Dubai: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has called for media content to keep pace with the nation’s aspirations for development.

Shaikh Mohammad said that the development of media content should also be in line with the comprehensive development that has encompassed all walks of life in the UAE besides highlighting citizens and their contribution to national work.

Shaikh Mohammad made the observations as he chaired a meeting at Dubai Media Incorporated’s (DMI) head office in the presence of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, and Shaikh Maktoum Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of DMI.

Shaikh Mohammad reaffirmed that the task of improving Emirati media must incorporate the use of the most up-to-date technologies and offer opportunities for UAE nationals, especially the youth, to fully participate in the process of establishing the foundations for an advanced Emirati media industry.

Shaikh Mohammad added that the media must keep abreast with rapid global changes, and that the media shoulders massive responsibilities as a key partner in the development process by highlighting completed achievements that can serve as a motivation for further improvements.

“We want the media to always be capable of being up to the task and shouldering its responsibility, to be modern and enlightening, and aware of the surrounding details and reacting to them, as well as touching on the opinions of the people, their aspirations, and assisting them in developing their capabilities and enhancing their contribution in building the future,” Shaikh Mohammad said.

Shaikh Mohammad and his accompanying delegation were briefed on DMI’s development plans and projects that will be implemented in time.

Shaikh Mohammad issued directives for the development of DMI infrastructure in keeping with the latest technology.

Shaikh Mohammad added that training Emirati media professionals is a national duty that called for providing citizens with more opportunities so that they would be in a position to enhance the UAE media’s ability to be globally competitive.

Shaikh Mohammad urged DMI to boost its media production operations by expanding and building studios in Dubai Studio City, which will make Dubai a hub for the production of TV shows and programmes.

“Years ago when we chose to build a solid foundation for a knowledge-based economy in the UAE, the media sector was a key part of this vision. We are now reaping the fruits of this vision, which is witnessed by the world and reflected in the large media presence that reaffirms the UAE’s position as an excellent global media hub that attracts both Arab and international media,” Shaikh Mohammad said.

Present during the meeting were Sami Al Qamzi, Deputy Chairman and Managing Director of DMI, Ahmad Saeed Al Mansouri, CEO of the TV and Radio at DMI, and other media and DMI officials.