KUWAIT CITY, Nov 16:  Kuwait’s Minister of Information and Culture and Minister of State for Youth Affairs, Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi, said Sunday that the 4th GCC Women Journalists Forum embodies unity of purpose, responsible messaging, and the essential role of media in shaping awareness and strengthening national identity.

Opening the three-day forum held under his patronage and organized by the Kuwait Journalists Association in cooperation with the Gulf Journalists Union, Al-Mutairi said the event comes amid Kuwait’s active cultural and media landscape as it prepares to serve as the 2025 Arab Capital of Culture and Media, reflecting the country’s longstanding commitment to supporting creativity, intellectual advancement, and freedom of expression.

Kuwait's Minister of Information, Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi

Held under the theme “The Gulf Narrative of Women in Media,” the forum gathers media professionals from across the GCC. Al-Mutairi said the event is supported by His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah; His Highness the Crown Prince, Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah; and His Highness Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, the Prime Minister, as part of national efforts to empower women and strengthen joint Gulf and Arab media cooperation.

He stressed that Gulf women continue to excel across all branches of the media sector—from print journalism to digital platforms, and from production and editing to leadership and decision-making roles—demonstrating creativity, capability, and innovation. Their contributions, he added, reflect national and Gulf-level policies that have long recognized women’s potential and expanded opportunities for their active participation in shaping meaningful, credible media content.

Al-Mutairi said the forum’s sessions and discussions serve as an important platform for exchanging experiences and exploring ways to enhance Gulf media performance, improve content quality, strengthen professionalism, and keep pace with rapid global developments. He emphasized that developing the media system requires integrated cooperation among state institutions, the private sector, and civil society to build knowledge-based and value-driven national content.

He expressed appreciation to the Gulf Journalists Union, the Kuwait Journalists Association, and the Information Ministry’s staff for organizing the event. He thanked the participating GCC delegations and expressed confidence that the forum would contribute significantly to advancing joint Gulf media work.

Gulf Journalists Union President and Bahrain Journalists Association Chairman Isa Al-Shaiji said Kuwait’s hosting of the forum reaffirms its status as a beacon of Arab culture, media, and journalism, describing it as “the school of Arab journalism.” He said global journalism is undergoing major transformations and urged stronger Gulf cooperation to confront emerging challenges. Al-Shaiji affirmed the Union’s readiness to support and empower media professionals across the GCC.

Kuwait Journalists Association Chairman and Union board member Adnan Al-Rashed praised Al-Mutairi’s patronage, saying it marked a qualitative leap in the organization of future forums. He announced that the 5th GCC Women Journalists Forum in 2026 will also be held in Kuwait under the minister’s sponsorship and with broader participation, in line with Kuwait’s role as a center of Gulf unity and media development.

This year’s program includes a session titled “Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Gulf Journalism: Between Empowerment and Challenge” and a closed discussion with the Information Ministry’s strategy team. On Monday, the forum will host a special dialogue session dedicated to women leaders.