Forum discusses media’s role in raising financial awareness

The Ministry of Finance (MoF) held the Financial Media Forum on Wednesday in Dubai, under the theme of “Government Financial Data.” The forum is part of the Ministry’s efforts to strengthen partnerships with media institutions, recognising the media’s role in raising financial awareness and offering insights into economic and financial developments in the UAE.

Amidst the UAE’s rapid economic and financial advancements, the forum reflects the Ministry’s commitment to fostering dialogue with the media and equipping financial journalists with modern tools to analyse and interpret financial data.

The forum was attended by Azza Ali Aljassmi, Director of Government Communication at the Ministry of Finance, and Abeer Ali Al Abdooli, Director of Macroeconomic Fiscal Policy, alongside several financial and economic journalists from local media outlets and a select group of financial experts from the Ministry.

The Ministry of Finance views media as a strategic partner in achieving sustainable development, recognising its central role in delivering accurate and transparent information on the financial sector to the public. With accelerated economic and financial growth in the UAE, clarifying modern financial concepts and emphasising the media’s role in communicating these ideas is more crucial than ever, reinforcing the UAE’s position as a leading competitive economy globally.

The forum sought to create an interactive platform for journalists to gain deeper insights into the UAE’s fiscal policy priorities, which include sustainable development, enhancing government financial operations, and strengthening the UAE’s global position in the financial sector. It also introduced the Ministry’s electronic portal, a trusted source of financial data, information, statistics, and studies, to support journalists in effectively fulfilling their roles.

The event featured presentations and interactive sessions, including an expert talk titled “Government Data and Public Financial Awareness” by Sahel Al Rousan, Senior Economic Advisor in the Macro Fiscal Policy Department. This session highlighted the essential role of government financial data and how it can shape media messages to serve the public.

Another session, “Utilising Financial Data,” brought together experts such as Sahel Al Rousan, Ahmed Al Abdouli, Head of the Macro Fiscal Policy Coordination Department; Shaikha Al Hammadi, Acting Head of the Government Revenue Control Department; and Shaikha Al Shamsi, Financial Analyst in the Public Debt Management Office. The session explored how financial data supports economic policy-making and effective strategies for presenting specialised data to the public.

The forum agenda also included a presentation by Ahmed Al Abdouli titled “Government Financial Data and Statistics,” focusing on key financial statistics reflecting government performance. The integration of this data in media reporting aims to enhance transparency. The forum concluded with an open interactive session, allowing journalists to ask questions and discuss ideas with the speakers, fostering constructive dialogue and knowledge exchange.