Today's Edition
TAMER ABDUL HAMID (ABU DHABI)
The Aletihad News Center held its annual staff gathering to celebrate the 57th anniversary of Aletihad newspaper, reflecting its longstanding commitment to fostering teamwork and promoting a culture of dedication and institutional excellence across its editorial, technical and administrative departments.
The management of the Aletihad News Center reaffirmed its commitment to supporting its employees, recognising their achievements and honouring outstanding staff members whose contributions have strengthened the position and leadership of the Abu Dhabi Media Network at both the local and regional levels.
The event opened with a speech by Dr Hamad Al Kaabi, Chief Aletihad News Center Officer, who welcomed employees and expressed his pride in the achievements of the past year, made possible through the dedication and collaboration of the various teams.
“Our annual gathering is an opportunity to renew the bonds of friendship, collegiality and solidarity, reflect on our successes, and celebrate the spirit of teamwork that unites us under the Aletihad News Center umbrella,” Dr Al Kaabi said.
Launch of Aletihad News Channel
Dr Al Kaabi described the gathering as an opportunity to reflect on the challenges of the past year while looking ahead to the aspirations and achievements of the year to come. He also announced the launch of Aletihad News Channel.
“After 57 years of giving through Aletihad newspaper, founded by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the current phase requires renewal and development that befits the Etihad name,” he said. He revealed plans for a new 24-hour news channel that will serve as a primary source of news and carry the UAE’s national narrative.
Three Key Messages
Dr Al Kaabi delivered three messages to employees.
The first was directed at both long-serving colleagues and younger staff, emphasising collective responsibility and stressing that recruiting new talent is intended to enhance expertise and strengthen integration within the organisation.
The second message was addressed to expatriate colleagues, whose contributions to the development of UAE society he praised, describing them as partners in the nation’s journey.
His final message was for new employees, encouraging them to persevere, continue developing their skills and overcome the challenges of starting a new role.
Dr Al Kaabi urged all employees to continue working with initiative and creativity while intensifying efforts to reinforce the Aletihad News Center’s standing as a model of professionalism and responsibility, and to keep pace with rapid developments in the regional and global media landscape.
Artistic and Interactive Performances
The event was hosted by media personality Mansour Al Ghassani and featured a range of artistic and interactive performances aimed at strengthening communication and teamwork among employees.
The programme began the UAE national anthem, followed by the screening of a short film titled "From the First Story to the Image That Endures", which highlighted the Aletihad News Center’s key achievements during 2026.
Emirati musician Mohammed Al Hammadi then took to the stage to perform a specially commissioned musical piece, "Wannat Al Etihad" (The Melody of Etihad), composed to mark the newspaper’s 57th anniversary.
The performance blended traditional oud music with artificial intelligence technologies, creating a distinctive atmosphere for the celebration.
Al Hammadi said he was proud to take part in an event honouring Aletihad, a media institution that has accompanied the UAE’s development journey, chronicled its achievements and witnessed major milestones in the country’s history.
“As an Emirati artist, I value Aletihad’s role in supporting the arts and culture sector and highlighting the creativity of Emirati artists and talents,” he said.
Media in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Actor and theatre artist Juma Ali presented a comedic performance titled "Media in the Age of Artificial Intelligence", exploring AI’s growing influence on the media landscape and content creation.
Using an interactive and humorous approach, the performance highlighted the opportunities AI offers for enhancing media work and keeping pace with technological change.
At the same time, it stressed that technology, despite its capabilities, cannot replace human creativity, emotion and spontaneous interaction.
“AI has become an important tool that helps media professionals improve their work, but it remains a tool created and used by people,” Juma Ali said. “It cannot replace human intuition, creativity and genuine engagement with audiences.”
Dr Al Kaabi honoured a group of outstanding employees for 2026 in recognition of their dedication, creativity and professionalism. He also recognised participating guests and performers, including Juma Ali, Mohammed Al Hammadi, the performing music band, and host Mansour Al Ghassani, for their contributions to the event.
As part of the gathering’s activities, employees took part in a fun interactive segment titled "Your Luck, Your Prize", which featured an electronic random draw to select prize winners from among Aletihad News Center staff.
