Abu dhabi: Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed, Chairman of the National Media Office, and Chairman of the UAE Media Council, emphasized that Arab youth have the potential to shape their ideas and translate their innovations into practical achievements and policies, fostering a prosperous future for their societies.
According to Emirates News Agency, Al Hamed made these remarks during a dialogue session titled ‘From Secrets to Policies: Arab Youth and Shaping Global Influence.’ The session was part of the fourth edition of the ‘Arab Youth Pioneers’ initiative, organized by the Arab Youth Centre (AYC) at Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy in Abu Dhabi. The event was attended by Dr. Sultan Al Neyadi, Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Vice Chairman of the Arab Youth Centre. Al Hamed highlighted the significant role of media creativity among Arab youth in supporting sustainable development agendas both locally and regionally. He noted the transition of young Arab minds from mere participants to active partners in development, integrating media and innovation to make a real impact globally.
Acknowledging the patronage and leadership of H.H. Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes’ Affairs, and Chairman of the Arab Youth Centre, Al Hamed praised the initiative’s role in empowering Arab youth to contribute effectively to sustainable development.
Al Hamed further emphasized media as a strategic platform for shaping influence, transforming its role from just reporting news to crafting narratives that spotlight Arab minds globally. This, he noted, contributes to presenting a balanced image of the region. He credited the UAE leadership’s vision for seeing media as a tool to strengthen national identity, support innovation, and empower youth for sustainable development.
During the session, Al Hamed also mentioned the upcoming Bridge Summit in Abu Dhabi, which aims to build a global bridge supporting joint action in media, content, and entertainment sectors. The summit will connect Arab talent with global decision-makers, creating opportunities and projects across borders based on fair standards.
He added that the summit will serve as a launchpad, transforming youth stories into sustainable development projects, with media acting as the bridge to move ideas from a personal framework to an institutional incubator. This will enable youth to present their stories as real business models, enhancing self-confidence and granting their creativity global recognition.
In response to a question on achieving media leadership in the Arab world, Al Hamed stated that transforming from passive recipients to active participants in policymaking and shaping the global Arab narrative is crucial. He urged for a new Arab narrative rooted in regional values to be at the forefront of international dialogue.
Discussing the UAE’s success in turning its national identity into a global narrative, Al Hamed cited the UAE as a model of leadership and innovation, using media strategically to build its image globally. This approach combines local identity with global openness, serving as inspiration for Arab youth to create impactful projects with global resonance.
Al Hamed concluded by urging youth to believe in their abilities, continuously develop skills, and draw from cultural identity to create projects with a positive local and global impact. He stressed that ambition must be paired with knowledge, innovation, and courage. He called on youth to transform individual ideas into competitive, sustainable projects and actively shape the Arab narrative on the international stage.