At the 5th Emirati Media Forum held in Dubai on Saturday. Kamal Kassim / Gulf Today

Sohaila Ahmed, Staff Reporter

Mona Ghanem Al Marri, President of the Dubai Press Club, said that the UAE leadership has great expectations from Emirati media and considers it a key partner both in national development and in finding solutions to major regional and international challenges.

Speaking at the 5th Emirati Media Forum (EMF) held in Dubai on Saturday under the patronage of Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Al Marri said the event offers a platform for an open discussion on opportunities and challenges facing local media. She said the Forum seeks to explore several issues related to the current UAE media landscape and the role that local media is expected to play in the future.

Al Marri’s remarks came during the closing session of the Forum held yesterday. Key Emirati media figures, managing editors, editors-in-chief of local newspapers, senior writers, thinkers, intellectuals, academics and media students attended the event.

Al Marri said that the Emirati Media Forum was focused on analysing the current capabilities of local media as well as understanding how well it is placed to fulfill its responsibilities in serving the community by helping find solutions to current problems. The UAE media is not only responsible for presenting balanced messages to UAE audiences but also the entire world. The local media’s efforts will help portray an accurate image of the UAE to global audiences, especially its efforts to contribute to enhancing global development and prosperity, Al Marri further said.

Al Marri highlighted the role of the National Media Council as a body that regulates the media sector in the UAE. She affirmed that the Council’s vision and contributions have helped promote cooperation between media organisations across the UAE. She also expressed her gratitude to all the speakers and participants at the 5th Emirati Media Forum for enriching the discussions at the event.

Delivering the opening speech, Director of Dubai Press Club Maitha Buhumaid said the 5th Emirati Media Forum has a special significance as it is promoting innovation and creativity as key professional values for the UAE media. She said these values are crucial to enhancing the media’s competitiveness.