Mohammed meets media personalities

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai met with leaders and representatives of local, Arab and foreign media organisations at Mina Al Salam Hotel on Monday.

Sheikh Mohammed welcomed, in the presence of Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Dubai Deputy Ruler Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, media personalities and journalists and exchanged with them greetings on the advent of the holy month of Ramadan.

The event, which was organised by the Government of Dubai Media Office (GDMO), also saw the attendance of Chairman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, Cabinet Affairs Minister Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Dubai Protocol Department Director General Khalifa Saeed Suleiman, Director General of the Government of Dubai Media Office (GDMO) Mona Ghanem Al Marri and MBC Group Chairman Sheikh Waleed bin Ibrahim Al Ibrahim.

Following breaking of their fast, Sheikh Mohammed exchanged with his guests talk on a number of national issues related to modern development in the UAE and the vision of His Highness for the future of the national economy in particular and the world economy in general. In this context, Sheikh Mohammed emphasised that the UAE in general and Dubai in particular is pushing ahead on making greater achievements that make citizens happy and provide them with a decent life, stability and prosperity.

Answering questions from the media about Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government which has recently been transformed from serving only Dubai Government employees to serving a large number of staff from Arab countries, Sheikh Mohammed said DSG is a source of pride to us because we have become a role model in many fields to our Arab brothers, and we open all the doors for our Arab brothers to benefit from our successful experiences.

He added that he feels happy seeing young UAE nationals train their brothers from Arab countries, especially from Iraq, Libya and Yemen in the future.

During the dialogue, Sheikh Mohammed stressed the importance of leaders’ determination and persistence, adding that doubt kills creativity and causes frustration to the doubtful.

Sheikh Mohammed also touched on the current Arabic situation, stressing that the people in some Arab nations need a change to the better politically, economically and socially.

He added that what is happening in some Arab countries is a natural outcome brought about by political, economic and social pressures, not to mention the lack of job opportunities being suffered by Arab youth, especially the new graduates.

Sheikh Mohammed added: “We, in the UAE, wish our Arab brothers every good, stability and economic prosperity so that peace and welfare prevail in all parts of the Arabic region of which we are part.”

Meanwhile, Sheikh Mohammed met with Head and members of the UAE Journalists Association and ordered Dh5 million be granted to the association on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan in support of the Association’s Social Solidarity Fund to help members settle their financial commitments to the association.

At the close of the meeting, media personalities expressed happiness in meeting with Sheikh Mohammed, expressing pride in UAE achievements and the freedom of press  given to media, and asserting that they are given every care, freedom and rights that help them achieve their media mission  without any obstacles or pressures.

Mohammed inaugurates MBC Studios at Dubai Studio City

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai inaugurated MBC Group’s O3 Drama Production Studios at the Dubai Studio City; a state-of-art production facility built on an area of 15,000 square feet.

Accompanying Sheikh Mohammed during the opening ceremony were Dubai Deputy Ruler and Chairman of the Dubai Media Incorporated (DMI) Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the MBC Group Sheikh Walid bin Ibrahim Al Ibrahim, Minister of Cabinet Affairs Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Holding Ahmed bin Byat, Dubai Director of Protocol and Hospitality Khalifa Saeed Suleiman, Director General of the Government of Dubai Media Office Mona Ghanem Al Marri, distinguished figures from the field of media and other officials.

Touring the newest addition to the media sector in Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed was briefed on the advanced audio-visual production equipment installed at the facility and technologies that are on par with the latest standards utilised by world’s largest production studios.

The opening affirms Dubai’s leading status as a favourable high-tech destination for major media institutions to create premium media content as well as a popular destination for Arab and International investment in various sectors including media.

Sheikh Mohammed expressed satisfaction at the level of progress the media sector has attained in the United Arab Emirates in such a way that catalyses creativity in a highly-competitive atmosphere.

Sheikh Mohammed also noted the steps taken to raise the bar of media production in the Arab world and take bigger steps in cinematic production.

His Highness also toured Dubai Studio City and was on the facilities that provide premium services to media institutions enabling them to create media content as per the highest internationally-recognised standards.

Extending his best wishes to MBC Group and its staff, Sheikh Mohammed affirmed that the UAE will continue to support both private and government media sectors as well as provide the necessary requirements and space for local, regional and international outlets operating in Dubai so as to spread the media message and boost their role in building the future.

On its part, the MBC Group expressed its appreciation to UAE’s leadership support for Media institutions and media persons and extended sincere gratitude to UAE Vice-President, Prime Minster and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for his kind patronage and continuous support for the media community in the Arab region; a support felt throughout various important initiatives that offer opportunities for improvement and a conducive environments for creativity.

Chairman of the MBC Group Sheikh Walid Al Ibrahim said, “As we had bet before on Dubai when we left London in 2002, today we particularly bet on Dubai Studio City.

“We took the right decision back then, and we are quite sure we are taking the right one now. Dubai Studio City provides solid platform for media production with all its state of the art facilities and topnotch technology. In terms of competency and capability, I believe Dubai Studio City is standing head to head with top global studios.”

“This move shall contribute in enhancing Dubai’s international position as a hub for media content production. Considering all the success elements that the city offers, drama and entertainment production shall exceed all expectations”, He added.

On his part, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Holding Ahmed bin Byat said, “Dubai Studio City is increasingly becoming the haven for broadcast, movie, television and music production companies in the Middle East looking for a business environment created specifically to facilitate their growth and development.

“The commencement of production by MBC Group, a champion in the television production industry, in the new sound stage marks an important milestone for Dubai Studio City, as it proves that world-class content can be produced in Dubai.

“We are confident that the specialised and modern infrastructure, facilities and services we provide, combined with the strategic location and global status of Dubai and the presence of leading media groups such as MBC, will attract global players in the film, TV, music, entertainment and broadcast industries to the Emirate and the region”.

It is worth mentioning that MBC Group is regarded as one of the most important Arab Media institutions that have chosen Dubai to establish its headquarters in 2002, paving the way for a record achievements the most prominent of which is the launch of Al Arabyia news channel and other entertainment and TV programme channels that have contributed in making a quantitative leap in the Arab Media landscape.

Moreover, the launch of the new O3 Drama Production Studios at the Dubai Studio City only testify for the successful partnership between the MBC Group and the Dubai Holding and sets out a model for cooperation, a value deeply rooted at various Media institutions looking for an environment that could enable them to carry out their activities in an ideal manner and through the support of such specialised cluster of professionals Dubai Media City and Dubai Studio City and Dubai's International Media Production Zone.

Today, Dubai Studio City offers the ideal platform and business environment to support the growth of broadcast, movie, television and music production companies in the Middle East. It also offers spaces for shooting indoor and outdoor scenes as well as many film production workshops to cater for the companies operating in the city.

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