Dr. Sultan bin Ahmad Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State and Chairman of the National Media Council, NMC, yesterday opened the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of the UAE, FCCUAE, the first-of-its-kind facility located at the TwoFour54 Media Zone in Abu Dhabi.
The Foreign Correspondents’ Club has been established to provide a platform for regional and international media representatives operating from the UAE and to assist them in their important work. The new facility aims to help its members have a better vision for the UAE’s activities, events and achievements, including those related to policy-making, intellectual, cultural and artistic activities, scientific and academic research, economics, trade and tourism.
Attending the club’s opening ceremony were Mansour Al Mansouri, Director-General of NMC, foreign correspondents based in the UAE, directors of prominent UAE media outlets and heads of global media institutions that have a presence in the country.
"The integrated strategies and programmes adopted by our wise leadership to achieve comprehensive and sustainable development in various fields have played a vital role in developing the UAE media sector and enhancing media coverage of the country locally, regionally and globally," said Dr. Al Jaber, during the club’s opening ceremony.
"The National Media Council is delighted to bring this club from conception to reality. Based in Abu Dhabi, the Foreign Correspondents’ Club represents a significant step forwards in the delivery of a comprehensive and integrated overview of activities, events and efforts taking place in the UAE. It will help promulgate important messages that contribute to the strengthening of human civilisation, with these messages including human fraternity, tolerance, compassion, cooperation and the renunciation of violence and extremism. The club will provide its members with a platform to enhance communication and will contribute to identifying the reality of the UAE. It will aid the dissemination of our leadership’s vision to ensure security, peace, stability and a strong infrastructure essential for economic, cultural, intellectual and social development," added Al Jaber.
The Foreign Correspondents’ Club of the UAE aims to build and strengthen bridges between UAE government institutions and foreign correspondents who are based in the country, whether they are state correspondents or international journalists visiting the UAE to cover major events. It will be a venue for members to meet with government officials, politicians, VIPs, business leaders, analysts, academics and authors. The club aims to create a conducive environment for intellectual and cultural exchange and become an important information resource for journalists.
The Club’s facilities include a conference room with state-of-the-art audio and video equipment, translation rooms, a main meeting room, office units and a public lounge. The club is expected to function as a social centre as well as a media hub and will host regular networking and social events, thereby providing unique opportunities for members to connect with each other.
|