Dubai set to host over 6,000 voices at Arab Media Summit 2025
Over 300 speakers and 175 sessions to feature at the three-day event
DUBAI: The Dubai Press Club has announced the full agenda for the Arab Media Summit 2025, which will run from 26 to 28 May at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
The three-day mega-event is set to bring together more than 6,000 participants including ministers, media professionals, digital influencers, content creators, academics, and innovators from across the UAE and Arab world.
Organised under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and guided by Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Media Council, the Summit reaffirms Dubai’s vision to remain the capital of Arab media and a launchpad for next-generation content creation.
The event, designed to respond to global media shifts and regional priorities, is packed with over 175 sessions and 35 workshops, offering a dynamic platform for debate, creativity, and collaboration.
What key topics will be covered?
Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum emphasised that the Summit represents a key milestone in building an agile Arab media environment responsive to transformative technologies. The agenda reflects forward-thinking themes such as artificial intelligence, film and gaming industries, and content innovation.
The Summit kicks off on 26 May with the Arab Youth Media Forum, which will feature winners of the ninth edition of the Ibda’a – Arab Youth Media Award. Speakers such as Zaki Nusseibeh and Elias Bou Saab will lead discussions on youth, education, and the evolution of regional media.
On 27 May, the Arab Media Forum will feature keynote addresses by Grand Imam Prof. Dr. Ahmed El-Tayeb and Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. The day’s schedule includes dialogues with Arab ministers including Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad Al Shaibani and Lebanon’s Culture Minister Dr. Ghassan Salameh, as well as Syria’s Minister of Economy Dr. Mohammad Nidal Al-Shaar.
The Arab Information Ministers’ dialogue will bring together key figures from Kuwait, Bahrain, Lebanon, Egypt, and the UAE, offering a cross-country perspective on regional media transformation.
How is innovation being showcased?
A new addition this year is the Film and Gaming Forum, spotlighting Dubai’s strategic role in creative content sectors. Announced by Mona Ghanem Al Marri, the forum will explore the impact of entertainment media as cultural and economic drivers in the Arab world.
The Arab Social Media Influencers Summit (ASMIS), closing the event on 28 May, will feature leading voices including British broadcaster Piers Morgan and Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan. Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum will address the role of media in the era of algorithms.
Dr. Anwar Gargash, UAE Diplomatic Advisor, will also take the stage at ASMIS, focusing on how digital platforms shape public diplomacy and national communication strategies.
The Summit will witness the release of the Arab Media Outlook 2025, a flagship Dubai Press Club report that provides critical insights into evolving trends, serving as a valuable reference for policymakers, investors, and media professionals.
Who else will participate?
The event will also host notable intellectuals and authors such as Dr. Yasar Jarrar, art historian Saeb Eigner, and novelist Saud Alsanousi. Their sessions are expected to bridge literature, visual arts, and leadership with regional media narratives.
Day two will also include a vital session on Arabic media in foreign-language platforms, with participation from Caroline Faraj (CNN Arabic), Maha El Dahan (Reuters), and Faisal Abbas (Arab News). Global contributors such as Michele Masneri from Italy and Japanese academics Maki Sugimoto and Kunitake Kanika will offer diverse perspectives on the future of content networks.
Supporting young and emerging talent remains a core focus, reflected in initiatives like the ‘Economic Content Creators Programme’, which will graduate its first batch during the Summit at the Dubai Press Club platform. This effort, part of the ‘Dubai Content Creators Programme’, is being delivered in partnership with the UAE Ministry of Economy.
The platform will also host masterclasses in partnership with international media giants like Google, TikTok, Instagram, Disney, Snapchat, and Blackmagic Design.
Arab Media Summit 2025
In terms of scale and diversity, Arab Media Summit 2025 is unmatched – drawing 300 speakers from 26 countries and featuring over 6,000 participants. A total of five new Arab-international media agreements are set to be signed during the event, bolstering cross-border cooperation.
This year’s edition of the Arab Media Award, now in its 24th cycle, received 2,956 entries. The Ibda’a – Arab Youth Media Award drew 2,736 submissions, signalling robust youth engagement. The Arab Social Media Influencers Award enters its fifth edition as part of ASMIS.
Shaima Al Suwaidi, Director of Brand Dubai, announced the participation of entrepreneurs under the ‘Proudly from Dubai’ initiative. Brand Dubai’s activations include an AI-powered art installation by international artist Ferdi Alıcı and an AI video booth developed in collaboration with telecom partner du.
Strategic partnerships play a significant role in the Summit’s success, with support from DP World, Dubai Chambers, Emirates NBD, ENOC, du, and Emirates airline. Key government and municipal entities including Dubai Municipality, DEWA, and the Roads and Transport Authority have also backed the initiative.
Organisers say this edition of the Arab Media Summit is uniquely poised to shape a vibrant and forward-looking media ecosystem.