The media is a strategic force that creates awareness, supports development, and builds trust between societies

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Media Council, chaired the first meeting of the Dubai Media Council for the year 2026, which was held at the headquarters of Dubai Media Incorporated, where His Highness was briefed on Dubai Media’s strategy and the future directions of the sector, within the framework of a comprehensive vision aimed at consolidating Dubai’s position as a global center for the media and creative economy, and an influential force in the Arab and international content industry.

During the meeting, His Highness approved the launch of the “Dubai+” platform, to be a digital platform specialized in providing purposeful and diverse media content that addresses all family members, reflects the vitality and development of the media scene in Dubai, and keeps pace with the rapid transformations in digital content consumption patterns.

His Highness said in a blog post on the “X” platform: “Today, during the Dubai Media Council meeting, you approved the launch of the Dubai+ platform as a new digital platform for all family members, which embodies the emirate’s vision of providing and creating meaningful content.”

His Highness added: “During the meeting, we also directed the Council team to work on developing an integrated strategy for the films and cinema sector, with the aim of improving local production capabilities, empowering talent, and providing an attractive environment for regional and international productions.”

His Highness continued: “We are moving confidently towards a competitive, renewed media that is able to keep pace with the rapid transformations in Dubai, to be a reflection of its ambition and status, and to consolidate its role as the capital of the creative economy.”

“Dubai+” embodies Dubai Media’s vision of building an integrated digital media system, through a wide library of local, Arab and international series and films, thus enhancing Dubai’s presence as a regional center for the production and distribution of creative content.

The meeting, in the presence of His Highness, also discussed future trends to enhance local production capabilities and celebrate cinema as an art, culture and creativity, during which Samer Al Marzouqi, Director of Film and Production Department at Dubai Media Council, reviewed future plans to develop the seventh art industry, within a government vision that invests in the cinematic movement and the creative and economic aspect, and through various shows that suit all members of society and celebrate the best Emirati and international talents.

The meeting also reviewed the program for the Emirati-Kuwaiti media celebration, which is organized by the Dubai Press Club under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, “may God protect him,” and under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, “may God protect him,” to celebrate the established historical and fraternal relations that bring together the two brotherly peoples, embodying the pivotal role of the media in strengthening bridges of cultural and media communication. Arabic.

During the meeting, which was attended by the Vice President and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council, Mona Ghanem Al Marri, the Secretary General of the Council, Nihal Badri, and the members, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum listened to an explanation about the national and community campaigns implemented by “Brand Dubai”, the creative arm of the Dubai Government’s Media Office, during the year 2025, during which the Director of Brand Dubai, Shaima Al Suwaidi, reviewed the results of the “Zayed and Rashid” campaign organized by Brand Dubai. For the second year in a row, in partnership with many governmental, semi-governmental and private entities and with broad community interaction, as well as the results of the “Watta Hatta” campaign implemented by “Brand Dubai” within the framework of the “Dubai Destinations” initiative.

On the sidelines of the meeting, His Highness was briefed on the latest external broadcasting technologies at Dubai Media Incorporated and its partners, as they use technology that is the first of its kind in the Middle East.

During the meeting, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum stressed the importance of continuing to develop the media sector in Dubai, with a focus on the basic constants, foremost of which is investing in people and talent, empowering youth, and employing technology and artificial intelligence to improve the quality of content and the extent of its impact, in addition to attracting qualitative investments to support the media economy.

His Highness said: We in Dubai believe that the media is not just a carrier of messages, but rather a strategic force that creates awareness, supports development, and builds trust between communities. From this standpoint, we work according to a vision that anticipates the future by accelerating the pace of innovation, expanding investment in people and talent, and strengthening strategic partnerships capable of transforming ideas into tangible impact.
His Highness added: Launching the “Dubai+” platform, developing the media system, and supporting the film and creative industries sector, come within an integrated vision that aims to make Dubai a global center for digital media and content creation, and a major lever for the creative economy, in line with the speed of the emirate’s development and its future ambitions.

For her part, Mona Al Marri confirmed that the Council is keen to translate its strategic objectives into tangible results by adopting clear governance standards, measurable performance indicators, and updated legislative frameworks that regulate the work of the media sector. She said: The next stage depends on a continuous monitoring and evaluation methodology, to ensure speed of achievement, clarity of responsibilities, and achieving tangible positive results at the level of the sector and the system as a whole.

In turn, Nihal Badri explained that the Council continues its efforts to strengthen the media system in Dubai and raise the level of sector competitiveness by encouraging the private sector to increase the area of ​​its participation in the sector, accelerating the pace of content development and building distinguished media narrative capabilities in line with Dubai’s vision for the future, in addition to focusing on improving operational performance, innovation and influencing the public, and investing in developing the talent and skills necessary for the media sector, in addition to employing technology and advanced production capabilities to support the prosperity of the sector.