The Global Media Congress concluded its second edition with a record-breaking attendance, reshaping the future of the media industry. The event witnessed a remarkable increase in participants, with 23,924 visitors compared to 13,556 the previous year, marking a 76.48% surge in attendance. This growth was accompanied by an increase in countries represented, with a total of 172 nations participating, including 31 new countries joining for the first time. The Congress expanded its footprint by 78%, covering an area of 32,000 square meters and attracting 77 esteemed industry speakers from 18 different countries.
Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, the final day of the congress featured captivating keynote speeches, insightful panel discussions, and exclusive interviews. These sessions contributed to the overarching narrative of driving innovation and fostering business growth in the global media landscape.
Mohammed Jalal Al Rayssi, Director-General of Emirates News Agency (WAM) and Chairman of the Higher Organizing Committee for the Global Media Congress, expressed his satisfaction with the event, stating that it successfully united leaders, decision-makers, and executives from renowned media institutions worldwide to shape the future of the industry. He emphasized the UAE’s role as a crucial global hub for advancing the media industry, setting the stage for its productive growth to serve economies and societies around the world.
During the concluding day of the Congress, the themes of tolerance and community harmony, sport and the media, and the impact of technology on different media platforms took center stage. These topics shed light on integral aspects of the media landscape and their influence on society.
Reflecting on the success of this edition, Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Managing Director, and Group CEO of ADNEC Group, expressed gratitude to the participants for their enthusiasm and valuable contributions. Al Dhaheri also acknowledged the visionary leadership of the UAE, whose unwavering support contributed to the global significance of the event. He emphasized ADNEC Group’s commitment to advancing Abu Dhabi’s economic diversification through expanded business and tourism opportunities and looked forward to replicating the outstanding success of the Global Media Congress in future editions.
The Congress witnessed the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) on its final day. The agreements were made between New Media Academy and Core 42, as well as the UAE Journalist Association and American University in the Emirates. These partnerships highlight the significance of collaboration and knowledge exchange in driving the media industry forward.
One of the highlights of the Congress’s closing day was the startup pitch competition, which showcased exceptional emerging talent in the media industry. The first prize was awarded to Olga Nayda from the UAE for ‘My Glocal,’ an internet tool that helps users acquire international and local leads without exorbitant marketing expenses. The second prize went to Noor Alasadi, also from the UAE, for Lisan AI, a cutting-edge writing platform offering state-of-the-art proofreading. Lastly, the third prize was awarded to Egypt’s Dina Aboughazala for the groundbreaking project Egab, an innovative platform amplifying the voices of young journalists.
The Global Media Congress demonstrated its commitment to unlocking the potential of new talent in the media sector. This was underscored by the introduction of the Education Stage, Co-Production Majlis, Innovation Stage, NexTech, and Future Media Lab, which explored education and artificial intelligence as key drivers of the industry’s future evolution. Elite-level discussions held at the Future Media Labs are expected to lead to a new White Paper on the industry’s future, building upon a similar publication in 2022.
With its game-changing initiatives and forums for thought leadership and visionary partnerships, the 2023 Global Media Congress solidified its position as an essential platform for shaping the future of the media industry.
Note: This article is generated by OpenAI’s language model.
