Dubai Culture has announced the third edition of the ‘Digital Publishing Forum,’ to be held at Etihad Museum on 18 September 2024. The forum aims to shed light on the trends in digital publishing, its impact on the economy, and the challenges faced. It will also encourage publishers, experts, and specialists in the field to present innovative solutions that will support and expand the digital publishing industry in the UAE.

The forum's agenda includes a series of panel discussions and interactive workshops, including a session titled ‘Prospects of Digital Publishing in the Emirates: Cyber Security, Intellectual Property, and Governance’ moderated by publisher and writer Jamal Alshehhi and featuring the participation of HE Dr Mohamed Hamad Al-Kuwaiti, Head of Cyber Security for the UAE Government, Dr Saeed Al Marri, Chief Information Security Officer at Dubai Police, and Ibrahim Khadem, Director of the Media Regulation Office at the UAE Media Council.

Dr Khalid Alwazani, Associate Professor of Public Policies at the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG), and Dr Mounia Drissi, Assistant Professor at MBRSG, will lead a session titled ‘The Digital Publishing Market’ moderated by Dr Monda Mostafa, Professor at MBRSG, where they will explore the evolution of the market, shifts in content consumption, the rise of e-books and digital magazines, and the impact of technology on the publishing industry. Additionally, Professor Melodena Stephens, Professor of Innovation Management at MBRSG will present an academic workshop on artificial intelligence literacy.

The forum will also host Hamid Binkaram, Editor-in-Chief of Al Bayan newspaper, and Mohamed Alhammadi, Editor-in-Chief of Jusoor Post, in a session titled ‘Digital Publishing and Media,’ moderated by Zainab Alajmi, TV presenter at Dubai Media Incorporated. Meanwhile, Marwan Al Hel, Director of Economic News and Program Presenter at Dubai Media Incorporated, and Muath Alamri, a Saudi economic and statistical media specialist in the Professional Association for Statisticians and Data Scientists, will highlight the role of digital publishing in supporting the economy. This session, moderated by radio presenter Sami Elrabah, shall focus on industry trends and the opportunities it presents.

In addition, the forum will feature several leading digital platforms in the book trade and exhibitions, including Fujairah Digital Library, Sharjah Publishing City, Menassah Distribution Company, the Saudi platform ‘Samawy’, the Emirates Reprographic Rights Management Association, and NICGulf. These platforms will showcase a range of innovative technologies to enhance the user experience of digital platforms and expand access to literary and cultural content.

Click here for the full program