Ashraf AboArafe
Ambassador Ahmed Rashid Khattabi, Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the Media and Communication Sector at the Arab League, announced that a series of intensive preparatory meetings will commence on July 12 at the General Secretariat headquarters. Operating under the directives of Secretary-General Nabil Fahmy, these meetings aim to breathe new life into joint Arab action and elevate the regional media landscape through a participatory approach and synchronized institutional performance between Member States and the General Secretariat.
Ambassador Khattabi stated that these sessions serve as a follow-up to the resolutions passed during the 55th session of the Council of Arab Ministers of Information, held in Cairo in November 2025. The various working groups will submit their recommendations to the Permanent Committee for Arab Media and the Executive Bureau, paving the way for their official adoption during the 56th Ministerial Session, scheduled for September 14–15, 2026, in Tripoli, Libya.
Supporting the Palestinian Cause and Combating Terrorism
The Head of the Media Sector confirmed that next week’s meetings will focus on implementing and evaluating the “Arab Media Action Plan Abroad.” This will coincide with the 29th session of the “Permanent Expert Group on the Role of Arab Media in Combating Terrorism.”
Key priorities on the agenda include:
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Developing practical steps to support solidarity with the Palestinian people and amplify their narrative globally.
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Safeguarding the historical and legal status of Al-Quds Al-Sharif (Jerusalem) through an open, persuasive, and targeted international discourse.
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Fostering a culture of peace while rejecting violence and discrimination.
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Promoting a positive cultural image of the Arab world, with active participation from Member States, professional unions, media associations, and civil society.
Digital Sovereignty and Negotiations with Global Tech Giants
Ambassador Khattabi emphasized that finalizing the mandate of the working group tasked with negotiating with global media and tech companies has become an urgent and pressing necessity. The objective is to establish transparent regulations that ensure:
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The preservation of Arab digital sovereignty.
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The protection of collective identity, values, and authentic cultural heritage.
He praised the efforts of the task force, which comprises elite experts representing Member States and the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU), highlighting the integration of the task force’s media, legal, and taxation dimensions.
Regulations for Influencers and the Future of AI
Additionally, the upcoming schedule features targeted meetings to address modern digital challenges, including:
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The Arab Media Roadmap for Sustainable Development: Reviewing its executive program.
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The Permanent Committee for Electronic Media (23rd Session): Drafting an Arab guiding law and establishing a legislative framework to regulate the work of digital influencers and content creators.
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International Cooperation: Evaluating a proposal to establish the “Arab-Chinese Exchange Center for Audiovisival Innovation.”
Arab Media Excellence Award
The preparatory sessions will kick off on July 12–13 with the 10th session of the judging panel for the Arab Media Excellence Award. This year’s edition is being held under the theme: “Arab Media and Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities and Challenges.”
Note: Per internal regulations, the judging panel is composed of the Syrian Arab Republic (Chair of the current session of the Ministers Council), the State of Kuwait (Chair of the Executive Bureau and official sponsor of the award), the Islamic Republic of Mauritania (Vice-Chair of the Executive Bureau), the Kingdom of Morocco (Rabat as the Arab Media Capital 2026), alongside five other Member States selected in alphabetical order.
