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  • Arab Media Summit

Arab Media Summit 2026 to honour media excellence in region

The Arab Media Summit (AMS) 2026 will host ceremonies for three awards celebrating excellence and talent across the Arab media landscape, as

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Sharjah Excellence Award
  • Sharjah

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has announced the launch of the 2026 edition of the Sharjah Excellence Award, with the final registration and submission deadline set for the end of January 2027.

Held annually under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, the award honours companies, establishments, and individuals that demonstrate outstanding institutional performance, promoting a culture of quality, innovation, and excellence across the business environment.

The Chamber encouraged private-sector companies and entrepreneurs from across the UAE and the wider GCC to participate in the 2026 edition and submit their applications within the specified timeframe.

Participants will have access to a comprehensive programme of awareness sessions, training workshops, and development initiatives delivered by SCCI alongside the award’s evaluation process. The assessment framework will focus on key performance dimensions, including quality, innovation, organisational excellence, and positive social and community impact.

The Sharjah Chamber highlighted that registration is open to all establishments and companies under an advanced global assessment model based on fourth-generation excellence standards. The 2026 Sharjah Excellence Award features categories spanning a broad spectrum of economic, developmental, and corporate social responsibility activities.

These categories include the Sharjah Gulf Localisation Award, the Sharjah Gulf Excellence Award, the Sharjah Excellence Award, the Sharjah Entrepreneurs Award, the Sharjah Small and Medium Enterprises Award, the Sharjah Social Responsibility Award, the Sharjah Entrepreneurs with Disability Award, and the Sharjah Best Security Standards Award.

The Sharjah Excellence Award builds on a strong track record of achievements since its inception, establishing itself as a comprehensive platform for benchmarking and recognising organisational excellence across sectors.

Previous editions have attracted more than 800 participants, with a panel of over 650 assessors evaluating submissions and 80 experienced judges adjudicating them. The award has also expanded its scope to cover more than 30 sectors, reflecting its broad and inclusive assessment framework, which is designed to promote institutional excellence and strengthen performance standards across the business community.

Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of SCCI and of the Sharjah Excellence Award’s Board of Trustees, said the award continues to serve as a leading platform for driving performance excellence across the private sector.

He noted that the award’s integrated framework enables businesses and institutions to assess and benchmark their performance against internationally recognised standards, identify strategic areas for improvement, and strengthen their innovation and sustainability capabilities.

He added that the award’s approach is designed to help businesses respond effectively to rapid transformations shaping the business environment, enhance organisational resilience, and strengthen their readiness to meet the evolving requirements of the future economy.

Nada Al Hajri, General Coordinator of the Sharjah Excellence Award, stated that the award continues to leverage digital solutions to deliver a more efficient, user-friendly experience and to enhance the registration and evaluation processes. She noted that this approach supports SCCI’s commitment to developing the award framework in line with internationally recognised standards for institutional practice.

She explained that the Sharjah Chamber has simplified the application process, allowing establishments to register conveniently via the award’s official website by completing the online registration form, selecting the appropriate category, and uploading the required documents. For private-sector establishments, applicants must provide a valid trade licence and an SCCI membership certificate.

Al Hajri added that the Award Office reviews submitted applications and communicates the outcome to applicants. Establishments that meet the eligibility requirements are then provided with the relevant participation file for their selected category, enabling them to proceed with the nomination process within the designated timelines.

Al Hajri noted that the Sharjah Excellence Award is open to private-sector establishments and institutions across the UAE across its various categories, subject to category-specific eligibility requirements. Exceptions include the Sharjah Excellence Award category, which is exclusively open to Sharjah-based private-sector establishments; the Sharjah Gulf Excellence Award, for which winners are nominated by the Award’s Board of Trustees; and the Sharjah Social Responsibility Award, which targets private-sector establishments and government entities based in Sharjah.

She encouraged eligible entities to submit their applications at the earliest opportunity and confirmed that the Award Office remains available to address enquiries.

Welcome to the Sharjah Excellence Award

It is with great pride that we welcome you to the Sharjah Excellence Award, a prestigious initiative launched under the vision of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qassimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah.

For over three decades, the Award has stood as a beacon of excellence, innovation, and sustainability across the Gulf region, recognizing outstanding organizations and individuals who embody the highest standards of quality, leadership, and social responsibility.

The Award not only celebrates achievement but also inspires continuous growth, empowering businesses and entrepreneurs to contribute to Sharjah’s position as a hub of excellence, competitiveness, and global best practices.

We invite you to explore this platform, discover the remarkable journeys of our honorees, and join us in celebrating a legacy of success that continues to shape the future of business excellence in the region.

