The Arab Media Forum, part of the “Arab Media Summit,” is a significant intellectual and media event in the Arab world, serving as a key platform for gathering influential figures from various political, media, academic, and intellectual sectors globally.
Annually, the forum attracts high-profile participants from the fields of politics, economy, and media, highlighting its advanced status as an exceptional event that contributes to reshaping the media vision of the region, grounded in essential pillars of innovation, professionalism, and social responsibility.
The Role of Media
During this edition in 2025, several impactful figures in the Arab scene are participating, including Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, and Nawaf Salam, the Prime Minister of Lebanon.
The summit will feature a keynote speech from Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, head of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, focusing on “The Role of Media in the Age of Algorithms.”
The forum, held under the “Arab Media Summit,” also includes an important dialogue with Faisal Al-Shibani, the Foreign Minister of Syria, and a significant session led by Dr. Anwar Gargash, the diplomatic advisor to the UAE President, discussing the positive and effective use of social media platforms and new media as tools that support political messaging and strategic objectives.
Media Ministers
The summit dedicates a main discussion session for Arab media ministers within its packed agenda, featuring contributions from Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi, the Minister of Information and Culture of Kuwait; Dr. Ramzan Al-Numai, the Minister of Information of Bahrain; Paul Marquess, the Information Minister of Lebanon; and Ahmad Muslimani, the head of the National Media Authority of Egypt. They will explore the future of official media and its potential integration with private media in crafting an impactful Arab media message.
Additionally, Dr. Ghassan Salameh, the Minister of Culture of Lebanon, will address prospects for desired stability in the region and the media’s role in supporting this legitimate ambition.
The Arab Media Summit 2025 will also welcome renowned media personalities, including the British journalist Piers Morgan, known for his distinctive interviewing style with world leaders.
In-depth Discussions
The extensive participation of political, economic, cultural, and media leaders in this current edition continues the trend established by the Arab Media Forum over the past two decades.
The forum has previously seen notable attendance from prominent political and media figures from across the Arab world. This engagement has gone beyond mere symbolic participation, significantly enriching the in-depth discussions concerning the role of media in current transformations at all levels.
The forum has facilitated meaningful discussions aimed at enhancing partnerships between political decision-makers and media institutions, striving to create responsible media that balances truth-telling with societal stability.
Throughout its various editions, the forum has attracted heads of governments and ministers from influential Arab nations, including Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly of Egypt and Amr Moussa, former Secretary-General of the Arab League and Egyptian Foreign Minister, alongside notable Gulf figures such as Dr. Abdulatif Al-Zayani, Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi, and Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf, the Secretaries-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Influential diplomats and regional figures, such as Dr. Anwar Gargash and Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa from Bahrain, have also taken part.
In the media sector, the forum has brought together leading Arab journalism figures, including Egyptian writer and thinker Emad El-Din Adeeb, Ghassan Charbel, editor-in-chief of Al-Hayat, and Mohammed Al-Hammadi, director general of the Emirates News Agency, along with notable names like Abdel-Latif El-Manaawi, Mohammed Al-Rumaihi, Raghda Dargham, and Abdulaziz Al-Khamees, who have enhanced discussions with analytical insights regarding the transformations within Arab media.
Distinguished editors-in-chief also participated, such as Nayla Tueni, Khaled Salah, Emad El-Din Hussein, and Abdelhamid Ahmed, along with prominent media personalities on screens and digital platforms, including Mustafa Al-Agha, Ali Jaber, Obadwan Al-Ahmari, and Osman Al-Omair.
On an international level, the forum attracted figures from leading global media institutions, including Thomas Friedman, columnist for The New York Times; Michael Friedenberg, CEO of Reuters; John Casey from CNBC; and Todd Benjamin from CNN, as well as editors from prestigious European and Asian outlets including George Masklo from Der Spiegel in Germany.
Diversity
The diverse presence at the forum reflects its openness and impact, which has transformed it into a strategic intellectual platform that envisions the future of media and investigates its evolving role amidst rapid political and technological changes. The sessions highlighted the media’s influence in shaping public policies.
Discussions also addressed how media can serve as a genuine voice for development rather than merely a messenger of events. Economic dimensions were not overlooked, as several businessmen and investors took part in sessions focusing on the future of digital media and the financing of media institutions.
