UAE’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) will support the upcoming GCC Government Social Media Summit as its platinum sponsor.

Experts will come together at the region’s leading social media summit to share and discuss solutions with senior government decision makers on September 2 and 3 at Ritz-Carlton Dubai, DIFC.

The summit is expected to equip governments in social engagement, while benchmarking themselves against the world’s best success stories, said a statement.

Mohamed Nasser Al Ghanim, director general of TRA, said: “This summit is no longer about how our region can catch up with the world leaders, but rather how we can lead the world - especially since the UAE is currently ranked the best in the world in social cohesion and government efficiency.”

Speakers will explore challenges under topics including ‘Driving mGovernment and Smart Government via Social Networks to Enhance Government Communications’ and ‘Social Media and Cyber Security.’

Commenting on the power of social media as a catalyst for social equality, Noor Shamma, Acting Director for Corporate Communications Affairs at the TRA said: “While we are delighted to see more women in the Arab world becoming influential trendsetters on social media, the reality is that we are still way below the global average for female participation.”

Analysts forecast that the line between current affairs and entertainment will continue to blur, as governments seek to go beyond just having a page on Facebook or Twitter, and instead explore more creative ways to be part of the public’s everyday lives. - TradeArabia News Service