• The largest Arab media event brings together more than 10 specialised media forums under one umbrella in partnership with leading regional and international entities
• For the first time in the region, the Summit hosts the Financial Times Economic Forum and the Reuters "Future of News" Forum as part of its agenda
• Six specialised forums address media and government communication, the future of the film and gaming sectors, content creation, and youth perspectives on media
• The Arab Media Forum, the Government Communication Forum, the Film Forum, the Gaming Forum, the Arab Social Media Influencers Summit, and the Arab Youth Media Forum explore the future of media sectors in depth
• The DXB500 Programme, in collaboration with the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore, reinforces its position during the Summit as a strategic initiative for developing the government communication ecosystem in the region
• The Arab Journalism Award celebrates its Silver Jubilee with a comprehensive programme of sessions and events during the Arab Media Summit

Mona Al Marri: "His Highness Mohammed bin Rashid's vision for the future of media and its role serves as the compass guiding our preparations for an event that affirms the UAE's media leadership."

"The directives of His Highness Ahmed bin Mohammed form the foundation upon which we build the content and substance of the largest summit of its kind in the region."

• The Summit brings together the most prominent figures in media, politics, and economics in the region to examine current developments and their impact on shaping the future
• The Summit is a leading platform that celebrates Arab media and strengthens relationships among its practitioners, affirming the sector's capacity to keep pace with rapid global transformations
• An expanded agenda reinforces the Summit's objectives through dozens of accompanying media events in collaboration with regional and international entities
• The Summit enriches its agenda with specialised training programmes and global partnerships with the world's leading digital technology companies
• Significant registration interest for the Summit's events from within the UAE and abroad, reflecting the advanced standing the Summit holds on the map of regional and international media events

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 9 February 2026: Dubai Press Club, the organising body of the Arab Media Summit 2026, revealed the details of the forthcoming edition of the Arab Media Summit — the largest media event in the region and the world — which convenes under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, and the directives of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Media Council, from 31 March to 2 April 2026 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, with the participation of a distinguished array of senior Arab and international figures and a select group of media luminaries including editors-in-chief, heads of media organisations, content creators, influencers, media technology experts, and academics. The Summit is attended by media professionals and those involved in the media sector from within the UAE and across the Arab world.

This was announced during a press conference held by Dubai Press Club today (Monday) at its headquarters, in the presence of Her Excellency Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Vice President and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council, President of Dubai Press Club, and Chairperson of the Organising Committee of the Arab Media Summit, along with members of the Summit's Organising Committee: Nehal Badri, Secretary General of the Dubai Media Council; Mariam Al Mulla, Director of Dubai Press Club and Vice Chairperson of the Organising Committee; Hind Fikri, Director of Strategic Media Relations at the Government of Dubai Media Office; Jassim Al Shamsi, Director of the Arab Media Award; Amna Khalil, Director of the Arab Youth Media Forum and the Ibda'a Award; Jassim Al Sulti, Director of Events; and Wedad Kahour, Director of Media Talent Development.

The briefing addressed the general features of the Summit's new structure within its expanded framework and the intensive agenda across its three days. For the first time, the Summit will feature approximately 10 diverse forums under a single umbrella, embodying a comprehensive vision emanating from Dubai to the world that treats media as an integrated ecosystem rather than an isolated event. These forums include: the Arab Media Forum, the Government Communication Forum, the Arab Youth Media Forum, the Gaming Forum, the Film Forum, and the Arab Social Media Influencers Summit, in addition to a number of forums organised in partnership with major international media organisations including the global news agency Reuters and the Financial Times, alongside a range of accompanying media events in cooperation with regional and international entities, comprising advanced training sessions and workshops with the world's leading digital technology companies.

A Renewed Platform

On this occasion, Her Excellency Mona Ghanem Al Marri affirmed that the Arab Media Summit today represents a comprehensive strategic platform that transcends the concept of traditional conferences, becoming an integrated media project that reflects the UAE's vision for the future of media and its role as an effective partner in development, awareness building, and influence creation.

Her Excellency stated: "The vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, for media as a positive force capable of effecting change and building aware communities, serves as the compass from which we proceed in developing the Arab Media Summit. The directives of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Media Council, form the foundation upon which we build the content and substance of an event that has become the largest of its kind in the region."

She added: "The Arab Media Summit, in its forthcoming edition, marks a pivotal milestone in its journey, as we transition it to a new phase in terms of scale, diversity, and global reach, by organising it for the first time within an expanded ecosystem comprising more than ten specialised media forums, alongside events, training programmes, and international partnerships that reflect the profound transformations occurring in the media sector and content industry."

