Cairo: The UAE has been elected to the Executive Office of the Arab Information Ministers Council during its meeting held at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States in Cairo, reaffirming the country's role in advancing Arab media cooperation and shaping joint media policies and initiatives.
According to Emirates News Agency, the announcement came as the UAE delegation, headed by Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed, Chairman of the National Media Office and Chairman of the UAE Media Council, took part in the 55th ordinary session of the Council of Arab Information Ministers held at the General Secretariat in Cairo, in the presence of Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States.
Al Hamed stated that the UAE's election reflects the confidence it enjoys on the Arab media landscape and the appreciation of member states for its efforts in enhancing joint Arab action and developing legislative frameworks that support responsible, innovative, and future-oriented media. He noted that the UAE will continue leveraging its expertise to support Arab media development by strengthening content quality, empowering talent, and harnessing digital transformation to build a more impactful and future-ready Arab media sector.
In his address to the Council, Al Hamed conveyed the greetings of the UAE's leadership and expressed appreciation to Arab information ministers for their efforts in strengthening the role of media as a tool for awareness-building, value promotion, and addressing developments across the Arab and global landscape. He emphasized the responsibilities of Arab media as a force for development and stability, highlighting the importance of the Arab Media Code of Honour as an ethical framework to unify media practice on the basis of truth, fairness, and respect for human dignity.
Al Hamed underscored that the Code is a safeguard for the profession and for the public's right to information. Its latest amendments reinforce the principle that Arab media must be an instrument of stability and social cohesion. He also emphasized the need to redefine the region's relationship with digital media on professional and ethical grounds, noting that the digital space has become the most influential arena of public awareness.
He highlighted the importance of adopting a unified Arab vision that balances freedom of expression with content responsibility and restores the presence of Arab media through knowledge-driven platforms. Al Hamed stressed the value of the Arab Electronic Media Committee as a shared platform for shaping collective policies and anticipating future digital risks, calling for deeper Arab cooperation to address digital media challenges.
Addressing the role of Arab media in countering terrorism, he stated that combating extremism is fundamentally a battle of awareness, with Arab media playing a role in dismantling extremist propaganda. He added that strengthening the capabilities of Arab media professionals is essential, noting that excellence requires rigorous training, improved production tools, and an environment that rewards creativity.
He highlighted the increasing demand on media professionals to be multitaskers and called for joint Arab programmes for professional development. Speaking on advanced technologies in media, Al Hamed said that artificial intelligence is a test of institutional adaptability, with machines enhancing performance while humans remain the source of vision.
Al Hamed concluded by calling on Arab information ministers to share their insights on developing Arab media further, particularly through the upcoming global BRIDGE Summit in Abu Dhabi in December. The UAE delegation also included other prominent figures such as Mohammed Saeed Al Shehhi and Hamad Obaid Al Zaabi.
The 55th ordinary session of the Council of Arab Information Ministers discussed various topics, including the Palestinian cause, the Arab Media Code of Honour, electronic media, and the integration of modern technologies and artificial intelligence.