Dubai: The Dubai Press Club has unveiled the complete agenda for the Arab Media Summit 2025, scheduled to take place from May 26 to 28 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
Anticipating over 6,000 attendees and 300 speakers, this three-day event will unite media leaders, digital innovators, content creators, and policymakers from the Arab world and beyond.
This year's summit emphasizes the future of media, highlighting transformative technologies such as artificial intelligence, the rising impact of social media platforms, and the emerging economic roles of film and gaming. Attendees can look forward to more than 175 sessions and over 35 workshops that will examine how regional media can adapt in an increasingly digital and data-driven landscape.
The summit features three main events: the Arab Youth Media Forum, the Arab Media Forum, and the Arab Social Media Influencers Summit. Together, these platforms will explore the evolving media landscape, emphasize the significance of storytelling rooted in regional identity, and highlight how emerging voices, especially young creators, can influence the future of the industry.
Key Speakers
Notable speakers include renowned media personality Piers Morgan and Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan. High-profile Arab representatives will include Lebanon’s prime minister, Syria’s foreign minister, the grand imam of Al-Azhar, and various Arab information ministers. The event will also welcome thought leaders from literature, academia, and technology, showcasing the summit’s interdisciplinary focus. (See below for the complete list of key speakers and guests.)
This year marks the introduction of the Film and Gaming Forum, establishing Dubai as an emerging center for creative industries. Simultaneously, the Dubai Press Club will conduct masterclasses in collaboration with major platforms like Google, TikTok, Instagram, and Disney, enhancing the alignment of regional media with global standards.
Additionally, the event will unveil the Arab Media Outlook 2025, which provides data-driven insights into regional trends and investment opportunities. Three awards programs—the Arab Youth Media Award, the Arab Media Award, and the Arab Social Media Influencers Award—will honor outstanding achievements in journalism and content creation.
With more than 2,900 entries submitted for the Arab Media Award, organizers highlight that this strong participation reflects a growing momentum for media innovation in the region. The summit also features representatives from 26 countries and is backed by strategic partners from government, academia, and the private sector.
Creating impactful content
The summit is held 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 follows the directives of Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Media Council.
Sheikh Ahmed stated, “The Arab Media Summit 2025 represents a significant strategic milestone in Dubai’s comprehensive vision to cultivate a vibrant Arab media landscape. This landscape is designed to adapt to global changes and produce impactful content that embodies the region’s identity and future goals.”
He continued, “This year’s Summit agenda takes a forward-thinking approach, focusing on critical areas such as artificial intelligence, transformative technologies, film, and gaming, which are essential in shaping contemporary media narratives. We also prioritize empowering Arab youth and creating meaningful opportunities that allow them to engage in content creation that is deeply rooted in regional identity and driven by a vision for a more prosperous and stable future.”
Adapting to Industry Changes
Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Vice Chairperson and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council, President of the Dubai Press Club, and Chairperson of the Organizing Committee for the Arab Media Summit, announced the introduction of the Film and Gaming Forum, which will be held concurrently with the Summit. She noted that this new forum has been created to address the increasing significance of film and gaming as both creative and economic forces, highlighting Dubai's role as a key contributor to the development of these sectors throughout the Arab world.
This year's edition arrives at a crucial moment for the industry, as artificial intelligence and digital innovation are fundamentally changing the ways in which content is created, distributed, and consumed. The agenda reflects these changes, providing a forward-looking perspective on the significant transformations that are reshaping both the regional and global media landscape.
List of Speakers and Guests for the Arab Media Summit 2025
Day 1: May 26 – Arab Youth Media Forum
Focus: The future of youth, education, and media
Key Speakers & Guests:
- Zaki Nusseibeh—Cultural Advisor to the UAE President
- Elias Bou Saab—Deputy Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament; Executive Vice President, American University in Dubai
- Dr. Yasar Jarrar—Board Member, Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government
Saud Alsanousi, a Kuwaiti novelist, will be signing his latest literary work.
Saeb Eigner, an art historian, will present his research on Middle Eastern artists.
Day 2: May 27—Arab Media Forum (Official Opening)
Focus: Strategic media dialogues, regional policy, and Arabic content
Keynote Speakers:
- Grand Imam Prof. Dr. Ahmed El-Tayeb, Sheikh of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif
- Nawaf Salam, Prime Minister of Lebanon
Panel Sessions & Dialogues:
- Asaad Al Shaibani, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Syria
- Dr. Ghassan Salameh, Minister of Culture, Lebanon
Dr. Mohammad Nidal Al-Shaar—Minister of Economy and Industry, Syria
Arab Information Ministers Dialogue:
- Abdulrahman Al Mutairie—Minister of Information and Culture, Kuwait
- Dr. Ramzan bin Abdulla Al Noaimi—Minister of Information, Bahrain
- Paul Morcos—Minister of Information, Lebanon
- Ahmed Al Maslamani—Chairman, National Media Authority, Egypt
- Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Hamed—Chairman, National Media Office, UAE
Media and Language Panel:
Caroline Faraj—Vice President, CNN; Editor-in-Chief, CNN Arabic
Maha El Dahan—Gulf Bureau Chief, Reuters
Faisal Abbas—Editor-in-Chief, Arab News
Michele Masneri—Journalist, Italy
Maki Sugimoto & Kunitake Kanika—Japanese Media Scholars
Day 3: May 28 – Arab Social Media Influencers Summit (ASMIS)
Focus: Social platforms, digital communication, and algorithm-driven media
Key Speakers & Guests:
Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid—Chairperson, Dubai Culture and Arts Authority
