The Government of Dubai Media Office (GDMO) hosted the eighth station of the ‘Future Trip’ programme, an innovative educational course developed by the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG) for future leaders of government entities.
Participants, who included executives, CEOs, and Director Generals, attended a comprehensive session that discussed the accomplishments and future challenges facing the media sector in Dubai.
The session also shed light on ways of utlising the media as a driver of national development, aligning targets with the aspirations of the UAE’s leadership, and building on the success of unique UAE initiatives that have made a mark on the Arab media scene.
Director-General of the Government of Dubai Media Office Mona Al Marri welcomed the participants and commended the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government for setting the bar high for future leaders in attaining excellence and preparedness for the digital age.
Al Marri said, "It is our pleasure to partner with the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government to support the development of human capital. Such initiatives play a key role in raising the competitiveness of Dubai in line with the vision of Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum that focusses on empowering future Emirati leaders."
Executive President of the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government Dr. Ali Sebaa Al Marri, thanked the Government of Dubai Media Office and underlined its role in creating a deeper understanding of media among ‘Future Trip’ participants, how to read between the lines, and connect the dots to ensure a sound analysis. "It is imperative for future leaders to have the necessary skills to interact with the media, and utilise media to drive sustainable development forward," he said.
"At MBRSG, we strive to prepare generations of leaders who are capable of taking on future challenges and turning them into opportunities for growth and development. Our collaboration with a number of strategic partners offers valuable insights that can help shape a holistic approach in dealing with different challenges," Dr. Al Marri added.
The 8th station of the ‘Future Trip’ programme held at the GDMO headquarters featured two discussion groups. The first tackled strategic issues concerning the media sector in Dubai. Participants included Mona Al Marri; Majed Al Suwaidi, Managing Director of Dubai Media City, Dubai Studio City, and Dubai Production City; and Jamal Al Sharif, Chairman of the Dubai Film and TV Commission and Managing Director of Dubai Studio City.
The second discussion group shed light on the practical aspects of the media sector. Participants included Ahmed Al Hammadi, Executive Director of the Publishing Sector at Dubai Media Incorporated (DMI); Saleh Lootah, Deputy CEO - TV & Radio Support at DMI; Khadija Al Marzouqi, Editor-in-Chief of Dubai Post; and Salem BelYouha, Director of Media Services at Government of Dubai Media Office.
Mona Al Marri highlighted the progressive vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum as part of which he outlined a roadmap for the growth of the media sector in Dubai in the late 1990s. His Highness issued directives to develop a comprehensive media strategy that aimed to position Dubai as a leading global destination for the media industry.
Al Marri also noted the success of key initiatives like the Dubai Press Club (DPC), which after being established in 1999, went on to organise the Arab Media Forum and the Arab Journalism Award, two of the most important events in the media calendar.
Speaking at the event, Majed Al Suwaidi said that the role of Dubai Media City is not confined to providing services to media companies. It helps its clients develop their business models according to the evolving requirements of the media sector.
Talking about the development of digital media, Salem BelYouha shed light on the importance of developing media tools to meet future requirements. He said that technology is the way forward, and that the challenge at hand is to develop sustainable media tools that can be upgraded on a continuous basis. "The media sector needs to embrace the evolutionary power and reach of mobile apps," said BelYouha.
The ‘Future Trip’ programme takes executives, CEOs, and Director Generals on an educational tour of nine key government entities in Dubai; the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG), Dubai Government Human Resources Department, the Executive Council, the Supreme Legislation Committee, Dubai Future Foundation, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation, Smart Dubai, the Government of Dubai Media Office, and Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC).

Source: WAM