His Highness Sheikh Mohammed opens Arab Media Forum 2007

The two-day event on "Developing People, Developing Organizations" is organized by Dubai Press Club (DPC) at the Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai.

Mona Al Marri, Chairperson of Dubai Press Club, welcomed His Highness Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum saying, "The Arab Media Forum is taking rapid strides towards achieving the goals that your Highness has set.

"Your Highness envisaged the forum to be an arena of knowledge, a free avenue for the exchange of ideas and expertise, as well as a place for experts to share successful media experiences. The forum's only goal is to serve the Arab media and regional journalists."

Al Marri said the Arab Media Forum has evolved into an annual event encouraging members of the media to interact without prejudice or pre-conceived notions.

"This year, the forum enters a new era aiming to modernise the role of Dubai Press Club in the development of the Arab media. DPC will release the first-of-its-kind annual report on the status of media in the Arab world. It will focus on media management as well as capacity development through media modules in universities and media training sessions."

The forum is attended by over 500 delegates including editors-in-chief of major regional and international print and the broadcast media, as well as leading journalists, columnists, academics, analysts, commentators and senior government officials.

Since 2001, the Arab Media Forum has initiated channels of dialogue between the Arab and Western media in order to promote better understanding amongst diverse schools of thought worldwide.