UAE Media Chairman Explores Huawei Innovations for BRIDGE 2025
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is paving the way for a transformative future in global media through its strategic preparations for the BRIDGE 2025 Summit, set to take place in Abu Dhabi from December 8 to 10, 2025. As part of this ambitious journey, Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed, Chairman of the UAE National Media Office and UAE Media Council, led a high-level delegation to Huawei’s Research and Development Centre in Shanghai, China. This visit, a key milestone in the BRIDGE Roadshow, underscores the UAE’s commitment to integrating cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), big data, digital broadcasting, and 5G into a human-centric media vision. Accompanied by Dr. Jamal Mohammed Al Kaabi, Director-General of the UAE National Media Office, the delegation engaged with Huawei’s top executives to explore innovative media solutions and foster international partnerships that will shape the future of the global media landscape.
The BRIDGE 2025 Summit is poised to be the region’s largest gathering of media, cultural, and creative industry leaders, aiming to redefine how the world communicates. With Shanghai serving as a dynamic backdrop, this visit highlights the UAE’s proactive approach to building a balanced and inclusive media ecosystem through global collaboration. By leveraging Huawei’s technological expertise, the UAE is positioning itself as a leader in media innovation, cultural exchange, and sustainable development.
A Strategic Stop in Shanghai for Global Media Collaboration
The visit to Huawei’s Lianqiu Lake R&D Centre in Shanghai marks a pivotal moment in the lead-up to BRIDGE 2025, a summit designed to unite global media decision-makers, technology pioneers, and cultural influencers. The UAE delegation was warmly welcomed by senior Huawei executives, including Lv Yang Ming, President of Huawei Cloud Media Service Product Department; Lu Zhen Yu, Product Expert in Huawei Cloud Media Services; Wharton Huang, Vice President of Government & Enterprise, Huawei Cloud UAE; and Lewis Tan, Head of Strategy and Marketing, Huawei Cloud UAE. These high-level discussions focused on strategic opportunities to co-develop digital content tailored for Middle Eastern markets, integrate AI-powered media solutions, and advance next-generation media infrastructure.
Abdulla Al Hamed emphasized the importance of fostering international partnerships to create intelligent media solutions that resonate with the Arabic language and regional cultural needs. He highlighted the role of media as a catalyst for knowledge exchange, innovation, and sustainable development, noting that collaborations with global tech leaders like Huawei are essential for building an agile media ecosystem capable of thriving in the digital age. The discussions also explored how AI, big data, and 5G technologies can enhance digital broadcasting, smart education platforms, and interactive media experiences, aligning with the UAE’s vision for a knowledge-based society.
Exploring Huawei’s Cutting-Edge Innovations
During the visit, the UAE delegation was given a guided tour of Huawei’s Lianqiu Lake R&D Centre, a hub of technological innovation showcasing advancements in media technology, smart education, and AI-driven content production. The centre demonstrated Huawei’s expertise in live-streaming solutions, cloud-based media services, and intelligent infrastructure, which are set to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of media. The delegation explored how these technologies can be adapted to create culturally relevant content for the UAE and the broader Middle East, ensuring that media remains a tool for cultural authenticity and global understanding.
The visit also included meetings with other prominent figures in Shanghai’s media and technology landscape, such as Jinjian Zhang, Founding Partner of VitalBridge, a venture capital firm focused on AI and robotics; Bonnie Zhang, Founder of Cartea, a platform bridging Chinese automotive brands with Gulf markets; and Vivi He, Founder of Xiaguangshe (ShineGlobal), a think tank supporting Chinese firms’ global expansion. These discussions highlighted opportunities for cross-border collaboration, particularly in developing digital content and investment models that align with the UAE’s media goals.
BRIDGE 2025: A Platform for Global Media Transformation
The BRIDGE 2025 Summit in Abu Dhabi is set to be a game-changer for the global media industry, serving as a strategic incubator for responsible cooperation and innovative partnerships. Described by Abdulla Al Hamed as a platform that will “reshape the future of media,” the summit will bring together content creators, artists, influencers, government entities, investors, and corporations to co-create solutions that transcend entertainment and drive tangible impact. By bridging the worlds of thought leadership and business innovation, BRIDGE 2025 aims to foster purpose-driven collaborations that shape public perception and influence behavior across borders.