They examined challenges faced in the context of rapid digital transformations and the involvement of influencers and content creators who have wielded significant impact through social media tools, among other pertinent topics addressed during those periods.
A Key Platform
Initiated in 2001, the forum has established itself as a principal platform for professional dialogue and the exchange of ideas and visions to enhance cooperation in the Arab media industry through interactive main sessions and workshops enriched by contributions from a committee of experts and notable figures in Arab and global media.
Throughout its editions, participants have discussed a broad spectrum of vital issues affecting Arab societies, including political, economic, and cultural matters, along with the role and impact of media in these areas and their developments, clearly analyzing the current state of the Arab media scene and envisioning its future.
Esteemed Speakers
Since its first edition, the forum has attracted a distinguished lineup of high-level speakers, including world leaders, government heads, ministers, and leading politicians, economists, experts, analysts, and academics who have shared their insights and ideas with a vast audience of media professionals and key personalities in the sector, including many of the most renowned content creators and influencers globally, significantly enriching the dialogues.
The “Arab Media Summit,” including the Arab Media Forum, serves as an optimal opportunity for constructive dialogue among government leaders and prominent media figures to explore collaboration opportunities and establish partnerships that support the development objectives of the region’s countries, enhancing the role of media in driving comprehensive development and minimizing obstacles while maximizing opportunities for prosperity among their peoples.
The summit is significant in bringing together decision-makers from the public and private sectors, thus enhancing opportunities for building partnerships that support the development goals of the region, bridging the gap between policy creators and their media execution, while creating an exceptional opportunity for young journalists and media students to gain knowledge and exposure to successful global experiences in this field.
The Cornerstone
Since its inception in 2001, the Arab Media Forum has served as a foundation for media development in the region, as participating figures have aimed to define its objectives of enhancing dialogue among media decision-makers, analyzing key media developments and phenomena, formulating policies, and projecting future strategies to support the progress of Arab media.
Participants from political, economic, and media sectors have engaged in numerous vital discussions on the growing significance of media during conflicts, the journalist’s responsibility to report the truth objectively and impartially, without resorting to propaganda that relies on misleading or one-sided information, and the importance of bridging the gap and enhancing interaction between Arab and global media.
The ultimate aim for both sides is loyalty to the truth above all else, alongside shedding light on key media developments in various Arab states, the credibility of Arab media, and the necessity for media training in the Arab world, while addressing the state of Arab journalists.
Earlier participants have also discussed various issues that have arisen over the years, such as the rise of blogging in the Arab world and its impact on public opinion and state policies, as well as the growing prevalence of reality shows inspired by foreign networks.
<h2 Enhancing Capacities
Speakers from different specialties at the forum have addressed ways to develop the media sector in the Arab world through human resource development and enhancing the performance of media institutions.
Discussions have also focused on the impact of Western media aimed at Arabs, the direction of Arab media towards globalization, as well as the regional and international evolution of Arab journalism and the Gulf media industry’s responses to technological challenges.
Forum Sessions Examining Sector Future Challenges
Forum discussions and sessions have concentrated on issues affecting the future of the media industry in the region, the language used in expressing opinion and dialogue, changes occurring within Arab nations across various areas, adapting to modern technology, and leveraging digital transformation with artificial intelligence.
The transformations initiated by the Arab Media Forum, organized under the umbrella of the “Arab Media Summit,” affirm its status as a comprehensive platform for developing the Arab media landscape, reinforcing its role as an active partner in shaping the future and creating content capable of addressing the aspirations of Arab citizens.
At the same time, it strives to maintain a balance between truth and influence. The sessions have delved into the roles of both public and private sectors in supporting the media industry and achieving financial returns, alongside the implications of technology on changing the media landscape in North African countries and the challenges faced there.
Additionally, discussions highlighted the importance of collaboration between technology and media companies and explored how technology can offer innovative solutions for the sector, including the role of electronic media as a free platform that fosters creativity and expands freedom of expression.
The discussions also encompassed broadcasting agreements in the region and alternatives to traditional media amidst the digital revolution against the backdrop of swift and impactful political, security, and social developments that are reshaping the relationship between media and society.