His Excellency Zaki Nusseibeh, Cultural Advisor to His Highness the President of the UAE and Chancellor of the United Arab Emirates University, celebrated the World Media Congress 2022 for demonstrating the UAE’s exceptional capability to stage international exhibitions. The Congress, held under the theme ‘Shaping the Future of the Media Sector’ was hosted in the period 15^th to 17^th November under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court. His Excellency applauded the Congress for signaling the UAE’s leadership in using digital technologies, artificial intelligence, innovation, and creativity to expand the potential of media.

He said, “It brings great pleasure that Abu Dhabi is host to the World Media Congress and its program of activity. It is truly a global platform including leaders, decision makers and executives from prominent international media companies. Our ability to host the event confirms the wise vision of our nation’s leadership in its continuous endeavors to ensure that the development of our media sector advances in keep with rapid technological developments in tools, methods, platforms, and digitization. This means that the UAE can produce globally competitive content of note the world over and is able to influence international public opinion on major world issues”.

His Excellency explained, “The late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan believed that media played an important role in the birth and development of the United Arab Emirates, our homeland. He paid great attention to this vital sector because he recognized that media is the key to effective communication to society of changes that affect the population. During his time many significant media institutions and companies were established, operating locally, regionally, and globally, often in partnership with international entities. This enabled the remarkable rapid development of the UAE to be conveyed to the world".

He added, “Thanks to God and the wisdom of our wise leadership our media institutions have raised the bar, producing important useful communications in multiple languages. These developments match the nation’s advance in all sectors. Today we are a competitive player in media, on both the domestic and international scene.

He emphasized that the UAE is recognized for its intensive use of communications and media technologies, which are backed up by rich economic and scientific resources. In addition, the UAE’s media institutions display great openness, enabling them to source the latest global developments in informatics.

He called attention to the need to attract talented and creative youth throughout the media sector, to enhance their roles, and to refine their skills in a work environment that is very broad and rich and not restricted to writing or presenting news. This would mean that their innovative ideas could impact the local and global media scene across professions including content creation, production, and direction across the fields of journalism, radio, television, the Internet and social media. He said youth needed to be able to produce attractive media material in multiple languages, addressed to all levels and segments of local and international society.

His Excellency concluded with this advice to young people: “If you wish to enter this important professional field, prioritize attention to innovation and creativity, and place great value on tolerance, humanitarianism, peace and love. Maintain the credibility of your work by obtaining information from reliable sources and know that professional work in the media carries an immense responsibility to your families, your society, and your nation”.