2013 Arab Media Forum opens

The 2013 Arab Media Forum will run from 14th to15th May, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai. In the presence of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Mona Ghanem Al Marri, AMF Organising Committee Chairperson and Director General of the Government of Dubai Media Office opened the Forum in its 12th edition. The event is organised by the Dubai Press Club for media professionals. H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, H.H. Sheikh Majed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, Sheikh Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayyib, The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, Dr. Nabil El Araby, Secretary-General of the Arab League, Dr. Abdul Latif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Secretary General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf along with a number of media and press leaders, senior officials, editors, journalists and media professionals from the UAE and Arab countries. In a speech, Al Marri welcomed guests to the forum, stressing that since its inception 12 years ago, the Arab Media Forum has kept a clear approach in its progression in order to ensure ways of development. She noted that the programme of the current edition of the forum is characterised by depth and comprehensiveness and focuses on various phenomena to discuss their background and assess their impact on the profession and its ability to achieve its goal and mission. Dr. Nabil El Araby, Secretary-General of the Arab League thanked Sheikh Mohammed and those who are involved in the forum for their invitation to this event which has an important role in enhancing the role and position of the Arab Media in this era of challenges and variables from the history of the Arab nation. El Araby congratulated the Dubai Press Club on its distinguished achievements year after year for the advancement of the profession of journalism and the struggle to devote freedom and professionalism in the Arab media community. The Dubai Press Club has taken up the initiative to play the lead role in the growth of regional media industry through the launch of unique initiatives like the Arab Media Forum and Arab Journalism Award. Sheikh Mohammed commended the efforts of the AMF Organising Committee under the guidance of Al Marri and her assistants in the Dubai Press Club for media, who are making commendable efforts to unite the efforts of Arab journalists here in the UAE.