Abdullah Al Hamed: The Emirati media is clear and reliable and has no limits other than national values and culture
Abu Dhabi, May 21 / WAM / His Excellency Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed, Chairman of the National Media Authority, stressed the UAE’s keenness for its media to be clear and reliable, based on the facts that can be seen on the ground.
During a session within the “Economy Middle East 2026” summit, which was launched today and moderated by Lubna Bouza, Head of the Economic News Department at Sky News Arabia, His Excellency said that the media is a “soft power” that reflects the true image of the state, and highlights the strength of the economy, government, governance, culture, and community unity, and thus contributes to attracting investments and tourism.
He added that Emirati society enjoys a high degree of awareness thanks to the role played by the UAE government in various aspects of life, stressing that the Emirati media plays an important role in educating people and conveying the truth clearly, transparently and directly.
He stressed that the next stage requires maximizing media access by the UAE, beyond the Arab world and building trust with the global audience.
His Excellency Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed spoke about false and misleading news in the global media scene, pointing out that the debate over the past decades focused on “media freedom” only. He stressed that transparency, credibility, truth and sustainability represent the basic pillars of any reliable media and said: “If these four elements are not available, then the quality of the media that is followed must be questioned.”
He pointed out that the density of false and misleading news in the current media scene makes it difficult for the public to find reliable news, pointing out that some of these campaigns are led by bad and short-sighted administrations or parties trying to spread chaos within societies because they live on chaos.
His Excellency stressed that any country is built on values and morals, and that losing these values leads to the loss of society itself, pointing out that the UAE was built on a system of values, culture, and societal unity that the country is keen to preserve.
He explained that the UAE grants the media the necessary freedom to work, but within the limits of national values and culture and verification of information, pointing out that there are no examples of a media without borders that has been able to preserve the strength and unity of society.
His Excellency said that the world has witnessed many cases in which media practices have weakened the unity of societies and lost their cohesion. He added that when browsing social media platforms today, a person may find it difficult to find reliable news.
Regarding the ability of solid, reliable media to compete in the world of speed and social media spaces, His Excellency Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed stressed the importance of keeping up with rapid technological developments and understanding how algorithms and digital platforms work, pointing out that smart devices have become capable of analyzing users’ interests and interacting with them in an advanced manner.
He explained that understanding technology, in addition to adhering to the foundations of reliable media, returns responsibility to individuals and institutions in choosing sources of news and information, and the ability to distinguish between truth and falsehood.
Regarding the speed of news transmission in the era of artificial intelligence and the spread of misinformation, His Excellency stressed the importance of relying on reliable sources from the beginning. He added that the media “may be a little slower than others, but it is more credible because it spreads the truth and not fake news.”
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