Saif Ali Khan, Piers Morgan, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar to headline Arab Media Summit 2025 in Dubai

Dubai: The Dubai Press Club has announced the full agenda for the Arab Media Summit 2025, set to run from May 26 to 28 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

With more than 6,000 participants and 300 speakers expected, the three-day event will bring together media leaders, digital innovators, content creators and policymakers from across the Arab world and beyond.

This year’s Summit places a strong focus on the future of media, spotlighting transformative technologies such as artificial intelligence, the growing influence of social platforms, and the role of film and gaming as emerging economic drivers. More than 175 sessions and over 35 workshops will explore how regional media can evolve in an increasingly digital, data-driven world.

The Summit includes three flagship events: the Arab Youth Media Forum, the Arab Media Forum, and the Arab Social Media Influencers Summit. These platforms will collectively address the shifting landscape of media consumption, the importance of storytelling rooted in regional identity, and how emerging voices, particularly young creators, can shape the sector’s future.

Among the headline speakers are global media figure Piers Morgan and Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan. High-level Arab participation includes Lebanon’s Prime Minister, Syria’s Foreign Minister, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, and several Arab information ministers. The event will also host thought leaders in literature, academia, and tech, reflecting the Summit’s cross-disciplinary approach. (See below for the full list of key speakers and guests).

A new addition this year is the launch of the Film and Gaming Forum, positioning Dubai as a growing hub for creative industries. In parallel, the Dubai Press Club will host masterclasses in partnership with platforms such as Google, TikTok, Instagram, and Disney, further aligning regional media with global best practices.

The event will also see the release of the Arab Media Outlook 2025, offering data-driven insights into regional trends and investment opportunities. Three awards programmes—Arab Youth Media Award, Arab Media Award, and Arab Social Media Influencers Award—will recognise excellence in journalism and content creation.

With over 2,900 submissions to the Arab Media Award alone, organisers say the overwhelming engagement underscores growing regional momentum for innovation in media. The Summit also includes participation from 26 countries and is supported by strategic partners across government, academia, and private sectors.

The summit is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and under the directives of Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Media Council.

Sheikh Ahmed said: “The Arab Media Summit 2025 marks a new strategic milestone in Dubai’s integrated vision to build a dynamic Arab media landscape — one that is equipped to respond to global shifts and shape impactful content that reflects the region’s identity and future aspirations.”

He added: “The agenda of this year’s Summit adopts a forward-looking approach, addressing key areas such as artificial intelligence, transformative technologies, film and gaming, which are now central to shaping modern media narratives. We also place strong emphasis on empowering Arab youth and creating meaningful opportunities that enable them to contribute to content creation rooted in regional identity and driven by a vision for a more prosperous and stable future.”

Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Vice Chairperson and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council, President of the Dubai Press Club, and Chairperson of the Organising Committee of the Arab Media Summit, also announced the launch of the Film and Gaming Forum, which will take place alongside the Summit. She said the new forum has been developed in response to the growing importance of film and gaming as creative and economic drivers, and Dubai’s emergence as a major player in the growth of the two sectors across the Arab world.

“This year’s edition comes at a pivotal time for the industry, as artificial intelligence and digital innovation continue to redefine how content is created, distributed, and consumed. The agenda reflects these shifts, offering a future-oriented perspective on the profound transformations reshaping the regional and global media landscape.”

Focus: Youth, education, and media’s future
Key Speakers & Guests:

Zaki Nusseibeh – Cultural Advisor to the UAE President

Elias Bou Saab – Deputy Speaker, Lebanese Parliament; EVP, American University in Dubai

Dr Yasar Jarrar – Board Member, Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government

Saud Alsanousi – Kuwaiti novelist; will sign his latest literary work

Saeb Eigner – Art historian; presenting research on Middle Eastern artists

Focus: Strategic media dialogues, regional policy, Arabic content
Keynote Speakers:

Grand Imam Prof. Dr. Ahmed El-Tayeb – Sheikh of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif

Nawaf Salam – Prime Minister of Lebanon

Panel Sessions & Dialogues:

Asaad Al Shaibani – Minister of Foreign Affairs, Syria

Dr Ghassan Salameh – Minister of Culture, Lebanon

Dr Mohammad Nidal Al-Shaar – Minister of Economy and Industry, Syria

Arab Information Ministers Dialogue:

Abdulrahman Al Mutairie – Minister of Information and Culture, Kuwait

Dr Ramzan bin Abdulla Al Noaimi – Minister of Information, Bahrain

Paul Morcos – Minister of Information, Lebanon

Ahmed Al Maslamani – Chairman, National Media Authority, Egypt

Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Hamed – Chairman, National Media Office, UAE

Media and Language Panel:

Caroline Faraj – VP, CNN; Editor-in-Chief, CNN Arabic

Maha El Dahan – Gulf Bureau Chief, Reuters

Faisal Abbas – Editor-in-Chief, Arab News

Michele Masneri – Journalist, Italy

Maki Sugimoto & Kunitake Kanika – Japanese media scholars

Focus: Social platforms, digital communication, algorithm-driven media
Key Speakers & Guests:

Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid– Chairperson, Dubai Culture and Arts Authority

Dr Anwar Gargash – Diplomatic Advisor to the UAE President

Piers Morgan – British broadcaster

Saif Ali Khan – Bollywood actor

Mona Ghanem Al Marri –Vice Chairperson and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council, President of the Dubai Press Club, and Chairperson of the Organising Committee of the Arab Media Summit