The summit will build on the insights gathered from the BRIDGE Roadshow, a global series of events held in cities like New York, London, Osaka, and Shanghai. Each stop has explored critical themes in the evolving media landscape, from AI’s role in ensuring trust (New York) to narrative diplomacy (London) and ethical use of generative AI (Osaka). The Shanghai stop, with its focus on China’s dynamic media and cultural influence, delved into the balance between technological advancement and cultural authenticity, setting the stage for a robust agenda at BRIDGE 2025.
Dr. Jamal Mohammed Al Kaabi, Director-General of the UAE National Media Office, praised China’s leadership in media innovation, noting that its blend of tradition and technology is reshaping global narratives. He emphasized that the UAE’s collaboration with Chinese platforms and creators will enhance cultural diversity and expand the reach of Arabic content in global markets. The summit will serve as an open laboratory for testing new partnership models and investment strategies, positioning media as a driver of innovation and sustainable development.
A Global Outreach Initiative for a Balanced Media Ecosystem
The Shanghai visit is part of a broader global outreach initiative to prepare for BRIDGE 2025, which aims to create a balanced and inclusive media ecosystem. By engaging with global media decision-makers, technology pioneers, and cultural influencers, the UAE is laying the groundwork for a summit that will address pressing challenges in the media industry, including trust in media, cultural authenticity, and the ethical use of emerging technologies. The Roadshow’s stops in New York, London, Osaka, and Shanghai reflect the UAE’s commitment to cultivating inclusive global media perspectives that prioritize humanistic values and civilizational roles.
Abdulla Al Hamed underscored that the challenges facing global media extend beyond tools and platforms to the intellectual vision guiding them. He called for a comprehensive approach that reaffirms media’s role as a platform for meaningful content and a contributor to knowledge-based societies and future economies. The Shanghai discussions will enrich the BRIDGE 2025 agenda, ensuring that the summit addresses the needs of diverse stakeholders while promoting global understanding and innovation.
The Role of Technology in Shaping Media’s Future
The collaboration with Huawei highlights the UAE’s focus on leveraging advanced technologies to enhance media capabilities. Discussions with Huawei’s leadership explored how AI-powered content production, live-streaming solutions, and 5G infrastructure can transform digital broadcasting and create interactive media experiences. These technologies will enable the UAE to develop intelligent media solutions that cater to regional audiences while maintaining cultural relevance. For example, AI-driven content can be tailored to support Arabic language media, ensuring that the UAE’s cultural heritage is preserved and promoted on a global stage.
The visit also highlighted the potential of smart education platforms, which integrate AI and big data to create personalized learning experiences. By adopting these technologies, the UAE aims to enhance media literacy and empower communities to navigate the digital age with confidence. These initiatives align with the UAE’s broader vision of building a knowledge-based economy that prioritizes innovation and sustainability.
Building Bridges Through Cultural and Technological Exchange
The BRIDGE 2025 Summit will serve as a platform for cultural exchange, bringing together voices from Asia, the Middle East, and beyond to discuss the region’s growing influence on global media and culture. The Shanghai stop emphasized China’s role in shaping global narratives through its dynamic creative economy and technological advancements. By fostering partnerships with Chinese firms like Huawei, the UAE is creating opportunities for cross-cultural collaboration that will enhance the global reach of Arabic content and promote mutual understanding.
The summit will also explore how media can drive sustainable development by addressing global challenges such as climate change, social equity, and economic growth. By uniting content creators and decision-makers, BRIDGE 2025 will unlock new pathways for investment and innovation, ensuring that media remains a force for positive change. Registrations for the summit are now open at www.worldmediabridge.com, inviting stakeholders to join this transformative journey.
A Vision for a Connected Media Future
The UAE’s visit to Huawei’s R&D Centre in Shanghai marks a significant step toward realizing the vision of BRIDGE 2025. By forging international partnerships with leading technology firms, the UAE is positioning itself at the forefront of media innovation. The collaboration with Huawei and other global players will enable the UAE to develop intelligent media solutions that are both technologically advanced and culturally relevant, ensuring that the media industry remains a driver of progress and inclusion.
Under the leadership of Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed, the UAE is redefining the role of media in the digital age. The BRIDGE 2025 Summit will serve as a catalyst for global collaboration, bringing together diverse voices to create a balanced and inclusive media ecosystem. As the UAE continues its global outreach through the BRIDGE Roadshow, it is laying the foundation for a future where media is not just a profession but a powerful tool for innovation, cultural exchange, and sustainable development.
