On Wednesday, Dubai was officially announced as the Capital of Arab Media for 2020. The emirate was selected by the Arab Information Ministers Council during its 50th annual meeting held in Cairo, Egypt.
Dubai’s Media Office confirmed the news on Twitter with a caption that read:
“The 50th meeting of the Arab Information Ministers Council announces #Dubai as the capital of Arab media for 2020.”
Dubai’s Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum welcomed the decision in two posts uploaded on his official Twitter account.
“We welcome the selection of Dubai as the Capital of Arab Media for 2020 by the Council of Arab Ministers of Information in Cairo. Choosing Dubai is a new evidence of the leading role of the UAE and Dubai as a hub for Arab and international media,” he wrote.
The royal also added that the decision is a result of Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s focus on media development in the emirate. Years back, the ruler of Dubai launched a media strategy to position the city as “a media hub through pioneering initiatives and projects.”
Now, his work has manifested into reality with thousands of media organizations thriving in the emirate.
Several of the country’s top officials also hailed the decision, saying it confirms the city’s success in the field.
Media is a flourishing field in Dubai
Sheikh Mohammad launched his media strategy in 1999. Ever since, the emirate has led the region with projects aimed at further developing the industry.
Under his patronage, officials rolled out Dubai Media City in 2001. The entity has since expanded with the addition of Dubai Studio City, which is now home to around 300 of the world’s largest television and film production sites.
Dubai Production City, formerly known as International Media Production Zone, was also added to the media hub and now houses some of the world’s largest production companies.
According to a 2017 report, Dubai Media City is among the most expensive tech districts in the world.
In March of this year, Dubai further strengthened its place as a successful media hub when it hosted the 18th edition of the Arab Media Forum.
The two-day event was held under the slogan “Arab Media: From Now to the Future.”
It featured more than 75 speakers and 200 prominent media figures who represented over 20 countries from across the region and the world.
