Latest news with #MonaAlMarri
Dubai Eye
6 hours ago
- Business
- Dubai Eye
GCC policy dialogue to promote women's leadership in workforce
A policy dialogue on women's economic empowerment concluded in Dubai, with GCC countries backing efforts for joint legal reforms, childcare investment and enhanced knowledge exchange across institutions. Led by the UAE Gender Balance Council and the World Bank, the workshop brought together leaders from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain to share strategies aimed at expanding women's participation in the workforce, particularly through support for childcare and maternity policies. The UAE emphasised its initiatives to enhance gender balance in the labour market, Saudi Arabia outlined advances in workforce participation and social insurance for women and Bahrain showcased national upskilling programs and empowerment strategies. A joint brief was presented to guide future cooperation, marking a key step toward building inclusive, opportunity-driven economies across the region. Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, said, 'Women's economic empowerment is not simply a policy objective, it is a force for transformation. It strengthens institutions, drives innovation and ensures that progress is inclusive, resilient, and sustainable." Mona Al Marri, Vice President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, highlighted that "regional collaboration drives progress". "By uniting to promote gender balance, we amplify our collective impact and ensure that every woman in the GCC has the chance to contribute to shaping a more inclusive future," she added. Since its establishment in 2015, the Council has led policies, legal reforms and partnerships aimed at embedding gender balance across national institutions and economic systems.
Hi Dubai
17 hours ago
- Business
- Hi Dubai
UAE Gender Balance Council Leads GCC Push to Advance Women's Economic Empowerment
A high-level regional dialogue led by the UAE Gender Balance Council and the World Bank concluded in Dubai this week, with GCC countries reaffirming their shared commitment to accelerating women's economic empowerment through policy reform, legal innovation, and institutional collaboration. The two-day GCC Knowledge Exchange Workshop on Women's Economic Empowerment gathered top policymakers and gender equality advocates from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain. Held under the UAE Gender Balance Centre for Excellence & Knowledge Exchange, the workshop provided a platform to share reform experiences and strengthen cross-border cooperation on inclusive economic development. H.H. Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, described women's empowerment as 'a force for transformation,' and emphasised the UAE's vision for regional collaboration to ensure sustainable, inclusive growth. Supported by the World Bank, the forum highlighted initiatives such as investments in childcare and maternity support, recent legal reforms, and country-specific strategies to boost female workforce participation. The UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain showcased progress in gender-responsive policymaking, skills development, and labour market inclusion. Mona Al Marri, Vice President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, called the event 'a powerful example of shared leadership,' underscoring the importance of uniting efforts to close economic gender gaps across the region. The workshop concluded with a joint brief outlining key insights and future cooperation plans. Organisers say the momentum will continue through a growing regional network aimed at building inclusive economies driven by equal opportunity. News Source: Emirates News Agency
Emirates 24/7
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Emirates 24/7
Mona Al Marri discusses role of youth in shaping media landscape
- Mona Al Marri discusses role of youth in shaping media landscape with members of the Arab Young Media Leaders Program Her Excellency Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Vice Chairperson and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council, President of the Dubai Press Club, and Chairperson of the Organising Committee of the Arab Media Summit, met with members of the Arab Young Media Leaders Program, organised by the Arab Youth Center. The inspiring session was moderated by Sadeq Jarrar, Executive Director of the Arab Youth Center. The meeting took place on the first day of the Arab Media Summit, which runs until 28 May in Dubai, as part of the Arab Youth Media Forum's activities. During the meeting, one of a series organised by the programme, Her Excellency Al Marri highlighted key aspects of the media landscape in the UAE and the region and shed light on experiences in supporting and empowering youth in this vital sector. In the presence of His Excellency Zaki Nusseibeh, Cultural Advisor to His Highness the UAE President, along with several leaders of local and regional media organisations, Her Excellency Al Marri shed light the pioneering role of the Dubai Press Club and its various initiatives, most notably the Arab Media Summit. She highlighted the Summit's main events, including the Arab Media Forum, the Arab Youth Media Forum, and the Arab Social Media Influencers Summit, in addition to the Arab Media Award, the Ibda'a – Arab Youth Media Award, and the Arab Social Media Influencers Award. Her Excellency emphasised that a significant part of these initiatives focuses on youth, underscoring their commitment to nurturing young media talent and providing a fertile environment for creativity through specialised awards and supportive training programmes. Her Excellency also spoke about the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in empowering youth and involving them in decision-making positions, giving them ample space to contribute to planning, ideation, and implementation, especially in areas related to shaping the future. Her Excellency Al Marri stressed the importance of youth possessing passion, perseverance, and patience, noting that opportunities are not waited for but created. She pointed out that thinking outside the box and the ability to read and analyse the media landscape are essential tools for creating opportunities today in a highly competitive environment. She also emphasised the importance of specialisation, particularly in cultural and historical content, linking it to the art of storytelling as one of the most important aspects of media influence. Her Excellency explained that it is essential for young people to have the skills necessary to keep pace with modern technologies and to master the art of storytelling in all its forms. In conclusion, Her Excellency stressed the importance of taking the initiative, saying: "Those who don't have a story to tell will become part of a story told by others. We must tell our stories in multiple languages and using modern tools that befit the talents and skills we possess.' Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.
