Abu Dhabi city, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), will host an unprecedented gathering of global media leaders at the debut Abu Dhabi Media Summit next year.

The invitation-only inaugural summit, under the patronage of HH General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, will be held at the magnificent new five-star Yas Hotel, from 9-12 March 2010.

 

The summit has been created by Abu Dhabi Media Company (ADMC) and partners Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, leading property developer ALDAR, Etihad Airways, the business development and investment company Mubadala and the content creation community twofour540.

 

The event will feature a unique combination of high-profile public sessions, closed-door discussions and private conversations, bringing together top-tier global media players and their counterparts in fast-growing markets. Targeted sectors include mobile, broadband, television, print, entertainment, news, music, advertising and marketing, venture capital and equity finance, all with a special emphasis on the Middle East, Subcontinent, East Asian and Chinese markets.

 

“Abu Dhabi is fast becoming an international hub for business, innovation, architecture, sporting events, culture and media,” comments HE Mohammed Khalaf Al Mazrouei, Chairman of ADMC.

 

“The creative industries play a key role in the longer-term economic strategy of our city, as we embrace a diversified economic role,” he adds.

 

The summit marks a parameter-shift in the region’s media status. The Middle East and North Africa region has one of the highest percentages of youth in the world and one of the fastest-growing internet penetration rates. “These changes will lead to an exponential increase in demand for Arabic content, both in the UAE and across the region,” Al Mazrouei continues.

 

“Abu Dhabi is perfectly positioned to capitalise on this demand, and its fast-developing media industry is a direct consequence of increased long-term strategic investment across the sector.

 

“This growth is reflected by such developments as the creation of twofour540 and the recent influx of global media players, most recently CNN, into Abu Dhabi, plus substantial investment in associated creative and technological industries and education.

 

“ADMC has played a key role throughout, reflected in the city’s growing influence as a global media hub, acting as an information confluence with both East and West.”

 

The summit’s agenda will be driven by a powerful group of co-chairs, selected for their pre-eminence in shaping the new global media landscape. They include: Tim Armstrong, CEO, AOL; Lee Seok Chae, Chairman, KT Corporation; Kai-Fu Lee, Chairman & CEO, Innovation Works; Maurice Lévy, Chairman, PublicisGroupe; Didier Lombard, Chairman, Orange/France Telecom; Kishore Lulla, Chairman & CEO, Eros International; Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman and CEO, Bharti Enterprises; Rupert Murdoch, President and Chairman, News Corporation and Dr Prannoy Roy, Executive Chairperson, NDTV.

 

“The Abu Dhabi Media Summit is set to become a tremendous meeting of minds,” said summit Co-Chair Rupert Murdoch.

 

“I can’t think of a better place to be talking about the future of media. Abu Dhabi sits at a nexus of East and West, of developing and developed, of media present and future.”

 

The events knowledge partner is global management consultancy firm Booz & Company. Its Vice President and Global Practice Leader for the Communications, Media & Technology sector, Karim Sabbagh, comments: “The growth potential of global media access in the region is simply incredible – the rapid social and economic development that regional economies are witnessing is creating ubiquitously connected communities with one of the world’s strongest levels of media consumption.

 

“ADMC is playing a central role in creating opportunities for 21st century media players serving this region. The summit’s scope and ambition are world class.”

 

The summit is being produced and organised by PublicisLive, renowned for its global conference experience and capabilities, including the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

 

“The Abu Dhabi Media Summit has the clear potential to be one of the most important industry forums of its kind anywhere in the world – and for years to come,” remarks PublicisLive Chairman John Rossant.

 

“By bringing together the major media players from East, West, North and South, I believe the summit will be a crucial global clearing-house of insight into media innovation.”