Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Director-General of the Government of Dubai Media Office, on Thursday addressed a remote Forum titled ‘Arab Media During and After the Coronavirus Pandemic’ organized by Bahrain’s Dar Al-Bilad Foundation for Journalism, Publishing, and Distribution. Speaking at the Forum, Al Marri affirmed that the UAE leadership recognized the importance of transitioning to a digital environment at a very early stage which enabled the country to rapidly adapt to the challenges imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The UAE adopted an integrated strategy to swiftly attain comprehensive digitalization across various sectors after understanding the long-term value and benefits of digital transformation.

She noted that government organizations have been proactively working towards implementing necessary initiatives to boost the competitive edge of the UAE in digitization. With its efforts to combat the pandemic crisis and mitigate its impact, the country was easily able to accelerate its digitization plans

Eminent dignitaries participated in the event including leaders in the Arab media sector such as Bahrain's Minister of Information Affairs Ali bin Mohammed Al Rumaihi, Egypt's Minister of Information Affairs Osama Heikal, Adviser to the King of Bahrain for Media Affairs Nabil Al-Hamar, and Egyptian media expert Imad El Din Adeeb. Furthermore, writers, media professionals, and officials of media institutions and government organizations along with academia from the Arab world also participated in the Forum.

In her address, Al Marri noted that UAE's digital preparedness played a key role in its success in effectively mitigating various repercussions of the pandemic, adding that they have brought paradigm shifts across all sectors of life.

She underlined the various ways the COVID-19 pandemic changed the way people communicate with each other across countries as well as the shifts it has brought in the media world.

"Technology has collapsed time and space, fast-tracking developments that were expected to happen only in the next ten years," she noted.

She stressed that the Arab Media Forum 2020 organized reported by the Dubai Press Club is another significant example of the digital transformation the world is going through in the aftermath of the pandemic. She added that previously the annual forum witnessed an average attendance at the ranged between 2,000 and 3,000. However, the first remote edition in the year 2020 saw the participation of more than 10,000 followers from various parts of the world.

Al Marri further noted that media organizations that are not accelerating their digital transformation are likely to face threats to their competitiveness, particularly amid the rapidly evolving environment currently. She also raised concerns about the disadvantages of the digital environment, including a space for rumors, fake news, and disinformation, which calls for strict security across media.

In conclusion, Al Marri stressed the need for enhancing the Arab media sector’s preparedness to adapt and thrive in a post-pandemic world. 

WAM