Emirates 24/7
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Emirates 24/7
Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mohammed bin Rashid honours winners of Ibda'a - Arab Youth Media Award
- Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mohammed bin Rashid highlights the evolving role of media, not merely as a channel for news delivery, but as a powerful force in shaping minds, values, and public opinion - Award recognises exceptional student achievements across six categories Mona Al Marri: Ibda'a – Arab Youth Media Award reflects the Mohammed bin Rashid's vision to empower Arab youth and prepare them to lead the future of regional media Maryam Al Mulla: We are confident the future of media is being written with the ideas and limitless ambition of our youth As part of the opening day of the Arab Media Summit 2025, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum honoured the winners of the ninth edition of the 'Ibda'a – Arab Youth Media Award'. The award ceremony was organised by the Dubai Press Club, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Media Council. The Arab Media Summit is taking place from 26 to 28 May 2025 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum congratulated the winners across the award's diverse categories, commending their outstanding and original creative contributions. The award ceremony, attended by Her Excellency Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Vice Chairperson and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council and President of the Dubai Press Club, recognised exceptional student achievements across six categories. Ahmed Samir Badwan from Al Ain University was honoured for excellence in the Photography category, while Abdullah Khaled Ali, from the Higher Colleges of Technology in Dubai, received the award in the Multimedia category. Judy Mohamed Zaki, representing the American University in Cairo, was celebrated in the Short Video category. In E-Games, the award went to Amina Saleh Al-Tunaiji from the Higher Colleges of Technology in Ras Al Khaimah. A team from Yarmouk University in Jordan was recognised for their outstanding work in the News Reports category, and a team from King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia won top honours in the Podcast category. On the occasion, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum underscored the importance of celebrating young Arab talent in media, describing it as a vital step toward building a more conscious, informed, and influential Arab future. His Highness highlighted the evolving role of media, not merely as a channel for news delivery, but as a powerful force in shaping minds, values, and public opinion. His Highness also recognised the high quality of submissions this year, reaffirming Dubai's ongoing commitment to supporting Arab media and nurturing creative talent across the region. Her Excellency Mona Ghanem Al Marri, said that the Ibda'a – Arab Youth Media Award, reflects the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to empower Arab youth and prepare them to lead the future of regional media. She noted that under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the initiative has become a key platform for young Arab talent to showcase their creativity and contribute to shaping a more dynamic media landscape. Al Marri noted that honouring the ninth edition's winners at the Arab Media Summit 2025 represents a significant step in empowering emerging media voices. She commended the originality and strong social consciousness evident in this year's submissions, reaffirming Dubai's position as a driving force for media innovation and a steadfast partner for Arab media. The Ibda'a Award attracted 2,736 entries from across the Arab world, which were evaluated by a panel of media experts and specialists. The Dubai Press Club established clear criteria to ensure a fair and transparent judging process, guaranteeing equal opportunities for all participants. Each winning entry received a cash prize of $5,000. Submissions were required to be original, non-promotional, and submitted in either Arabic or English. Participants affirmed exclusive ownership of the intellectual property rights to their work, with the Organising Committee reserving the right to feature entries or excerpts for promotional use. Ahead of the award ceremony, Maryam Al Mulla, Acting Director of the Dubai Press Club delivered the welcome note at the Arab Youth Media Forum. Expressing Dubai's pride in hosting the event on the first day of the Arab Media Summit 2025, she said: 'We are pleased to come together once again in a city that has made a promise to be a partner in shaping the future, a future led by young people who are passionate about excellence and eager to make tomorrow better,' she said. Al Mulla affirmed the role of youth in shaping the future of the media sector, stating: 'Throughout every great era of progress, it was a young generation that carried the dream, believed in it, and pursued it with passion. As we gather today, we are confident the future of media is being written with the ideas and limitless ambition of our youth.' 'Our goal is to help shape a media landscape defined by a deep sense of identity and belonging, rooted in our values, culture and traditions, and empowered by technology that is redrawing the contours of the world around us.' Highlighting Dubai's long-term investment in building a globally competitive media environment, Al Mulla said: 'Driven by its belief in the power of media to effect positive change, Dubai laid the foundations decades ago — building one of the world's most advanced digital infrastructures. Today, the city is home to leading Arab and international media institutions.' She concluded her remarks with a message to young creators: 'Let us work together to create a media space where every idea can thrive, every story is told, and every hope takes root, led by the dedication of young people and their drive to push creative boundaries.' Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.
