UAE chairs Arab Electronic Media Committee meeting

CAIRO, 16th October, 2024 (WAM) -- The Arab Electronic Media Committee, held at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States and chaired by the UAE, today concluded its 21st meeting

The meeting was attended by Ahmed Rashid Khattabi, Assistant Secretary General and Supervisor of the Media and Communication Sector at the Arab League, and Faleh Al Mutairi, Plenipotentiary Minister and Director of the Technical Secretariat of the Council of Arab Ministers of Information at the Arab League, alongside representatives from Arab media bodies concerned with electronic media.

Maitha Majed Al Suwaidi, CEO of Strategy and Media Policy at UAE Media Council, emphasised the importance of holding the committee's meeting at this time, which is witnessing unprecedented radical transformations in the electronic media sector.

She noted that the world is entering a new era characterised by rapid technological advancements, imposing new challenges and creating vast opportunities.

She pointed out that this rapid digital transformation requires Arab countries to seriously consider these changes and work on developing comprehensive plans and strategies to regulate this growing sector.

She underscored the necessity of joint Arab cooperation to develop legislative frameworks capable of keeping pace with this speed, ensuring the use of modern technologies to serve Arab media, enhancing its presence on the global stage, addressing challenges related to cybersecurity and misinformation, and establishing flexible policies that promote innovation while protecting society from harmful content.

Ahmed Rashid Khattabi, in his opening speech at the meeting, clarified that this session convenes within the framework of following up on and implementing Decision No. 547 issued during the 54th ordinary session of the Council of Arab Ministers of Information in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

This includes the invitation to the UAE, through the UAE Media Council, to design and launch a website for the Arab Electronic Media Committee by the end of 2024, along with organising training sessions for representatives from member states regarding the management of this site.

He mentioned that this website would adhere to the principles and regulations outlined in the Code of Conduct adopted by the Council of Arab Ministers of Information during the aforementioned session, aimed at enhancing the Arab media presence in the digital space while respecting the spiritual, ethical, and cultural values of our Arab communities, and ensuring the non-violation of the national sovereignty of member states.

He commended the effective role of the UAE in promoting Arab cooperation, particularly in the field of media and communication, highlighting the appreciated efforts of the UAE Media Council in preparing the website project.

The meeting discussed the UAE's efforts in designing and launching a new website for the countries represented in the Arab Electronic Media Committee, aimed at broadening the scope of its news, sharing, and exchanging knowledge and experiences.

Additionally, it reviewed the achievements of the New Media Academy in the UAE over the past years and the importance of enhancing Arab cooperation and strengthening ties in areas related to media, digital content, gaming, and esports.