‘Think Dubai’ initiative launched

The Government of Dubai Media Office (GDMO) has launched its latest initiative, "Think Dubai", a platform that reflects the vision of UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to bring together global experts and industry leaders from various fields to create a roadmap of new ideas and initiatives that can support Dubai and the region.

The Director General of the Government of Dubai Media Office, Mona Al Marri explained: "Think Dubai" is an initiative that works in tandem with Dubai’s efforts to explore opportunities and identify the challenges in various sectors so as to plan out the best ways to tap into these opportunities and be well prepared to face those challenges".

Al Marri further explained that the regional and international events hosted by Dubai that attract experts and professionals from various fields, were the reason behind the launch of "Think Dubai", to create a platform on the sidelines of selected events hosted in Dubai, where experts and thought leaders come up with ideas for the future of their fields which can potentially be implemented in Dubai and the region.

Organized on the sidelines of the 12th Arab Media Forum (AMF), the inaugural "Think Dubai" workshop saw the participation of 250 Arab media professionals and experts. The workshop resulted in valuable ideas that will be reviewed for potential implementation.

Welcoming the guests, Al Marri gave a short presentation introducing the theme for the first workshop which focused on global trends that affect the future of Dubai and the region such as the global growth of the "Islamic Economy" and the opportunities it presents for the Arab region, especially since Dubai’s announcement of its aim to be the international capital of Islamic economy.

Other trends include the travel and tourism sector, and the continued development of the aviation and transport sector, where the Middle East has topped estimates for growth through to 2015.

Al Marri said that the choice of these three global trends is due to the Middle East’s geographical position at the heart of their development, given the projected shift of world’s economic centre from the West to the East.

Al Marri also referred to the responsibility that the UAE and the region have towards Arab youth. She referred to the Asda’a Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey 2013 where 74% of young Arabs surveyed said they look positively to the future; and given that Arab youths feel that their best days are ahead of them, ideas and initiatives must be put in place today to ensure that outcome.

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