Ministers from UAE, Azerbaijan and Georgia Outline Regional Narratives at Dubai Arab Media Summit

The second day of the Arab Media Summit in Dubai featured high-level discussions focusing on national narratives, economic strategies, and geopolitical shifts, highlighted by the Euronews Forum. Ministers and senior officials from the United Arab Emirates, Azerbaijan, and Georgia took the main stage to address how their respective nations manage crises, shape public messaging, and counter disinformation campaigns.

The annual summit, held at the Dubai World Trade Centre, brought together information ministers from countries including Egypt, Syria, Bahrain, Jordan, and Lebanon. The broad programme also addressed diverse topics such as the global reach of Arab cinema, platform-specific television production, women in Arab drama, medical advice from online influencers, and the newly introduced Lebanese media law. The event also featured the screening of the Oscar-nominated documentary "From Inside Gaza."

During the Euronews Forum session on building national narratives, UAE Economy and Tourism Minister Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri addressed questions regarding regional economic stability. Emphasizing proactive planning over reactive recovery, Al Marri stated that the country designs its economy for future crises rather than just recovery. He highlighted that resilience is built over time through deliberate policy and mindset, noting that government and banking systems remained steady during disruptions. Regarding crisis communication, Al Marri argued that messaging should remain constant rather than simply louder when storms hit.

Joining the panel, Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, discussed Baku's ongoing peace process with Armenia, following a joint declaration signed with the United States in Washington in August 2025. Hajiyev asserted that his country is successfully navigating the post-conflict phase, stating that Azerbaijan won in the war and is now winning in the peace. He also highlighted Azerbaijan's integration into the Central Asian leaders' platform, which expanded the regional grouping from five members to six.

Georgia's Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili completed the ministerial panel, addressing her nation's foreign policy and European integration prospects. Botchorishvili and Hajiyev both highlighted that their respective countries have been targeted by sustained disinformation campaigns, emphasizing the ongoing challenges of managing national narratives in complex geopolitical environments.

In a separate session on media and diplomacy, UAE Minister of State Noura Al Kaabi underscored the importance of public diplomacy during periods when conventional political channels recede. Al Kaabi welcomed warming diplomatic ties between Abu Dhabi and Damascus, noting Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's recent visit to the UAE as well as an initiative by Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak to restore the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus. Addressing misinformation, Al Kaabi advocated for speed, engagement, and credibility, while pointing out that younger generations have an active role to play in verifying information before sharing it.

The commercial aviation sector was also represented at the summit by Emirates Group Chief Marketing Officer Boutros Boutros, who discussed the realities of building and maintaining a global airline. Addressing technological advancements, Boutros offered an unsentimental view of artificial intelligence and digital influencers, asserting that human expertise remains the primary driver of effective communication. He noted that while technology enables instantaneous multi-language communication, discovering creative minds capable of genuine human connection is paramount. When addressing operational challenges such as strikes, geopolitical tensions, technical faults, and adverse weather, Boutros stated that an airline's main priority during disruptions is to minimize passenger impact and preserve public trust.

The Arab Media Summit features a diverse schedule covering cinematic arts, regional broadcasting developments, and digital media trends. The multi-day event concludes on Thursday at the Dubai World Trade Centre.