  • 5 min read
DFSA advances financial competitiveness
  • DFSA

The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) has introduced a series of regulatory initiatives and technological updates to streamline procedures, expand digital asset regulation, and integrate agentic AI across its operations to bolster the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

Over the past 12 months, the regulator updated its crypto token regime and revised securities regulations to limit offering rules strictly to DIFC-based issuances, reducing operational overlap while maintaining investor protection.

Updated crypto token rules came into force in January 2026, granting licensed firms greater responsibility for assessing tokens under strict risk management guidelines. The DFSA also recognised three fiat-backed stablecoins for financial services within DIFC and signed a memorandum of understanding with the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority.

The authority launched public consultations to update the Islamic finance framework and initiated its largest review of the collective investment funds framework since 2010.

On the supervisory front, the DFSA signed an agreement with the Ministry of Economy and Tourism to enhance information sharing while continuing enforcement actions against regulatory breaches, including misleading conduct and non-compliance with suspicious transaction reporting.

Mark Steward, Chief Executive of the DFSA, said the regulator is building on its 21-year foundation by applying a risk-based approach that offers flexibility and transparency. He noted that DIFC’s attraction rests on a framework providing regulatory certainty, reducing complexity, and aligning standards across the region.

The developments coincide with significant growth across DIFC-supervised sectors in 2025. Total assets of operating banks reached $251 billion, up 19 percent year-on-year, while capital markets recorded $30.6 billion in new listings, led by sukuk and ESG-linked instruments. DIFC now hosts 27 of the world’s 29 systemically important global banks and China’s top five banks, contributing to Dubai’s rise to seventh globally in the Global Financial Centres Index.

In line with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and DIFC Strategy 2030, the DFSA’s second annual AI survey published in November 2025 revealed that 52 percent of DIFC firms now use AI technologies—up from 33 percent in 2024—with 60 percent planning further expansion in 2026. The regulator is also advancing cybersecurity resilience by upgrading third-party technology risk management and broadening cyber threat intelligence sharing.

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  • 3 min read
Dubai Media Narrative Committee
  • Media

The Dubai Media Narrative Committee will take charge of how the emirate speaks to the world, under a decision issued by the Dubai Media Council. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Council, approved the move. The committee’s job ranges from aligning messages among government bodies to shaping how Dubai deals with international media.

Who leads the committee?

Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Vice Chairperson and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council, will chair the new body. She frames the decision as a response to how much weight a country’s story now carries. A strong media narrative, she said, drives strategic influence and helps build awareness and shape how people see a place. Mona Al Marri continued:

“In today’s world, a strong media narrative is a key driver of strategic influence and an essential tool for building awareness and shaping perceptions,” she said.

“The ability to develop an influential media narrative has become a strategic imperative. Those capable of shaping their story and communicating it creatively and authentically, while sustaining its impact, are better positioned to build trust and strengthen their influence.”

Al Marri set out how the committee will operate. Its framework rests on clear messaging, coordinated effort, complementary roles, quick response, and the use of facts and figures. Credibility and transparency sit at the center of that approach. She said cities that can tell their story clearly, tie it to shared human values, and turn it into something people find inspiring will hold the advantage.

What the committee governs

The Dubai Media Narrative Committee will propose policies, plans, and priorities, working alongside relevant entities. Its recommendations go to the Dubai Media Council for approval, and the committee then tracks how they are put into practice. This structure keeps decisions accountable to a single body rather than scattered across departments.

It will also design ways to coordinate media work across government, semi-government, and private sector groups. The goal is complementary roles and less duplication. On the global side, the committee guides Dubai’s official presence across international platforms and channels, and works to build steadier ties with foreign media.

Measuring the message

Part of the mandate is self-assessment. The committee will set key performance indicators and prepare analytical reports on media trends at home and abroad. Those insights feed back to the Dubai Media Council to support decisions and point to where the approach can improve. The committee may also give technical advice on media matters when the Council or other entities ask.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed described the decision as a strategic step toward an integrated institutional framework, one that keeps key messages consistent and strengthens their reach. A clear, unified narrative grounded in facts builds trust, he said, and supports Dubai’s standing as a city focused on opportunity. He linked the effort to the long-running vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed said: “A clear and unified media narrative provides a strategic point of reference grounded in facts, strengthens trust, and further enhances Dubai’s global standing as an inspiring city committed to shaping a future rich with opportunities for all,”.

Wider role in Dubai media strategy

The committee fits inside a broader Dubai media strategy that the Council has pushed over recent years. Permanent or temporary teams may support its work, and the Council can hand it further duties in line with the UAE’s media policies. Under the decision, every government entity in Dubai must cooperate and share the data, statistics, studies, and reports the committee requires. The General Secretariat of the Dubai Media Council will provide administrative and technical backing.

The formation of the Dubai Media Narrative Committee places responsibility for the emirate’s public voice with one accountable body. How it performs will show in the reports it sends back to the Council, and in whether Dubai’s message reads as consistent across the channels it reaches.

  • 4 min read
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