Because the UAE accelerates its diversification away from oil, media, tradition and know-how are rising as strategic frontiers. That ambition was on show earlier this month when Abu Dhabi hosted the BRIDGE Summit from December 8 to 10, billing it because the “world’s largest debut media occasion.”
Organized by the non-public BRIDGE Alliance however beneath the auspices of the UAE authorities, the three-day summit introduced collectively voices from journalism, movie, music, know-how and communications to debate points starting from misinformation and lack of belief to the rising affect of synthetic intelligence on the worldwide media ecosystem.
“We realized that there isn’t any Davos for the media,” stated His Excellency Jamal Mohamed Obaid Al Kaabi, Director-Normal of the UAE Nationwide Media Authority and Vice-Chairman of the BRIDGE Alliance. hinduism Beside the occasion. “Whereas international platforms exist for economics, vitality, protection and know-how, there was no house within the media for the world to come back collectively and have a dialogue, despite the fact that we face related challenges in every single place.”
Dr Al Kaabi stated the thought for BRIDGE was born out of an more and more fragmented media dialog, regardless of the more and more shared pressures going through the sector. “Misinformation confuses society, fact-checking is a each day battle, and individuals are not sure the place the reality lies,” he stated. “These will not be issues for one nation or one information group.”
However what started as a summit shortly expanded its ambitions. “We realized that immediately’s content material isn’t just journalism,” Dr. Al Kaabi stated. “It is films, music, video games, and storytelling throughout platforms. If we need to significantly discuss the way forward for media, we will not restrict that dialog to simply newsrooms.”
That recognition led to the creation of the BRIDGE Alliance as an organization slightly than a authorities division. “It was clear from day one which this was not purported to operate as a authorities initiative,” he stated. “That is the platform for the world’s media, it is the house of the media. Folks have to really feel like they’ll stroll in there, be concerned, and belong.”
Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian attended the BRIDGE Summit. Photograph: Particular association
Whereas Abu Dhabi will proceed to be the everlasting residence of the annual summit, BRIDGE will even host “pop-up” occasions throughout areas together with the US, Europe, Asia and Africa. Dr Al Kaabi stated the thought is to make sure continuity. “Simply because we host a convention does not imply the challenges go away. The dialogue should proceed all year long.”
BRIDGE’s governance displays this international ambition. Its board contains Princess Lamia bint Majid Al Saud, a member of the Saudi royal household and ambassador to the United Nations who focuses on ladies’s empowerment. Jessica Sibley, CEO; time; Macky Sall, former president of Senegal. and Richard Attias, former government producer of the World Financial Discussion board. “At present’s media isn’t formed by one career or one area,” Dr. Al Kaabi stated. “We have been on the lookout for somebody who may perceive tradition, energy, storytelling, and international dialogue from a number of views.”
Movie celebrities corresponding to Idris Elba and Priyanka Chopra, Reddit co-founder and tennis participant Serena Williams’ partner Alexis Ohanian, Time journal editor-in-chief Nikhil Kumar, and a number of other executives from platforms corresponding to Meta and LinkedIn attended the occasion. Nevertheless, the BBC New York Occasions, The Hindu and Al Jazeera -The Qatar-based broadcaster was on the middle of previous regional diplomatic tensions in the course of the 2017 Gulf disaster, regardless of a subsequent restoration of relations between the UAE and Qatar.
Past convening media consultants, BRIDGE additionally displays a deeper ambition to take again possession of the story and develop the UAE’s cultural affect. For many years, West Asia was primarily a world media consumption space. Dr. Al Kaabi stated, “All of us grew up watching the identical superheroes and the identical tales.” “However each tradition has its personal heroes and its personal tales. The issue was by no means a scarcity of tales. The issue was a scarcity of techniques to assist inform these tales.”
By constructing an ecosystem that connects creators, financiers, technologists, and platforms, BRIDGE goals to allow storytelling from the area, not simply as a filming location, however as a middle for storytelling. Dr Al Kaabi acknowledged that it additionally has implications for the UAE’s gentle energy technique. “Folks come right here, work together, create, have experiences, and once they come again, that shapes the notion of the nation,” he says.
Actor Priyanka Chopra attended the BRIDGE Summit. Photograph: Particular association
A recurring theme on the summit was the strain between international media flows and deeply rooted cultural identities, particularly within the age of synthetic intelligence. Dr. Al Kaabi emphasised the necessity to anchor technological change in ethics and values. “If values are deeply rooted, they’ll information know-how, regardless of how superior it’s,” he stated, including that BRIDGE additionally must bridge the generational hole as youthful creators interact with know-how in basically alternative ways.
Past tradition, BRIDGE can also be aligned with the UAE’s financial rebalancing. “Media isn’t just a tradition, it’s an financial system,” Dr. Al Kaabi stated, noting that though the UAE ranks extremely within the World Competitiveness Index, the media sector continues to be an space the place there may be room for development. For him, this undertaking can also be private. He skilled as a physician and has labored extensively in medical communication, and stated the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the ability of communication in shaping belief and conduct.
“Media brings society collectively,” he stated. “BRIDGE is one thing we’re constructing collectively, and historical past will decide what it turns into.”
(The writer stayed in Abu Dhabi on the invitation of BRIDGE Alliance)
issued – December 13, 2025 10:33 PM IST
