Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, and under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Media Council, Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, honored the winners of the Arab Media Award across its various categories, in a special celebration marking the award’s Silver Jubilee and the 25th anniversary of its establishment.
The winners were honored during a ceremony organized by the Dubai Press Club, representing the Award’s General Secretariat, as part of the opening day of the Arab Media Summit 2026, which brought together a broad group of media leaders, prominent figures, and content creators from the UAE, the Arab world, and beyond.
The ceremony was attended by ministers, senior officials, and leading Emirati, Arab, and international media figures, along with heads of media and press organizations, editors-in-chief, writers, intellectuals, academics, and some of the region’s most prominent content creators and influencers.
This year’s edition carries special significance for the Arab Media Award as it marks 25 years since its establishment, following a long journey during which it has honored distinguished media professionals and contributed to advancing professional excellence and creativity across various fields of Arab media.
Ahmed bin Mohammed: The Award Has Been Part of Dubai’s Media Journey
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum welcomed the guests of the Arab Media Summit and congratulated the winners across the various categories of the Arab Media Award.
His Highness said:
“Congratulations to the winners on their excellence… I also extend my appreciation to all Arab media professionals who continue to carry out their mission with professionalism and responsibility. I say to them: your achievements today mark the beginning of a new and greater responsibility toward shaping the future of Arab media in a way that reflects the aspirations of our people and demonstrates our ability to innovate and create a positive impact.”
Speaking about the Award’s Silver Jubilee, His Highness highlighted the position the Arab Media Award has established over 25 years of continuous work, as well as its role in honoring outstanding media experiences and keeping pace with the development of the sector across the region.
His Highness said:
“Since its launch twenty-five years ago, under the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, initially as the Arab Journalism Award, the Arab Media Award has firmly established its position as the leading platform for celebrating media excellence across the Arab world…
Throughout this journey, it has honored hundreds of talented professionals across various fields of media, reaffirming its role in advancing professional and creative practices. At the same time, it has been an integral part of a journey through which Dubai established its presence as a regional and global media hub and as a destination that brings together talent, expertise, and ideas capable of creating impact.”
The Silver Jubilee reflects the scale of the Award’s development since its launch, alongside the major changes that have transformed the Arab media industry and introduced new forms of content, platforms, and technologies.
Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Media
Amid the rapid changes reshaping the media landscape, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum emphasized the importance of continuously developing skills and knowledge and making effective use of modern technologies to help media professionals produce higher-quality and more impactful content.
His Highness said:
“Amid the rapid transformations taking place in the media sector, maintaining leadership requires the adoption of a forward-looking vision.
It also requires continuous investment in knowledge and skills, as well as the ability to utilize modern technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, as tools that enable media professionals to enhance the quality of the content they produce and expand the reach of their impact. At the same time, preserving the essence of the profession, its values, and its responsibility remains a principle that cannot be compromised.
Despite the pace of change, the Arab Media Award will remain a source of inspiration that continues to raise the standards of professional competition and contributes to building Arab media that is more innovative, influential, and capable of keeping pace with the future.”
Walid Al Nisf Named Media Personality of the Year
During the ceremony, Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, accompanied by Her Excellency Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Vice Chairperson and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council, President of the Dubai Press Club, and Chairperson of the Arab Media Award Board, honored Walid Abdul Latif Al Nisf, Editor-in-Chief of Kuwait’s Al Qabas newspaper, as the winner of the “Media Personality of the Year” award.
The honor recognized his long-standing career in journalism and the professional contributions he has made over several decades to Kuwaiti and Arab journalism.
Al Nisf’s career has also been closely linked to the development of Al Qabas and his role in leading its transition into the digital environment while maintaining the fundamental values of the profession, including credibility, objectivity, and a strong commitment to journalistic ethics.
Inaam Kachachi Wins Best Columnist Award
Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, accompanied by Her Excellency Mona Al Marri, also honored Iraqi journalist and novelist Inaam Kachachi, winner of the “Best Columnist” award.
The award recognizes her career in journalistic writing and her ability to combine professional journalism with a deeply human perspective and a smooth literary style when addressing a wide range of issues.
Her work has also reflected an approach based on research, follow-up, and investigation, with a strong focus on social and human issues, giving her journalistic experience a distinctive character throughout her long career.
Leading Winners of the Visual Media Awards
The ceremony also honored the winners of the Visual Media Awards, covering economic, social, cultural, and sports programs, as well as documentary productions.
CNBC Arabia’s “Under the Spotlight” won the Visual Media Award for “Best Economic Program,” with presenters Rula Al Tarawneh and Al Tayeb Abdul Majid receiving the award.
