UAE's Gargash Asserts Importance of Development for Coming Stage

UAE's Presidential Diplomatic Advisor Anwar Gargash at the Emirati Media Forum (Asharq Al-Awsat)
UAE's Presidential Diplomatic Advisor Anwar Gargash at the Emirati Media Forum (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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UAE's Gargash Asserts Importance of Development for Coming Stage

UAE's Presidential Diplomatic Advisor Anwar Gargash at the Emirati Media Forum (Asharq Al-Awsat)
UAE's Presidential Diplomatic Advisor Anwar Gargash at the Emirati Media Forum (Asharq Al-Awsat)

UAE's Presidential Diplomatic Advisor Anwar Gargash has said the next stage in the region would include development, cooperation, and prioritizing political tools to overcome past differences.

Speaking at the seventh edition of the Emirati Media Forum organized by the Dubai Press Club on Monday, Gargash said the UAE is preparing for a new stage in its ambitious development path during the next fifty years, ending a decade of challenges in the Arab region.

Gargash delivered an address at the Forum's opening session to an audience that included media industry leaders, chief editors of newspapers, heads of television and radio channels, media influencers, and prominent academics, writers, and opinion leaders in the UAE.

He explained that the progress of the UAE is essential for stability and prosperity in the region.

Gargash highlighted the UAE's effective growth model saying the country's remarkable achievements represent the success of an Arab, Islamic nation that has prioritized development over politics.

As the UAE moves into the next 50-year phase of growth, the media must continue to communicate the nation's achievements to the world powerfully, he said.

"We have made great strides in many fields, including women's empowerment, labor rights, religious tolerance, and justice. We also have one of the best judicial systems in the region," he was quoted as saying by WAM.

Gargash highlighted the UAE's focus on diplomacy and soft power, which forms part of its efforts to build strong bridges with other nations.

He stressed the vital role of the UAE media in raising awareness among global audiences about the country's successful development model and its aspirations to drive progress in the country and the entire region.

At the Forum, the Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council, Mona al-Marri, said that UAE stands at the threshold of a new phase of its development journey, which it is undertaking against the backdrop of vast multi-dimensional global transformations taking place in various spheres.

The media can play a significant role in advancing the nation's development journey by disseminating a clear set of unified messages that support the process of sustainable growth, said Marri.

"By raising their competitiveness globally, local media can make significant contributions to realizing the UAE's vision for shaping a better future for the region and the world."

The Forum was held under the patronage of Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and in the presence of Chairman of the Dubai Media Council Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

It stressed the importance of supporting and empowering local media talent to maximize their potential by equipping them with the skills to deliver quality content that can drive positive social change.

The Forum also addressed the importance of using social media platforms to tell engaging stories that highlight the UAE's rich culture and heritage and training social media influencers to convey the national vision and aspirations to broader regional and global audiences.



Muslim Pilgrims ‘Stone the Devil’ as Hajj Nears End in Saudi Arabia

Muslim pilgrims cast stones at pillars in the symbolic stoning of the devil in Mina near the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia, Friday, June 6, 2025. (AP)
Muslim pilgrims cast stones at pillars in the symbolic stoning of the devil in Mina near the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia, Friday, June 6, 2025. (AP)
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Muslim Pilgrims ‘Stone the Devil’ as Hajj Nears End in Saudi Arabia

Muslim pilgrims cast stones at pillars in the symbolic stoning of the devil in Mina near the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia, Friday, June 6, 2025. (AP)
Muslim pilgrims cast stones at pillars in the symbolic stoning of the devil in Mina near the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia, Friday, June 6, 2025. (AP)

Pilgrims were performing the last major ritual of the Hajj -- the "stoning of the devil" -- on Friday, as Muslims around the globe celebrated the beginning of the Eid al-Adha holiday.

From before daybreak, the 1.6 million-plus pilgrims began throwing seven stones at each of three concrete walls symbolizing the devil in the Mina valley, on the outskirts of the holy city of Makkah.

Droves of pilgrims had already set out from their accommodation in the sprawling tent city in Mina before dawn, taking advantage of the cool temperatures.

The ritual commemorates Abraham's stoning of the devil at the three spots where it is said Satan tried to dissuade him from obeying God's order to sacrifice his son.

"Our experience in Mina was easy and simple. We entered and within five minutes we had completed the stoning of the devil at the 'Jamarat'," said 34-year-old Wael Ahmed Abdel Kader, from Egypt, after carrying out the ritual at dawn.

Howakita, a pilgrim from Guinea, said the prospect of celebrating Eid in Makkah filled her with joy.

"When I threw the stones, I felt at ease. I was truly proud," she said.

A day earlier, pilgrims converged on Mount Arafat, praying and reciting Quranic verses at the 70-meter (230-foot) rocky rise near Makkah, where the Prophet Mohammed gave his last sermon.

Many climbed the mount despite the searing heat, though numbers had thinned by midday following official warnings for pilgrims to stay inside between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm.

This year's Hajj saw authorities implementing a range of heat mitigation efforts alongside a wide-ranging crackdown on illicit pilgrims.