Her Excellency noted that the Summit's hosting of major international forums, in partnership with international and global media organisations such as Reuters news agency and the Financial Times, represents a qualitative leap that enhances the Summit's international dimension and reinforces Dubai's standing as a global platform for media dialogue and a centre for the convergence of media decision-makers and international expertise to discuss the most pressing issues in the current media landscape.

Strategic Partnerships

For her part, Mariam Al Mulla stated that the Arab Media Summit represents a comprehensive media project — the largest of its kind in the region and the world — noting the pride in organising this pivotal event by Dubai Press Club, stemming from its pioneering role in developing the media landscape and building dialogue platforms that bring together media leaders, expertise, and influencers from the region and the world.

Al Mulla explained that organising an event of this scale and diversity reflects the maturity of Dubai Press Club's organisational experience and its ability to manage a central media event that keeps pace with the rapid transformations in the media sector and responds to the requirements of the current phase. She affirmed that the organisation of the Summit is carried out in accordance with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and the directives of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, reinforcing Dubai's position as a regional and global media hub.

She added: "This year's edition represents a significant qualitative leap in the Summit's trajectory in both form and substance, as it is organised for the first time within an integrated ecosystem that brings together a number of specialised forums and accompanying events under one umbrella, affirming our commitment to delivering a distinctive experience for participants and content befitting the Summit's stature and the aspirations of its audience."

Mariam Al Mulla extended her gratitude to the partners of the Arab Media Summit 2026 for their exemplary support and cooperation, which constitutes one of the key pillars of the Summit's success. This year, the Summit is supported by a distinguished group of partners: DP World as the Strategic Partner; Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) as the Strategic Sustainability Partner; American Hospital Dubai as the Strategic Healthcare Partner; ENOC Group as the Energy Partner; Dubai Chambers as the Global Trade Partner; Emirates as the Aviation Partner; Emirates NBD as the Banking Partner; du as the Telecommunications Partner; and the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) of Dubai as the Transport Partner.

The Summit is also supported by the United Arab Emirates University as the Academic Partner, and the Strategic Media Partners: Dubai Media Academy and IMI Group.

Dubai Media Council

Regarding the launch of the Film Forum and the Gaming Forum, organised by the Dubai Film and Gaming Office under the Dubai Media Council, Nehal Badri, Secretary General of the Dubai Media Council, stated that the Council's participation within the Arab Media Summit is part of a strategic vision aimed at making a meaningful contribution to shaping the future of media and enhancing Dubai's position as a regional and global hub for media and content production. This year's participation demonstrates a notable qualitative expansion in terms of the scope of activities, diversity of themes, and depth of discussions, compared to the previous edition, reflecting the evolution of the Council's role and presence within the Summit's agenda.

Nehal Badri explained that this expansion embodies their firm conviction that investing in people is the foundation for building a sustainable media sector, noting that the Council will organise a comprehensive programme comprising dialogue sessions, specialised forums, and workshops covering various future media sectors and keeping pace with the rapid transformations in the industry. The Dubai Media Council's agenda during the Summit will focus on a range of strategic themes, foremost among which are the future of media and content creation, filmmaking and cinematic production, gaming as a promising creative and economic sector, and digital transformation in media industries. These themes reflect the Council's vision of approaching media as an integrated ecosystem with cultural, economic, and technological dimensions, and of fostering integration between traditional media, digital media, and new content industries.

The Council noted that the Arab Media Summit represents an important opportunity to strengthen bridges of cooperation between local, regional, and international media organisations, contributing to the development of media and the enhancement of knowledge exchange. In this context, the Dubai Media Council is keen to leverage the Summit to strengthen partnerships with local and international media organisations and build sustainable cooperation models that serve the future of the sector.

Government Communication Forum

For her part, Hind Fikri affirmed that the Government Communication Forum, organised for the first time, represents a new strategic addition to the Summit's ecosystem. She noted that the inclusion of this forum within the Summit's agenda reflects the continuing qualitative evolution of the Summit's trajectory and its responsiveness to developments in the media and communication sector. This approach embodies the Summit's vision of affirming the event's position as a comprehensive platform that discusses all dimensions of influence creation, bringing together media, communications, policymaking, future trends, and current developments.

She added: "We are pleased to announce that, coinciding with this exceptional edition of the Arab Media Summit, the DXB500 Programme will mark a pivotal milestone that reinforces its position as one of the most prominent initiatives specialising in the development of the government communication ecosystem, in collaboration with the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and in partnership with a select group of leading media organisations and specialised trainers, in a model that combines global academic expertise with advanced practical applications."

