LONDON -- A who's who from Arab politics and media descended Monday on Dubai to celebrate the fifth anniversary of pan-Arab media group MBC's newscaster Al-Arabiya.
Former Lebanese President Amin Gemayel plus former Lebanese Prime Ministers Salim Al-Hoss and Najib Mikati led the country's delegation, which also included LBC topper Pierre Daher, Future TV chief Nadim Munla and NTV owner Tahsin Khayat.
Palestinian pols Saeb Erakat and Yasser Abed Rabbo joined Amina Al-Rustamani, exec director of media at Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone Authority, and Dubai Holding exec chairman and CEO Mohammed Al-Gergawi at the high-powered shindig.
The event was held under the patronage of Sheik Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, who brought with him a sizable contingent from the oil-rich emirate, including Mohammed Khalaf Al-Mazrouei, director general of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage.
"Over the last five years we have endeavored to turn Al-Arabiya into a reliable source of information and news not only about politics but also encompassing economics, business and breaking news," said MBC Group founder and CEO Sheik Waleed Al-Ibrahim.
"We worked to relay the news based on objectivity, balance, honesty and credibility away from incitement, exaggeration and emotive exploitation, at the same time striving to lay down bridges of communication and dialogue between cultures and civilizations."
MBC Al-Arabiya chief Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed brought some levity to the proceedings by gently mocking Arab politicos' notorious propensity for interminably long speeches.
"I had prepared a speech, but my boss has told me I've only got three minutes," said Al-Rashed, pulling out a hefty pad of paper and throwing it to the ground to the amusement of the crowd.
Al-Arabiya was launched in 2003 and has spent much of the last five years jostling for market share with Al-Jazeera. The station is seen by some in the region to espouse a more moderate slant than its Qatar-based rival.
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