Arab News
26-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Future is for those who can imagine it, Arab News Editor says at AMF reception
DUBAI: As part of a series of initiatives marking its 50th anniversary, Arab News hosted a special reception and talk in collaboration with Google on the opening day of the Arab Media Forum, reflecting on five decades of events that shaped the Middle East and exploring the future of the region's media landscape. During the reception, held at the Dubai Future Foundation under the theme 'Reimagining the Future of Media,' Faisal J. Abbas, Editor-in-Chief of Arab News, addressed the challenges facing the media industry and how emerging technologies are reshaping its future. 'The future does not wait, the future is already here, and we should remember that the future belongs to those who can imagine it, design it and execute it, as Dubai Ruler H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid always says,' said Abbas. 'As an industry, we have suffered far too long from paralysis by analysis,' he added. 'While artificial intelligence is evolving every day, we should simply just do it and remember that amateurs talk strategy, while professionals talk logistics, as the late World War II general, Omar Bradley, once said.' For her part, Mona Al-Marri, director-general of Dubai Media Office, Government of Dubai, welcomed the attendees and congratulated Arab News on its 50th anniversary in her opening remarks. 'Congratulations to the entire Arab News team,' she said, noting the newspaper's pivotal role in the regional media landscape and its long-standing contribution to the Arab Media Summit since its inception 23 years ago — 'whether through participation, contribution, or by organizing events like this.' Al-Marri praised the leadership of Abbas, saying that 'having a young editor-in-chief running such a major platform makes' a real difference. 'How can we transform such a platform into digital? Today's (event) actually marks the importance of having such collaboration, like with Google and the Dubai Future Foundation, where we feel this is the future of the Arab media. I hope that all media outlets in our region follow in the steps of Arab News, because this is when you set a good working model for the whole region.' 'Arab News is leading this transformation,' she added. In a region where over 50 percent of the population is young, 'we should all follow this model.' Speaking on the future of the industry in his keynote speech, Khalfan Belhoul, CEO of the Dubai Future Foundation, outlined seven key predictions for media over the next year. 'Let's all agree that how we create and consume media is changing dramatically,' he said during his address at the Dubai Future Foundation Auditorium in Emirates Towers. 'Look at the average attention span, which is eight seconds.' He noted how sports consumption has dramatically changed beyond live games and consequently the demand for content has exploded. 'For me, sport is all about pre-game, game, post-game interviews and conversations. And we need to adapt to that.' Belhoul emphasized that this shift is forcing a transformation of media business models. 'New media means new roles,' he said, listing predictions such as AI-generated news anchors, governments licensing content creators, and AI-powered productions by major streaming platforms. He also highlighted the rise of 'slow media' as a cultural counterbalance to viral, unchecked content. He said that the disruptive power of AI — from disinformation to audience mistrust — makes the 'human touch' more vital than ever. 'AI may be the hero of the next media chapter, but self-critique, adaptability and editorial responsibility will define its success,' he said. Now in its 24th edition, the three-day Arab Media Forum in Dubai brings together senior government officials, media executives, thought leaders, and influential content creators from the Arab region and beyond. It is now held under a bigger event called the Arab Media Summit, which includes various other forums and award ceremonies. The summit runs until May 28 and focuses on fostering collaboration among media platforms, senior officials, and governments to create a positive impact on shaping vital sectors of everyday life in the region. In light of this connection, the summit features an impressive lineup of prominent personalities including Nawaf Salam, the prime minister of Lebanon, and Asaad Al-Shaibani, Syria's foreign minister, among others. A panel discussion featuring information ministers from several Arab countries explores the future of public media and strategies to strengthen collaboration with the private sector. Ghassan Salameh, Lebanon's minister of culture, will share insights on the media's role in shaping a path toward regional stability, while prominent media figure Piers Morgan is set to address the summit audience in a key session. Addressing the pivotal role of AI in reshaping the media landscape, Anthony Nakache, managing director of Google MENA, highlighted Google's initiatives and products aimed at enhancing user experience and supporting content creation in an era of rapid digital transformation. He said: 'Since Google was founded, our mission has been to organize the world information, make it universally accessible and useful for everyone. 26 years later, that vision has not changed, and we are actually more committed to it than ever.' 'We considered exploring new initiatives such as the AI Launch Lab with FT Strategies and the Google News initiative and FT Strategies AI design sprint in collaboration with The Saudi Ministry of Media and the UAE Media Council.' He added: 'By (choosing) to invest in innovation, to uphold the highest standards of quality information, and by empowering journalists to use AI tools and digital solutions, we can all together forge a very dynamic and successful future for journalism in the region. A great example of that is what we are going to showcase tonight, which is our partnership with Arab News that is now exploring the latest of our AI tools to create new ways to engage with their audience.' Nakache said he was 'very excited' about the upcoming Arab News podcast series powered by Google's latest AI tool, NotebookLM 2, a smart note-taking solution that automatically generates podcasts. The tool was recently recognized as one of the most innovative AI solutions of 2024 by Time magazine. 'But the best (results come) when it is put in the hands of journalists, creating magic for users,' he added. Monday evening concluded with the announcement of Arab News' collaboration with Google for a special podcast series titled 'Recounting the Moments that Changed the Middle East.' The five-episode podcast series spans five decades, with each episode focusing on a pivotal decade in Middle East history — from 1975 to the present. Produced using NotebookLM, Google's AI-powered research tool, the project employed artificial hosts and AI-generated voices to narrate major events that shaped the region, highlighting how emerging technology can support storytelling, research and historical reflection in modern journalism. You can access the podcast by visiting
