Dubai: The Dubai Press Club has announced the organising of the second Arab Social Media Influencers Summit in December.

The summit, which will take place on December 6-7 in Dubai World Trade Centre, aims to develop Arab society through better communication.

“The UAE considers communication as a key principle,” said Mona Al Merri, Dubai Press Club’s chief.

She hopes this year’s summit will help attendees discuss and analyse real-time events that have been shaped by social media platforms.

The “positive impact” of social media platforms that is “far greater than the traditional media”, according to the press release.

Currently, the organising committee is finalising the summit’s topics and selection of speakers.

This year’s summit will focus on the development of innovative ideas and the avoidance of “negative thoughts and false messages that have recently sprung up in the region due to the changes affecting the Arab world.”

The first Arab Social Media Influencers Summit, held last March, saw around 2,500 attendees and 38 experts who discussed social media and its role in shaping Arab societies.

Topics tackled included positivity as a method of communication, the impact of social media platforms, and how to overcome challenges present with online platforms.

Organisers claim that last year’s conference was a hit on social media. The hashtag of the summit was the first trending hashtag in the UAE and the fourth globally and generated 365 million impressions, according to the press release.

The summit was also covered by more than 800 local and regional media sources and over 3 million users visited the event’s website.

Last year’s summit was visited by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who presented awards to 37 social media influencers and professionals in the field.