The Global Media Congress (GMC) plays a pioneering role in strengthening the UAE’s well-established position as a pivotal centre for the media industry and a destination for creators, innovators and talents in the sector worldwide, according to top media executives.

Presidents and CEOs of international media companies told the Emirates News Agency (WAM) that the GMC bolsters the UAE’s prominent position globally as a leading hub in the international media industry, describing the UAE as an “incubator” for creativity and innovation, especially in the media sector, given its incentive environment and many programmes and initiatives that attract and encourage creators and innovators.

The media leaders added that the second edition of the Global Media Congress will explore the latest developments, trends and prospects in the media landscape, building on the resounding success achieved by the inaugural edition. They expect the second edition to produce constructive recommendations and outcomes that will stimulate industry growth within the UAE and beyond.

Drastic transformations

Nidal Abou Zaki, Managing Director of Orient Planet Group, affirmed that the Global Media Congress is convened at an important time when the media industry is experiencing drastic transformations and rapid changes with new technologies, particularly the AI and its applications pose new challenges and open up, at the same time, new prospects before the media sector. He pointed out that the international media event will provide a fitting platform for discussions on the future of the media and the role of new technologies in shaping its future.

“The Global Media Congress offers an important opportunity to embrace the most important experts and specialists in the media profession from various parts of the world to discuss the most important topics regarding the media industry, indicating that the event provides an ideal platform that allows media professionals and specialists to communicate with a group of thought leaders in the sector, to identify the latest trends and enhance joint cooperation to develop new and innovative ideas, which strengthens the UAE’s standing as a centre for innovation and development in this field,” said Abou Zaki.

Abou Zaki added that the advanced digital infrastructure and the UAE’s proactive vision enable it to keep pace with the latest developments in the media sector, meet the needs of media institutions and attract the most important media talents, thus consolidating the UAE’s position and ability to contribute to shaping the future of the industry.

According to him, the UAE has always been an incubating environment for creativity and innovation, especially in the media field, as it has many incentives, programmes and initiatives that attract and support creators and innovators in this sector, and the Global Media Congress will contribute to strengthening the country’s position as a destination for media talents from all over the world.

The Congress, he added, will spotlight the latest technologies and emerging trends in the media industry, which the UAE has always been a leader in innovating and adopting, which contributes to enhancing the capabilities of talented and creative people in the media world and empowers them new tools that help them raise the standard of media content and add creative touches that are consistent with the future of the media industry.

He further added that the event also provides an opportunity for media talents in the UAE, in particular, and in the Middle East region, in general, to connect with the most prominent international experts and benefit from their experiences, which contributes to developing their skills and abilities in the field of traditional and digital media alike.

Lucy O'Brien, General Manager and Partner at FleishmanHillard Dubai Office, said that GMC enables media professionals from around the world to come together to reach a consensus on the paths forward in tackling opportunities and challenges in fields like digital broadcasting and media and AI- and data-based solutions.

The UAE is diversifying its economy, moving further and further away from oil, by fast-tracking the development of knowledge- and technology-driven sectors, O'Brien further explained, noting that the UAE continues to grow as a regional media powerhouse, and has become a home to many global media institutions, especially as it provides economic stability and a conducive business climate.

Hilmarie Hutchison, Chief Executive Officer at Matrix Public Relations, the Global Media Congress provides an ideal platform for media startups and giants to enter Middle East markets through the UAE, leveraging its status as a knowledge hub where entrepreneurs thrive.

According to Hutchison, the way that the Congress is growing globally as a space where the future of the media industry can take shape by exchanging expertise and knowledge is yet another example of the UAE's leadership in hosting global events that contribute to the world's advancement.