Al Mubarak says 3000 new jobs in media sector have been created in last four years.

“We have made significant progress in the last 4 years,” declared H.E. Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak at the opening of the Abu Dhabi Media Summit 2012, which in its third year has the theme ‘Redefining The Digital Frontier.’

This Friday, The Media Summit Chairman pointed out, will mark “exactly four years” since the launch of the twofour54 Abu Dhabi Media Zone, the initiative to create an Arabic media and entertainment industry for the Middle East and North Africa.

“The strategy was very simple,” Khaldoon stated. To establish “a new home for the media industry here in Abu Dhabi,” attract the world’s leading media organisations to come to the region and “to set new standards in the production of Arabic media.”

Since then, there has been a huge increase in media activity in the United Arab Emirates and across the region. More than 180 local, regional and international media companies are now active in the UAE and 3000 new jobs in the media sector have been created.

“The success of twofour54 has been mirrored by developments elsewhere,” Khaldoon said, citing the launch of Sky News Arabia the many educational and professional media opportunities now available

Al Mubarak promised an “increased focus on the role of young professionals and entrepreneurs” at this year’s Summit. He also paid fulsome tribute to this year’s first keynote speaker, Bill Gates, calling Gates “a true visionary in technology, business and philanthropy.”

“I could think of nobody better top open a discussion on the digital frontier than Bill Gates,” Al Mubarak commented. “Throughout his career in business, Bill Gates has demonstrated a rare ability to harness the potential of technology and to shape its development for the benefit of countless people throughout the world.”

In addition to his post as CEO of Mubadala Development, Al Mubarak serves on the executive council for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and chairman of the Abu Dhabi Media Zone Authority. He is also the chairman of Manchester City Football Club.

This is the first year that twofour54 has taken full organisational responsibility for the Media Summit; the group also runs the Abu Dhabi Film Festival which kicks off Thursday.

 

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