but rather a protection for the profession and a safeguard for the public’s right to obtain pure information not tainted by misleading, explaining that its recent amendments came to complement this goal, and confirm that the Arab media must be an element of stability and support for social cohesion, not a factor of confusion or division among peoples.

The head of the National Media Office stressed that there is a need to redefine our relationship with digital media from a professional and ethical standpoint, stressing that this space has become the most influential in shaping awareness, and does not recognize geographical borders.

Abdullah Al Hamed noted that digital media today requires us to develop a unified Arab vision that balances freedom of expression with responsibility for content, protects the public from the massive flow of rumors and falsification, and restores the Arab media’s competitive presence through platforms capable of producing knowledge.

Abdullah Al Hamed explained that there is a need to invest in the existence of the Arab Committee for Electronic Media as a joint experience system upon which joint policies and developments are built, so that it anticipates the future risks of the digital space instead of being satisfied with reactions, stressing the importance of strengthening Arab cooperation to confront the challenges of digital media and achieve a sustainable positive impact in Arab society.

During his speech, he touched on the role of the Arab media in confronting the phenomenon of terrorism, pointing out that confronting terrorism remains at its core a battle of awareness before it is a battle of the field, pointing out that extremist organizations realized from the beginning that controlling minds is more effective than on battlefields, so they invaded social media platforms and spread the discourse of violence in soft and malicious ways.

Abdullah Al Hamed stressed that the Arab media has a decisive role in dismantling terrorist propaganda, exposing the incoherence of its rhetoric, and highlighting the human and religious values ​​that honor life and reject extremism and extremism.

He stressed that this responsibility requires unifying media messages, enhancing cooperation between institutions, and investing in the latest technical tools to detect extremist campaigns early and deprive them of the environment in which they grow, stressing that every word affects the confrontation of extremism, every delay is costly, and every silence leaves room for dark forces to fill the void.

Abdullah Al Hamed explained that any reform or renaissance path cannot be built without developing the capabilities of Arab media cadres, stressing that quality is not just a slogan, but rather a work system that begins with serious training, through developing production tools, and arriving at an environment that rewards creativity and holds accountable for negligence.

He added that the Arab media today is required to be a researcher, analyst, investigator, and content maker at the same time, stressing that achieving this equation requires the establishment of joint Arab programs for professional empowerment, strengthening partnerships between institutions, and establishing clear standards of excellence that measure competence, not just titles.

During his speech, Abdullah Al Hamed also touched on the necessity of employing advanced technologies in the Arab media and the extent of its impact on the human element, as His Excellency pointed out that the deeper transformation imposed by artificial intelligence on the media scene is not a threat to the human element as much as it is a test of the ability of institutions to adapt, noting that the machine does not have a conscience, but it improves performance, while the human remains the owner of vision and meaning.

He added that what is required is not fear of technology, but rather using it wisely by establishing controls that protect privacy, ensure transparency, and prevent abusive uses that may turn the media into chaos coordinated by senseless algorithms.