Abu Dhabi Media Summit 2014 to kicks off on Tuesday

The fifth edition of Abu Dhabi Media Summit (ADMS) is kicking off on Tuesday morning, 18 November, at Rosewood Hotel, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi, chaired by Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority (EAA).
This thought-provoking event will delve into important industry topics through a series of discussions attended by top-tier global media players and their emerging-market counterparts.
Commenting on this highly anticipated event, Noura Al Kaabi, Chief Executive Officer of twofour54, organisers of the summit, said, "ADMS is one of the industry's leading events that bring key players together on one platform and has quickly established itself as an essential date on the global media leadership calendar." Al Kaabi explained that the Summit will feature a unique combination of high-profile panel sessions, interviews and presentations. The Summit will also place emphasis on local participation and community engagement by offering workshops and opening its doors to the public for the first time.
:: Objectives of Abu Dhabi Media Summit.
Discussing the objectives of ADMS, Noura Al Kaabi said: "ADMS aims at further enhancing Abu Dhabi's position as a leading media hub regionally and globally. We are looking to stimulate the media industry in the region, connect it with the global network and keep up at the forefront of such a dynamic industry." "Moreover, ADMS gives those interested in the media industry an opportunity to gain insights from global industry leaders and learn more about the industry's promising future and investment challenges in MENA and beyond." :: Why is this edition of ADMS important? The CEO of twofour54 explained that the value of the fifth edition of ADMS lies in the theme of the Summit, which is ‘Driving and Sustaining Future Media in MENA and Beyond' and the focus of each day on a key topic. Day one of ADMS 2014 will discuss the importance of local content generation and the need to create home grown intellectual properties. The second day of the programme will examine content distribution, while on day three, panellists will explore innovative financing options that fast-track the creation of an entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Al Kaabi said: "ADMS 2014 brings together international top-tier leaders and entrepreneurs of the media and technology industry. It will explore opportunities to help advance the media industry in Abu Dhabi and the region with experts in venture capital and creative content." "In a first for the Summit, a special study will be launched on day one that outlines growth opportunities and challenges in the MENA region's rapidly growing media industry." As ADMS opens its doors to the public for the first time on days 2 and 3, the local audience is asked to register their names on the Summit's website to take the opportunity to engage in rich conversations and benefit from the insights of a large number of industry leaders present in the capital.
Al Kaabi added: "Flat6Labs, the strategic partner of twofour54, will officially launch its Abu Dhabi office at ADMS this year. Flat6Labs experts will share their experiences through participating in two workshops discussing "Monetising Digital Content" and the "Growing Online Education".
:: Featured Speakers.
"Queen Rania Al Abdullah will open this year's Abu Dhabi Media Summit and will give the opening keynote address. Featured speakers include Mark Thompson, President and Chief Executive Officer, The New York Times Company; Ahmad Abdulkarim Julfar, Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Group; Gerhard Zeiler, President, Turner Broadcasting System International; Robert A. Kotick, President and CEO, Activision Blizzard; JB Perrette, President, Discovery Networks International; Princess Ameera Al-Taweel, Founder and CEO, Time Entertainment; and H.E. Riyadh K. Najm, President, General Commission, Audiovisual Media Saudi Arabia." said Al Kaabi.
:: Key Topics.
Noura Al Kaabi, CEO of twofour54, highlighted a number of key topics that ADMS 2014 will discuss in sessions that feature industry experts including: 1. The Media in MENA: Localising and Monetising Content. Featuring: Sanjay Rania, General Manager, MENA, Fox International Channels; Rashed Al Harmoudi, Vice President, Communications, Mubadala; and Amira Rashad, Former Head of Yahoo Middle East, Africa, and Turkey.
2. The Transformative Role of Social Media in the Middle East. Featuring: Richard Allan, Vice President Public Policy - Europe, Middle East and Africa, Facebook; Faisal Abbas, Editor-in-Chief, Al Arabiya News (English); Ayman Safadi, CEO, Path Arabia; and Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, Journalist.
3. The Next Big Thing in Future Media. Featuring: Ahmad Abdulkarim Julfar, Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Group; Raghav Bahl, Founder and Director, Network 18; and JB Perrette, President of Discovery Networks International.
4. From Hollywood to Bollywood, is Arabwood next? Featuring: Mukund Cairae, CEO, Middle East, North Africa, Turkey & Pakistan, Zee Network; Ali Mostafa, Film Director; Joe Pichirallo,Chair, Undergraduate Film & Television, NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, Kanbar Institute; Vijay Singh, CEO, Fox Star Studios; and Mick Flannigan, Head, Abu Dhabi Film Commission.
Al Kaabi revealed the list of Summit partners, which includes a number of prestigious local and international organisation and they are: Strategic partner: Mubadala Knowledge partner: Strategy& (formerly Booz & Company) Airlines partner: Etihad Airways Media partners: Abu Dhabi Media, Sky News Arabia, Al Arabiya, and CNN Support partners: Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, Flat6Labs, Indivirtual, Porsche Centre, Rosewood Hotel Abu Dhabi, APCO Worldwide, Careem, Taghreedat and Eventpad.
Facts and Figures of ADMS 2014 - More than 600 leaders and professionals in the media industry from the region and the world gather at ADMS - More than 70 speakers from different nationalities - 14 panel discussions - 3 feature presentations - 3 key interviews - 2 workshops.
Source: WAM