National Media Office chairman calls for Gulf media unity

Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Hamed, Chairman of the National Media Office (NMO) has emphasised the urgency of consolidating Gulf media unity and integration amid regional and global challenges.

Al Hamed, who is also the Chairman of the UAE Media Council, said this during the 27th Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Information Ministers Meeting in Doha.

The meeting included the participation of GCC information ministers and was attended by GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi.

"There is an urgent need to unify the Gulf media discourse and coordinate among various media outlets, guided by necessary professionalism and agreed-upon principles," said Al Hamed, who led the UAE delegation to the meeting.

He was accompanied by Mohammed Saeed Al Shehhi, Secretary-General of the UAE Media Council and Dr. Jamal Mohammed Obaid Al Kaabi, Director-General of the NMO.

Al Hamed stressed the importance of developing joint Gulf media strategies that keep pace with rapid developments and contribute to strengthening the position of the GCC countries on the international scene.

He called for continuing to build on the progress made in developing an awareness strategy for managing electronic communication networks, with the aim of maximising their benefits while minimising risks to new generations and the traditional Gulf value system.

During the meeting, the UAE delegation presented several proposals for joint work.

One key proposal was to establish a unified information database for the Gulf Cooperation Council, which would facilitate the flow and exchange of information and media content between member states, serving as a central repository for sharing data and visual and audio materials.

The UAE delegation also proposed conducting a comprehensive study on the future of artificial intelligence and its increasing impact on the media sector. This study aims to anticipate future trends and identify the opportunities and challenges facing this vital sector.

The meeting focused on enhancing joint cooperation in the field of electronic media. Key discussions included establishing regulatory controls for commercial advertising mechanisms across social media sites and platforms, initiating the “Child Digital Safety” in GCC countries and formulating a collaborative awareness plan to safeguard morals, foster socialisation and promote Gulf values and identity.