Sharjah: As part of its global preparatory Roadshow for the BRIDGE Summit 2025, BRIDGE hosted a significant event in Sharjah during the 14th International Government Communication Forum (IGCF). This event precedes the world's largest gathering for the media, content, and entertainment industries, set to occur in Abu Dhabi from December 8-10, 2025. The event attracted a select group of leaders from the media, arts, and content sectors, alongside government officials and communication professionals. IGCF 2025 served as a strategic platform for presenting BRIDGE's vision, which aims to foster a global bridge to enhance cooperation across these industries.
According to Emirates News Agency, the forum in Sharjah offered a unique opportunity for government officials and communication professionals to engage in discussions, share visions and experiences, and develop communication tools that adapt to rapid global changes. Organising the BRIDGE event at the IGCF highlights Sharjah's pivotal role as a platform for institutional dialogue and shaping the future of government communication. Sharjah is recognised for its expertise and ability to innovate tools and methods that enhance transparency and effective communication between governments and communities.
Dr. Jamal Mohammed Obaid Al Kaabi, Director-General of the UAE National Media Office and Vice Chairman of BRIDGE, emphasised in his opening remarks that IGCF is a natural launchpad for BRIDGE in Sharjah. He noted that media has evolved beyond traditional forms and now functions as an integrated system influencing awareness and development while shaping international relations. Al Kaabi highlighted the absence of a unified platform for creators, investors, and distributors, which BRIDGE aims to address by establishing a global system for cooperation and innovation to shape the future of media and content.
Al Kaabi also explained that government communication extends beyond official declarations to include cinema, drama, entertainment content, and public dialogue, reaching audiences more effectively. He emphasised the significance of BRIDGE as a global system that provides governments and decision-makers the opportunity to redefine their roles in shaping international policies and standards. At BRIDGE, governments and content creators collaborate to reshape the future.
He further noted that the BRIDGE Summit 2025 will not just be a media forum but a comprehensive vision repositioning media, content, and entertainment as development pillars. The UAE is building a platform from the region's heart that supports, connects, and empowers, creating long-lasting value and opportunities for partnerships that transcend borders.
The event featured a panel discussion titled 'Bridges, Not Walls,' where renowned content creator Tareq Skaik shared his vision of content's humanitarian role in individuals' and communities' lives. Skaik highlighted the unifying potential of content and called on individuals from various fields to contribute to positive community narratives.
Additionally, the event included a session, "Blueprints for a Media Order that Strengthens Society," presented by Dr. Moataz Abdel-Fattah and moderated by Lenah Hassaballah. Abdel-Fattah addressed the media's role in disseminating values and building cohesive societies, emphasising states' moral responsibility to instil fundamental values. He called for conferences to discuss guidelines for responsible content production and noted AI's role in reshaping media's future, advocating for building resilience against its challenges.