She noted that during the Summit's three days, the Government Communication Forum will host a series of specialised sessions featuring thought leaders and government communication experts from the Arab region and the world, to discuss best practices, the most successful experiences, and to explore the horizons of developing government communication in the era of digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and the growing influence of new media platforms.

Fikri stated that the Summit will witness the graduation of DXB500 Programme participants, which aims to train communication leaders in government and semi-government entities in Dubai and enhance their readiness to address the rapid transformations in the media landscape, contributing to raising the efficiency of the government message and reinforcing Dubai's media presence locally and internationally. She announced that the programme, through its fourth cohort, will continue to achieve the Summit's goal of empowering those working in the government communication sector, equipping them with the modern tools and skills necessary to keep pace with the future and enhancing their readiness to address the rapid transformations in the media and communication ecosystem.

25 Years of Celebrating Media Creativity

For his part, Jassim Al Shamsi, Director of the Arab Media Award and member of the Organising Committee of the Arab Media Summit, spoke about the arrangements for honouring the winners of the three awards under the umbrella of the Arab Media Summit: the Arab Media Award in its 25th edition, the Arab Youth Media Award in its 10th edition, and the Arab Social Media Influencers Award in its 6th edition. He affirmed that the three awards translate the vision and directives of the wise leadership in reinforcing Dubai's role as a primary driving force in stimulating media excellence.

Al Shamsi stated that the Award, as it celebrates its Silver Jubilee, continues to fulfil the mission for which it was launched — to stimulate creativity in media work. It began in the field of journalism, and its evolution has kept pace with the rapid growth of media, particularly with the increasing influence of digital technologies and the emergence of new formats that opened broader horizons for creativity. The Arab Media Award has continued to affirm its role as the largest platform celebrating media excellence and encouraging its adoption and development in the Arab world.

He announced that the Dubai Press Club platform will host, during the Summit's three days, a special programme and diverse media events celebrating the Silver Jubilee of the Arab Journalism Award, and the platform will host a select group of writers and journalists who have been honoured with the Award over the past 25 years.

Youth: The Most Important Pillar of the Media Sector

For her part, Amna Khalil stated during the press conference that the Arab Youth Media Forum constitutes one of the fundamental pillars of the Arab Media Summit, as it is a dedicated platform for empowering youth and engaging them in shaping the future of Arab media. She noted that the Forum provides an interactive dialogue space that brings together young talents with media leaders and experts, discussing the aspirations of the new generation and development opportunities across various fields of media and content creation.

She added that the Ibda'a Award is part of the Summit's commitment to supporting young talents and celebrating innovative ideas and responsible content, affirming that the Award extends beyond recognition to serve as a genuine incentive for youth to continue developing their skills and transforming their ideas into impactful projects that serve society and meet the demands of modern media.

Specialised Training Programmes and Global Partnerships

For her part, Wedad Kahour confirmed that the Summit will this year dedicate extensive space to specialised training programmes for media professionals and those working in the sector.

She stated: "The training programmes, in collaboration with a number of Arab and international media organisations alongside the world's leading companies and platforms, will cover the most current and future media specialisations. These workshops will focus on equipping participants with the latest future media tools and skills, enhancing their readiness to keep pace with the rapid transformations in the media industry."

She added: "We are working to deliver a distinctive experience for participants that extends beyond intellectual dialogue to practical training, skills building, knowledge exchange, and the strengthening of regional and international partnerships, reinforcing the Summit's standing as a leading media event."

Strong Registration Interest for the Summit

For his part, Jassim Al Sulti stated: "Registration for the Arab Media Summit's events is witnessing significant interest from within the UAE and abroad, reflecting the advanced standing the Summit holds on the map of regional and international media events and the broad attention it receives from media professionals, content creators, and those interested in the media sector across its various disciplines."

Al Sulti explained that this increasing interest reflects participants' confidence in the Summit's value and what it offers in terms of quality content, high-level dialogue platforms, and professional and training programmes that keep pace with the rapid transformations in the media industry. He noted that the work teams continue their preparations across all organisational and technical levels to ensure the delivery of a comprehensive experience for participants that befits the Summit's scale and the diversity of its agenda, highlighting that the Summit has become an annual destination for media professionals from the region and the world for the learning, knowledge exchange, and partnership-building opportunities it provides, and emphasising the commitment to accommodating this growing momentum and providing an organisational environment that contributes to maximising the benefit for attendees.

Intellectual Dialogues

The Summit also features an additional set of in-depth discussion sessions on various issues, including the economic dimension of media, the intersections of politics, culture, and sport with media, examining global transformations and their impact on the region, artificial intelligence, development opportunities in the region, and other topics, with the participation of a select group of thinkers, writers, and heads of media organisations, editors-in-chief, and media technology experts from within the UAE and across the Arab world.

