London, Asharq Al-Awsat—The Arab Media Forum opened in Dubai yesterday to a keynote speech from Egyptian prime minister Ibrahim Mahlab that highlighted the rapid expansion of Arab media in recent years.

“We find ourselves witnessing a revolution in technology and information which continues to shape and mold our world even as we struggle to keep up with it,” the prime minister said, remarking on the rapid expansion of Arab media outlets in recent years.

The impact that the rapid social and technological changes the Arab world is experiencing will have on media in the region was a common theme of this 13th edition of the Arab Media Forum, which bore the title “The Future of Media Starts Today.”

“We are in dire need to keep up with such [technological and social] transformations efficiently. Further, we need to improve performance standards in line with content and be able to interact with the new players of the digital media,” the Government of Dubai Media Office director-general, Mona Al Marri, said in welcoming remarks.

Over 2,000 prominent Arab and international political and media figures from over 27 countries are attending this 13th edition of the Forum. They include Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and the Deputy Ruler of Duabi, His Highness Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Also in attendance was Asharq Al-Awsat’s editor-in-chief, Dr. Adel Al Toraifi, who hosted a special session with MBC television network founder Sheikh Waleed Bin Ibrahim Al Ibrahim on Wednesday. In the session Sheikh Waleed, who owns the Arab world’s first commercially successful satellite television network, outlined his vision for the future of satellite TV in the region.

A session on Tuesday considered the divisive Islamic–Christian religious discourse that has become a feature of Arab media, focusing on ways to end the phenomenon. In attendance at that session were Al-Arabiya’s Rima Maktabi, Bahrain University Professor of Sociology Baqar Alnajjar, head of the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies International Relations Unit Emad Gad, Saudi writer and Asharq Al-Awsat columnist Mshari Al-Zaydi and Lebanese political analyst Luqman Salim.