Abu dhabi: Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed, Chairman of the National Media Authority (NMA), emphasized the UAE’s commitment to ensuring its media remains clear, credible, and grounded in facts that are evident on the ground. Speaking during a session at the ‘Economy Middle East Summit 2026,’ moderated by Lubna Bouza, Head of Business News at Sky News Arabia, Al Hamed described the media as a ‘soft power’ that mirrors the country’s true image, emphasizing its economy, governance, culture, and social cohesion, thus aiding in attracting investment and tourism.
According to Emirates News Agency, Al Hamed highlighted that Emirati society benefits from a high degree of awareness due to the UAE government’s role across various life aspects. He stressed that UAE media plays a crucial role in educating the public and conveying the truth clearly and transparently. He underscored the need for the UAE to expand its media influence beyond the Arab world to build trust with global audiences in the upcoming phase.
Addressing the global challenge of fake and misleading news, Al Hamed noted past discussions primarily centered around ‘media freedom.’ He emphasized that transparency, credibility, truth, and sustainability are the core pillars of any dependable media outlet. He pointed out the prevalence of fake news in today’s media environment, which complicates the audience’s ability to find reliable information. Some campaigns, he noted, are driven by misguided administrations or entities looking to instigate chaos within societies.
Al Hamed stressed that nations are built on values and ethics, and losing these values can lead to societal downfall. He highlighted that the UAE was founded on a framework of values, culture, and social unity, which the country is dedicated to preserving. He explained that while the UAE grants media outlets the freedom to operate, this is within the confines of national values and information verification, as unrestricted media has not succeeded in maintaining societal strength and unity.
He pointed out that the world has seen instances where media practices weakened societal cohesion and unity. He added that identifying trustworthy news is challenging when browsing social media platforms today. On serious and credible media’s ability to compete in a world dominated by social media, Al Hamed emphasized the importance of keeping up with rapid technological developments and understanding digital platforms. He explained that smart devices can now analyze and interact with users’ interests in advanced ways.
Furthermore, Al Hamed stressed the importance of relying on trusted sources amid the fast transmission of news in the era of artificial intelligence and misinformation. He noted that although a media outlet might be slower, it gains credibility by publishing truth rather than fake news.