Keynote Dialogue Sessions

The Summit will also feature, as part of its three-day agenda, a series of keynote dialogue sessions hosting a select group of decision-makers and prominent figures from the region and the world. These sessions hold particular significance at the current juncture, as they constitute high-level platforms for discussing the most pressing media issues and anticipating the major transformations occurring in the region and the world, contributing to the formulation of practical visions capable of keeping pace with the rapid developments at both the regional and international levels.

About the Forums and Awards

Arab Media Forum

The Arab Media Forum constitutes the largest and most influential media gathering in the Middle East. It convenes annually in Dubai under the patronage and in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him. It is the most prominent media event regionally and internationally, attracting notable participation at the level of prime ministers and ministers of foreign affairs and information, thinkers, senior writers, and media decision-makers in the region, with the attendance of media luminaries, editors-in-chief of major Arab newspapers, and the executive leadership of the most important media organisations in the region and the world, alongside representatives of Arab and international news agencies and a select group of thought leaders and opinion makers from the Arab region.

Arab Media Award

The Arab Media Award was established under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and launched in 1999, organised by Dubai Press Club, which has continued over 25 years to develop the Award into the most prominent Arab platform dedicated to honouring creativity in the media field. Over its successive editions, the Award has honoured hundreds of intellectual, journalistic, and media luminaries and the most prominent personalities and talents that have contributed to shaping the features of the region's media and giving it its distinctive character, as well as media organisations across the Arab world. The Award encompasses two fundamental awards: the Arab Journalism Award and the Visual Media Award. The Arab Journalism Award celebrates its Silver Jubilee this year.

Arab Social Media Influencers Summit

The Arab Social Media Influencers Summit is a leading annual platform that celebrates positive content creators and influencers in the Arab world, discussing their growing role in shaping public opinion and digital influence. The Summit focuses on best practices in creative and responsible content, examines transformations across social media platforms, and explores opportunities for innovation and partnership building. The Summit also celebrates excellence through awards honouring influential models that contribute to delivering purposeful and positive content serving society.

Arab Youth Media Forum

The Arab Youth Media Forum represents a leading platform for empowering the new generation of media professionals and content creators and engaging them in shaping the future of Arab media. The Forum provides an interactive dialogue space that discusses the aspirations of youth, showcases inspiring experiences, and highlights opportunities for skills development across various media fields, affirming the Arab Media Summit's commitment to investing in young talents as a fundamental pillar for the sustainability and development of the media sector.

Ibda'a Award for Arab Youth

The Ibda'a Award for media students is inspired by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, aimed at contributing to a qualitative transformation in the Arab media sector by infusing it with young talent and new capabilities. The Award aims to keep pace with the rapid development in the field of media work, encouraging and motivating Arab media students to achieve the highest levels of excellence within an integrated framework that begins from the academic stage where young media cadres are prepared and encouraged to participate in developing this sector.

Government Communication Forum

The Government Communication Forum is a new strategic addition within the Arab Media Summit, organised for the first time to serve as a specialised platform discussing the role of government communication in building trust, enhancing transparency, and managing messaging in a rapidly changing world. Over its three days, the Forum brings together a select group of government leaders, communication experts, and decision-makers from the Arab region and the world, to review best practices and discuss the future of government communication in the era of digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and the growing influence of new media.

Gaming Forum

The Gaming Forum comes in light of the growing importance of this sector as a promising creative and economic industry and one of the pillars of the knowledge-based economy. The Forum discusses the future of gaming, investment opportunities, and its role in content creation, entertainment, and building digital experiences. It also hosts international experts, developers, and organisations with the aim of exploring avenues of cooperation, empowering talents, and highlighting the region's standing in this rapidly growing industry.

Film Forum

The Film Forum constitutes a specialised platform that brings together filmmakers, directors, producers, and industry experts to discuss the future of cinematic and television production in the region. The Forum focuses on showcasing pioneering experiences, exchanging expertise, and exploring ways to develop a film industry capable of competing globally. It also highlights the role of visual content in cultural expression, identity building, and enhancing the Arab presence on the international cinematic stage.

It is noteworthy that the Arab Media Forum has, over more than two decades, kept pace with the most important media issues and developments witnessed by the region and the world. Building upon its achievements over the past years, the Arab Media Summit serves as an umbrella encompassing numerous media, technology, digital, and specialised forums, including forums dedicated to creative media sectors, in a step that keeps pace with the growth and evolution of the global media sector.