The 55th session of the Council of Arab Information Ministers convened in Cairo today, chaired by Syrian Information Minister Hamza al-Mustafa, and attended by Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit, as well as high-level delegations from Arab states, including a delegation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which chairs the Council's Executive Bureau. This meeting comes at a critical juncture, as the Arab region faces escalating challenges on both the media and political fronts, placing upon the Council the responsibility of coordinating efforts to formulate a unified and influential Arab media discourse.
General context and importance of the council
The Council of Arab Information Ministers is one of the most important and active ministerial bodies under the umbrella of the League of Arab States. It was established to enhance cooperation and coordinate media policies among member states. Historically, the Council has played a pivotal role in shaping Arab media strategy, particularly during times of crisis, striving to present a unified Arab vision on critical issues and defend Arab interests on the international stage. The current session is of particular importance given its convergence with rapid developments, most notably the Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip and the accompanying media war, in addition to the digital revolution and the challenges it poses regarding the spread of misinformation and hate speech.
The Palestinian issue is at the heart of the discussions
The Palestinian issue topped the agenda of the session, with speakers emphasizing the pivotal role of Arab media in exposing Israeli practices and conveying the suffering of the Palestinian people to the world. In his opening remarks, Syrian Information Minister Hamza al-Mustafa described Gaza as “a deep wound in the human and Arab conscience,” stressing that Arab media must be at the forefront of defending the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. For his part, Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit called for countering the misleading Israeli narrative by addressing the world in its various languages and presenting the facts professionally and effectively, and for activating the Arab media action plan abroad to counter the propaganda.
Addressing digital challenges and building credibility
The challenges posed by the digital age formed another key focus of the discussions. The Syrian minister noted that the opportunities presented by digital technology are countered by risks that necessitate a unified Arab stance to protect societies from misleading and extremist content. In this context, the importance of the Arab Media Code of Ethics emerged as a crucial tool for enshrining the values of credibility and transparency and combating hate speech. The council also discussed ways to utilize artificial intelligence technologies to serve Arab media, and to exchange expertise to localize digital knowledge and move from merely consuming content to creating and influencing it.
The role of media in development and collective security
The discussions were not limited to the political sphere, but extended to the role of media as a key partner in sustainable development. Ahmed Aboul Gheit emphasized the importance of the “Arab Media Map for Sustainable Development 2030,” which represents a framework for unifying development-oriented media discourse and highlighting national efforts in various fields. In the same vein, Bahraini Minister of Information, Ramzan bin Abdullah Al Nuaimi, who handed over the presidency of the session, stressed that media has become “a fundamental element in the collective security system and in shaping the image of Arab countries abroad,” calling for a unified Arab voice in confronting shared challenges.
The Kingdom was represented at the meeting by Khalid bin Abdulqader Al-Ghamdi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Media for International Media Relations, and Ambassador Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Matar, the Kingdom's Permanent Representative to the League of Arab States, reflecting the Kingdom's commitment to supporting joint Arab action in the media field. The Council is scheduled to approve the formation of its new Executive Bureau at the conclusion of its proceedings, in addition to issuing resolutions on the items on its agenda.
