The 3rd GCC Government Social Media Summit returns with exciting new features

DUBAI- The GCC Government Social Media Summit will return to Dubai this year with an exciting new format to explore how innovative social networks can be leveraged by governments and organisations to help achieve their communications and strategic goals.

Now in its third edition, the summit provides social media experts at government organisations with a platform to network, interact and share best practices. Running from 17 – 18 September 2014, the event will attract more than 300 regional and international communications and social media experts, decision makers and executives.

Held under the theme of “innovative social networks for effective collaboration & smart governance”, this year’s summit allows delegates to choose from seven bespoke training workshops based on their specific industry sectors. These interactive sessions provide unique insight, proven social media strategies and in-depth training to attendees from sectors such as healthcare, defence, tourism, government, social business, education and foreign affairs.

Another new feature of the 2014 summit is a dedicated advisory board to help shape and develop timely and topical content for the event sessions. The advisory board hosts top specialists from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government, MemacOgilvy, and government advisory firm Exantium, whose vast experience and knowledge will help spark relevant and stimulating debates at the summit.

“The use of social media has grown exponentially in our region over the last few years,” said advisory board member Ibrahim ElBadawi, Founder & CEO of Exantium, UAE. “Today, there are more than 135 million internet users in the Arab world and more than 71 million of these Arabs use social media actively.

“With internet penetration rising at an annual rate of about 20 per cent, regional governments today are starting to realise social media’s growing role in the instantaneous provision of news and information to the public. The GCC Government Social Media Summit provides professionals with the opportunity to discuss how social media channels can help government bodies effectively communicate with their various audience groups,” he added.

The summit will teach participants how to master social media communications for successful community engagement. Government professionals responsible for internal and external communications will gain a deeper understanding of how their organisation’s social media efforts can generate leads for business growth. The summit will also allow delegates to network with leading social media professionals and receive advice and insight from innovative industry experts.

“As the numbers of internet and mobile users grow in the GCC, it is imperative for government institutions to learn how to best use this technology to communicate with the public,” commented Dr Saeed Al Dhaheri, Advisor to the UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs, who also sits on the summit advisory board. “The discussions at the summit will help delegates understand how experts are leveraging social media to deliver smart governments.”