The award for “Best Social Program” went to “Al Soura” on Egypt’s Al Nahar TV, with presenter Lamis El Hadidi receiving the honor.
“Hadith Al Arab,” broadcast on Sky News Arabia, won the Visual Media Award for “Best Cultural Program,” with presenter Dr. Sulaiman Al Hattlan accepting the award.
In the “Best Sports Program” category, “Malaabna,” broadcast on Al Mashhad, won the award, which was received by presenter Lutfi Al Zoubi.
The Visual Media Award for “Best Documentary” went to “Maps of Thirst” from Sky News Arabia, with the film’s producer, Val Al Moumen, receiving the award.
These awards reflect the diversity of Arab media production and its ability to deliver professional content that combines knowledge, in-depth coverage, and strong presentation across different fields.
Arab Journalism Awards Honor Outstanding Works
In another part of the ceremony, His Excellency Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed, Chairman of the National Media Authority, and His Excellency Diaa Rashwan, Egypt’s Minister of State for Information and former Chairman of the Arab Media Award Board, honored the winners in the Arab Journalism Award categories.
Dr. Ayman Samir of the UAE’s Al Khaleej newspaper received the “Political Journalism” award for his article titled “Will World War III Break Out?”
In the “Economic Journalism” category, Malik Al Qaqour of Asharq Al-Awsat won for his article titled “The Artificial Intelligence Tsunami Sweeps Millions Toward Unemployment.”
The Arab Journalism Award for “Investigative Journalism” went to Adnan Al Gharbi of the UAE’s Al Bayan newspaper for his investigation titled “Stimulants and Hormones Disguised as Sports Supplements… A Silent Danger Destroying Young People’s Dreams.”
The winning topics highlight Arab journalism’s focus on political, economic, health, and social issues that directly affect audiences, while relying on in-depth reporting, research, and investigative work.
Broad Arab and International Media Presence in Dubai
The ceremony was held as part of the Arab Media Summit 2026, which opened at the Dubai World Trade Centre with broad participation of nearly 10,000 media professionals and industry stakeholders from inside and outside the UAE.
The Summit brought together a large number of heads of media and press organizations, newspaper editors-in-chief, writers, intellectuals, academics, content creators, influencers, and leading Arab and international media personalities.
During the ceremony, the audience also enjoyed selected verses from poems by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, performed by singers Ahlam, Lotfi Bouchnak, and Latifa.
At the conclusion of the event, Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum joined the winners and honorees from the various categories for a commemorative group photo, capturing the spirit of recognition for distinguished media professionals and their achievements.
Mona Al Marri: 25 Years of Trust and Excellence
On the occasion of the Award’s Silver Jubilee and the completion of 25 years of supporting excellence in Arab journalism and media, Her Excellency Mona Ghanem Al Marri expressed the Dubai Press Club’s pride in the position the Award has maintained throughout its journey.
Her Excellency highlighted the professional foundations on which the Award has been built and the trust and respect it has earned within the Arab media community, reflected in the strong level of participation it has received from across the Arab world throughout its successive editions.
She also emphasized the Dubai Press Club’s pride in the Award’s contribution to encouraging media creativity and strengthening the position of Dubai and the UAE as a major hub for media in the region, complementing other major initiatives and projects, most notably the Arab Media Summit.
Her Excellency Mona Al Marri also extended her thanks and appreciation to the current members of the Arab Media Award Board, as well as the members of previous boards, in recognition of the ideas and perspectives they have contributed to helping the Award keep pace with developments in the media landscape.
She also expressed her deep appreciation to the judging committees that have served the Award and its various categories over the past 25 years, during which the Award has maintained the highest standards of integrity, objectivity, and impartiality in selecting those deserving of recognition.
The Board of the Arab Media Award, chaired by Her Excellency Mona Ghanem Al Marri, includes Dr. Maitha Buhumaid, Secretary-General of the Award; Dr. Sultan Al Nuaimi; Ghassan Charbel; Nayla Tueni; Emad El Din Adeeb; Mohammed Al Hammadi; Dr. Mohammed Al Rumaihi; Ahmed Al Muslimani; Ammar Taqi; Sawsan Al Shaer; Dr. Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Oraimi; Raed Barqawi; Faisal Abbas; and Hassan Al Kanouni.
Previous boards of the Award have also included a distinguished group of writers, thinkers, media leaders, and prominent journalism figures from the UAE and across the Arab world, reflecting the Award’s strong Arab identity and the breadth of its professional presence.
