Yesterday, the official opening of the 'Bridge 2025' summit was held in Abu Dhabi, bringing together 60,000 participants from 132 countries and 430 speakers from 45 nations. The summit solidifies the United Arab Emirates' status as a global hub for innovation, a meeting point for ideas, and a magnet for talent.
The opening ceremony featured a short film that traced the evolution of human communication—from primitive signals and cave paintings, through the birth of language and writing in ancient civilizations, to the pivotal moment of 1969 when the first message between two computers changed the world's trajectory. The film also addressed the challenges of the digital age, the rise of virtual empires, the spread of misinformation, and the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence.
Abdullah Al Hamad, Chairman of the Summit, stated: 'We aim to establish a new era for the future of media. In the coming decades, we will see artificial intelligence create parallel worlds for humans to interact with. However, in the UAE, we believe that no matter how advanced technology becomes, it cannot replace the human values that form the core of true media. Values give words meaning, credibility gives news weight, and responsibility gives media its legitimacy with the people. Without these values, media will become an echo of chaos rather than a voice of awareness.'
He outlined the three pillars of future media: trustworthy, innovative, and human-centric.
Dr. Jamal Al Kabeeb, Vice Chairman of the Summit, welcomed the guests, highlighting the pre-summit activity of the BRIDGE app, which showed massive engagement. He emphasized: 'Connection alone is not enough; trust is what you maintain and give it meaning. This trust grows through the stories that move the world.'
He added: 'The Bridge Summit was not born from a rigid plan, but from faith, and faith is what creates real change. Great human achievements begin with a dream, and the plans come later.'
