Building resilient media institutions in a rapidly changing world requires continuous learning, stronger capabilities and the ability to adapt, Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed, Chairman of the National Media Authority (NMA), said, stressing that people and their experience must remain at the heart of the sector’s development.
Speaking at an Open Majlis organised by the NMA in Dubai, Al Hamed called for closer engagement between the Authority and media professionals, saying meaningful institutional development begins with understanding the industry’s needs and creating space for open discussion about its challenges and opportunities.
The gathering brought together journalists, media representatives and content creators to exchange ideas and propose ways to advance the UAE’s media industry. For Al Hamed, such engagement is not simply about identifying problems but about understanding the sector’s current realities, anticipating its future needs and turning professional experience into effective policy.
He said the rapid transformation of the media landscape called for collective efforts to strengthen its role in raising awareness and supporting development. The UAE’s media, he added, draws its strength from public trust, while responsible communication helps shape awareness, preserve national identity and present the country’s image to the world.
Policies, he stressed, must be informed by first-hand industry experience and the accumulated expertise of media organisations, professionals and content creators. The Authority is continuing to develop its policies in partnership with those working in the sector, ensuring that feedback gathered through discussions informs concrete action and that constructive proposals lead to practical initiatives.
The challenge now, Al Hamed suggested, is to move beyond identifying difficulties and focus on solutions. He urged media professionals to help shape the sector’s future by upholding professionalism and credibility and placing the national interest at the centre of their work.
He also highlighted the importance of investment in talent as the media industry adapts to technological change. However significant new technologies may be, he said, they cannot replace skilled professionals who know how to use them responsibly and exercise sound judgement.
Media’s value, he emphasised, extends beyond the moment a story is published. Institutions that serve their country earn the respect of their audiences and create a lasting impact, making credibility and professional responsibility essential to the sector’s future.
Addressing content creators towards the end of the session, Al Hamed said the UAE’s presence on social media must continue to reflect the country’s established values and ethical principles. He called on Emiratis to demonstrate responsibility in their words and conduct, in keeping with the leadership’s vision of citizens as examples of responsible behaviour, awareness and openness to the world.
“The best thing we can present to the world is what we achieve on the ground. The UAE’s successes are our strongest message,” he said.
Rather than becoming preoccupied with responding to others, Al Hamed added, those who recognise their country’s worth should let achievements speak for themselves, facts establish their presence and meaningful work project an image worthy of the UAE.
The Open Majlis reflects the NMA’s approach to building closer, more interactive relationships with the media sector. The Authority’s approach rests on the understanding that progress depends not on decisions alone, but also on accumulated expertise, professional experience, ideas put into practice and dialogue translated into action.
The NMA continues to strengthen its communication channels with media organisations and professionals, seeking to foster a more agile and competitive media ecosystem that can adapt to change while reinforcing a media presence aligned with the UAE’s standing and ambitions.
