Many conferences talk about the future of the industry, but this event provides an opportunity to create real plans that can be translated into concrete projects. Regarding the contribution of experts like him in the coming years, he said: if I may say so, our role will be to build bridges between different experiences and enable cooperation between industries. An elite of world leaders, decision-makers, and heads of major economic, media, and technology organizations praised the exceptional vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, 'may God protect him', which placed the UAE at the forefront internationally in shaping the future of media and the content industry economy in the region and the world. Speakers confirmed that the 'Bridge 2025' Summit was a practical embodiment of this vision, succeeding in bringing together systems that traditionally worked in isolation from one another, from media to technology, from the creator economy to artificial intelligence, and from the entertainment industry to arts and culture, onto a single platform that allowed for a live dialogue and launched new cooperation tracks between East and West, global institutions and independent creators, and the public and private sectors. Participants noted that 'Bridge' was not just a massive event, but a new structure for global communication that allows for the exchange of experiences, exploration of shared opportunities, and the development of cross-border cooperation models that contribute to building a renewable knowledge economy led by the UAE with confidence and capability. International figures highlighted that this unprecedented gathering, in terms of its size, the quality of its attendees, and its topics, reflects the UAE's growing role as an international center for the future, a global laboratory for media innovation, and a meeting point between modern technology and human storytelling that impacts economies and societies. Macky Sall, former President of the Republic of Senegal and Chairman of the Board of the 'Global Center for Adaptation', said that his participation in the first 'Bridge' Summit was an occasion to celebrate the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, 'may God protect him', and to recall that this approach is a direct continuation of the thought of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, 'may God rest his soul'. President Sall added: 'It is no coincidence that Abu Dhabi is hosting this summit, which brings together countries, private sector representatives, content creators, digital broadcast platforms, and artificial intelligence developers to one table. It is a bridge between East and West, possessing infrastructure that rivals Western countries, and benefiting from the energy of youth in the East, which puts it in an ideal position to lead the next phase.' He added that the vision of the UAE's leadership is characterized by clarity and rapid execution, and summits like 'Bridge 2025' help showcase this vision to the world and attract business and technology leaders to participate in its realization. Chris Jakomin, Head of Digital Transformation at WME agency, with extensive experience in the video, podcast, gaming, and creator economy industries, focused on the actual value that such summits provide. In response to a question about the impact of the UAE's investments in media, he said: 'We live in a global economy that makes many things similar, as if local identity is fading.' He added that what was known as the 'American dream' in 1970s New York has now become the 'Emirati dream' under the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, 'may God protect him'. Prashnar Narasimhan, CEO of Brahma AI, participated in an extensive discussion on the responsible development of artificial intelligence and the future of corporate content systems. In response to a question about the UAE's role in shaping global standards for the safe and responsible use of AI, he said: 'The world needs a safe vault capable of preserving audiovisual content with high levels of security, ethics, and the rule of law, and the UAE is qualified to be that vault.' But what I found here over the past days is an openness to new voices and new opportunities to tell stories that did not have sufficient presence twenty years ago. Regarding the lessons learned from the summit, Jakomin said: 'The most prominent thing I came away with is the ability to turn dialogue into action.' The role that Abu Dhabi is playing today is that of a 'bridge' that allows this wide spectrum of actors to dialogue and agree on the foundations of ethics and transparency in networks and artificial intelligence technologies.' Richard Attyas, Strategic Advisor to the Chairman of the Board of the 'Bridge' alliance, said that he finds in the United Arab Emirates a human warmth that makes him feel at home, emphasizing that the hospitality characteristic of Emirati society gives him a constant sense of belonging. He added: 'We lived in Dubai and were not subjected to any harassment, and I feel that the place knows me and embraces me.' He confirmed that the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, 'may God protect him', and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, 'may God protect him', leads the UAE with an exceptional team, adding: 'The UAE is managed like a world company, its leaders resemble CEOs who have a clear vision and ambitious plans.' Attyas considers the 'Bridge' Summit a model for this advanced vision, saying: 'This summit is nothing but an example of the wonderful vision that the UAE offers, and it is truly a gift from Abu Dhabi to the world.' He concluded by saying that the UAE has a positive cross-border impact on everything they do, confirming that this approach enhances their international standing and makes them an active partner in shaping the future. Comedian and media personality Basem Youssef expressed his deep appreciation for the efforts behind organizing the 'Bridge Summit', praising the high level of professionalism and attention to detail he felt during his tour of the event, and expressing his gratitude to the leadership of the UAE, led by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, 'may God protect him', for these efforts. He said that his presence at the summit is a source of genuine pride, expressing his hope that he will have the opportunity to participate again in the future. Antoine Chleita, Director of Snap in the UAE, stated that the 'Bridge' Summit represents a comprehensive and strong system for showcasing the latest augmented reality technologies. He said: 'The Bridge Summit gave us the opportunity to launch the new generation of Spectacles for the first time in the UAE, and to interact with content creators, policymakers, and industry leaders about the future of augmented reality technologies, communication methods, and digital culture. The summit also represented an opportunity to strengthen our commitment to the UAE and contribute to the dialogue about developing the next generation of technological innovations.' He added: 'Thanks to our leadership in creativity and digital innovation under the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, 'may God protect him', the UAE is one of the first markets in the region where we are launching the new generation of Spectacles, and we are working to expand our cultural and creative partnerships to integrate this product into augmented reality experiences linked to local identity.' Michael Bouwar, Executive Vice President at the Milken Institute, said that he has been visiting the region for over 10 years, and as a former government official, he was in contact with his counterparts in the Abu Dhabi or Dubai regulatory and financial sectors, and expressed his admiration for their high professionalism and the way they interact with market participants, and the role of the sovereign wealth fund in attracting people to the region and holding fruitful dialogues about investments. He praised the wise vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, 'may God protect him', which creates the right conditions for launching major global events like the 'Bridge' Summit. Christine Mo, Director of International Business Development at AI² Robotics, expressed her appreciation to the government of the UAE, led by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, 'may God protect him', for organizing the 'Bridge' Summit on such a scale in terms of space, impact, interaction, and infrastructure, which would not have been possible without his support, as the summit brought together various sectors and prominent figures of all nationalities and enabled them to explore the opportunities offered by the United Arab Emirates. David Ford, a media consultant in the UAE and Abu Dhabi, praised the organization of an exceptional first edition of the 'Bridge' Summit, expressing his admiration for the event's scale and organization, noting that it is an unprecedented achievement for the UAE, which is one of the few countries capable of executing an event of this magnitude with such speed. The country has become a real fulcrum for global media and its future, thanks to the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, 'may God protect him', which succeeded in bringing together such a diverse spectrum of companies and individuals in one place so quickly. Tim de Lanoy, Founder and CEO of KLOVERTECH, emphasized that summits are usually targeted and specialized in one sector, but the 'Bridge' Summit is the first to break down these sectoral walls and underscores for all those working in the technology solutions sector the importance of openness and learning from other companies, and perhaps cooperating with them, and this is the essence of the 'Bridge' Summit, which builds bridges of communication, exchange, cooperation, and dialogue, embodying the vision of Abu Dhabi and the UAE under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, 'may God protect him'. Amit Amin, Co-founder of KLOVERTECH, noted that the 'Bridge' Summit reflects the UAE's status, which is a turning point that combines the opportunities offered by technological developments and the energy that the government has invested in building here. He stressed that the meaning of success in business or in the corporate sphere is linked to the ability to build and develop relationships, and this is what the UAE has achieved by fostering a culture of innovation.
