Dubai – UAE
Through an awards ceremony held on 26th December, Forbes Middle East acknowledged the achievements of editors-in-chief and other key figures from daily newspapers that earned the top spots on Forbes Middle East’s latest ranking of Top Media Online in the Arab World. The special event which was held at Al Meydan Hotel in Dubai, welcomed high profile individuals from the media industry as well as over 200 business leaders from private and public companies from across the UAE and wider region.
In addition to the awards ceremony, this unique event also witnessed the unveiling of the front covers for the latest issues of Forbes Middle East in both Arabic and English. Taking to the stage to reveal the magazines were His Excellency Sami Al Qamzi, Deputy Chairman and Director of Dubai Media Incorporated (DMI) and His Excellency Dr. Nasser bin Aqeel Al Tayyar, President of Arab Publisher House, the exclusive publisher of Forbes Middle East. Dahen Shahin, Director General for Publishing at DMI and Executive Director and Chief Editor at Al Bayan Newspaper, and Abdul Hamid Ahmad, Editor-in-Chief at Gulf News, also took to the stage, contributing to the success of the event.
“We are so happy to reveal this list for the third time. We believe strongly in supporting the media and emphasizing the importance of its role, which is greater now more than ever,” said Dr. Nasser Bin Aqeel Al Tayyar, President of Arab Publisher House, the exclusive publisher of Forbes Middle East.
Commenting on this year’s list, Khuloud Al Omian, Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Middle East, said:
“In comparison with last year, it is clear that print media is making strong progress in terms of content, quality and appearance. Furthermore, it is embracing technological advancements to further develop the publishing sector and enhance the traditional media that journalists and readers are so attached to.”
Al Omian also expressed that, through this list, Forbes Middle East highlights the key role media is playing in spreading awareness among local communities regarding economic and social development. She also explains that by making strides in the realm of cyberspace, media in the Arab world is initiating positive change both within the industry and society. However, the editor-in-chief stresses that we should also increase support for long-established media outlets that have played a vital role in shaping the world we live in today, documenting history along the way.
Mr. Dhaen Shahin, Editor-in-Chief of Al Bayan and Publishing Manager at Dubai Media Incorporated said:
“Forbes Middle East rankings and subsequent awards are renowned for their objectivity, accuracy and credibility amongst well-known journalism institutions. This ranking and the awards encourage us to develop the professionalism and performance of our website, spurring us to use new technologies which have been vital to our success.”