His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Media Council, met with Dr. Nawaf Salam, the Prime Minister of Lebanon, during the Arab Media Summit held in Dubai yesterday.
During the meeting, which was attended by Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, His Highness welcomed the Lebanese Prime Minister. He emphasized the depth of cooperation between the UAE and Lebanon, rooted in the historical and fraternal ties shared by both nations and their peoples. He expressed the UAE and Dubai’s commitment to strengthening this collaboration across various sectors, particularly in media, highlighting Lebanon’s rich legacy in the field and the UAE’s technological capabilities and human resources which position it as a leading center for creativity and innovation in numerous areas, especially in media.
For his part, the Lebanese Prime Minister acknowledged the UAE’s constructive efforts and contributions, which have a noticeable positive impact on both regional and international development. He commended Dubai for hosting the significant Arab Media Summit, viewing it as a valuable platform for discussions and an ideal opportunity for exchanging ideas and perspectives on enhancing the capabilities of Arab media and elevating its message, thereby serving Arab populations and supporting their aspirations for a stable and prosperous future. He expressed gratitude on behalf of Lebanon for the UAE’s noble support for Lebanon and its people at all times, wishing for continued progress and prosperity for the UAE and its leadership.
Meeting with the Grand Imam
Additionally, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum met with Professor Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Council of Muslim Elders, during the Arab Media Summit.
During their encounter, His Highness welcomed the Grand Imam, wishing him good health and expressing his deep appreciation for his efforts, as well as Al-Azhar’s crucial role in promoting the message of tolerance and human coexistence, fostering respect for others, and accurately presenting the true essence of Islam, which emphasizes noble values and a message of goodwill, amity, and harmony.
The meeting, also attended by His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the UAE National Olympic Committee, and Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, revolved around the UAE’s commitment to establishing shared human values and its ongoing quest to nurture a culture of coexistence and civil dialogue, as well as to uphold the foundations of peace and understanding globally.
The discussion addressed the essential role of media in instilling authentic Islamic and Arab values while counteracting phenomena that threaten to undermine youth, demanding that media be equipped to tackle such challenges effectively—a significant responsibility for the industry.
The Grand Imam praised the pioneers’ role of the UAE, led by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, in regional and international matters, and their contributions to serving Islam and promoting peace and development both locally and globally in a manner that values human life and seeks to achieve welfare.
He appreciated the UAE’s dedication to addressing Islamic community issues, continuing its historical support for its brethren, notably in backing the Palestinian cause and the Palestinian people at all levels.
Strengthening Joint Efforts
Furthermore, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum highlighted that the political and technological developments happening in the region and the world necessitate reinforcing Arab cooperation to unify the Arab voice and the region’s message to the world, which fundamentally calls for affirming the principles of peace and enabling peoples to continue their legitimate pursuits toward a future marked by stability and progress.
This was stated during his meeting, attended by Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, with the Arab ministers of media participating in the Arab Media Summit that commenced yesterday.
His Highness exchanged opinions and viewpoints with the participating ministers regarding the requirements of Arab media in the upcoming phase and the need for intensified cooperation and coordination on pressing regional issues, emphasizing the vital role of media and its capacity to steer outcomes toward achieving prosperity for the Arab region and its peoples.
His Highness reaffirmed the UAE’s support for media and journalists, under the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, grounded in the belief that media is a partner in sustainable development through its ability to drive positive change in communities and motivate efforts toward advancement.
In turn, the Arab media ministers participating in the summit expressed their profound gratitude to the UAE for its leadership role in supporting Arab issues regionally and internationally, and for its significant contributions to fostering human progress through various projects and initiatives aimed at serving the broader Arab community. This includes the “Arab Media Summit” organized by Dubai, aiming to foster dialogue among Arab media leaders and key players to outline clear visions for the sector’s future and assert its positive impact on achieving the anticipated Arab renaissance and channeling efforts toward a future filled with opportunities for advancement and prosperity.
The meeting was attended by His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Batti Al Hamed, Chairman of the National Media Office and Chairman of the UAE Media Council, alongside Bahrain’s Minister of Information, Dr. Ramzan bin Abdullah Al Nuaimi, Lebanon’s Minister of Information, Paul Marquois, and Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Vice President and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council, President of the Dubai Press Club, and Chair of the Organizing Committee for the Arab Media Summit.