Dubai Press Club Announces Arab Media Summit 2026 From 31 March To 2 April Under Sheikh Mohammed's Patronage

The Dubai Press Club has announced that the upcoming Arab Media Summit will take place from 31st March to 2nd April 2026. This event will be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai. The announcement follows the successful conclusion of the 2025 edition.

The previous summit introduced several significant additions, such as the Film and Gaming Forum and the release of the ‘Arab Media Outlook - Future Vision’ report. These initiatives were part of efforts to redefine media's future by examining key forces shaping its segments. The summit attracted over 8,000 participants from 26 countries.

Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Vice Chairperson and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council, stated that preparations for the next summit are underway. She highlighted that a committee has reviewed the outcomes of the 2025 edition, which ended on 28th May. The aim is to identify focus areas for 2026.

Al Marri explained that nearly a year of planning has gone into shaping an agenda addressing current and future Arab media landscapes. This involves engaging with leading media organisations to pinpoint issues impacting the sector and fostering dialogue for continued development.

Maryam Al Mulla, Acting Director of the Dubai Press Club, expressed gratitude to those who contributed to the success of the 2025 summit. She emphasised teamwork as a key factor in Dubai’s achievements across various sectors, including media.

Al Mulla noted that the 2026 edition marks another step in a journey that began with the Arab Media Forum in 2001. The summit aims to empower talent, inspire youth, strengthen regional media partnerships, and showcase technologies shaping global media's future.

Flagship Initiatives

The Arab Media Summit includes flagship initiatives like the Arab Media Forum, Arab Youth Media Forum, Arab Media Award, Ibda’a- the Arab Youth Media Award, and Arab Social Media Influencers Summit and Award. The Film and Gaming Forum is also part of these initiatives.

The summit featured 175 sessions with nearly 300 prominent speakers from across the Arab world. These discussions focused on redefining media's future by examining key forces shaping its various segments.

The event continues to serve as a platform for empowering talent and inspiring youth while strengthening regional media partnerships. It also showcases technologies influencing global media's future direction.

With inputs from WAM