Author: Sami

There is a common confusion between professional relationships built over years of work and attendance at specialized events, and the concept of wasta (favoritism or nepotism) as a negative social practice. The former is based on trust and prior knowledge of people’s competence, along with clear professional expectations. The latter is an overstep of standards, replacing merit with favoritism, and is a form of professional corruption.

Let’s be realistic: professional life relies on relationships because they reduce uncertainty, save time, and improve coordination and communication. Relying on someone you have previously worked with is not wasta as long as opportunities are available to everyone under declared criteria. Proper professional relationships open the door to fair competition, not a shortcut at the expense of others.

For young job seekers, building a strategic network is an indispensable skill. It begins with clearly and convincingly defining your professional identity: a concise clear resume, a portfolio or project samples, and measurable achievements. During downtime, invest in acquiring new skills through accredited courses, short projects, or volunteering that demonstrates your ability to deliver.

Being present in the professional community is essential: attend events, specialized associations, hackathons, and more. Opportunities come to those whose work is visible, and those active on professional platforms like LinkedIn should know that applying for jobs and waiting is not enough—you must continuously engage, request informational interviews or short meetings, send messages clarifying the value you can add, follow each meeting with a brief thank-you note, and share useful content or practical suggestions that reinforce your presence and turn initial contact into a meaningful relationship.

Expand your circles beyond close acquaintances, as distant connections often open unexpected doors. Always maintain ethics: ask for a fair chance, not an exception; reject any violations of policies or regulations regardless of motive. Know that entrepreneurs also need professional networks to build future teams and secure partners, expertise, and suppliers.

In conclusion, professional relationships are social capital gained through practice and flourish when merit, integrity, and mutual benefit come together. With this formula, relationships become an accelerator for your career, not a substitute for your competence.

The activities of the Bridge 2025 Summit kicked off in Abu Dhabi at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, bringing together a global ecosystem of media, content, and entertainment creators to explore the future of the sector. The summit spans seven tracks, including digital content, artificial intelligence, humanitarian media, film production, the creative economy, the future of journalism, and the influence industry. Announced figures indicate broad participation, with tens of thousands of creators, professionals, and institutions, reinforcing the UAE’s position as an international platform for shaping the next media landscape.

This year, Bridge felt closer than ever to a true bridge connecting all digital worlds: production, journalism, and media; gaming and entertainment; and the digital economy. These sectors are no longer isolated islands, but an interconnected ecosystem that feeds into itself and moves together, driven by value-generating technologies and creative skills.

The spirit of innovation was evident from the very first moment, as the summit’s official app topped the business applications chart in the country’s app store on opening day—an indicator of strong engagement and interaction from the specialized audience.

What is particularly inspiring is the prominent presence of Emirati women on entrepreneurship platforms, where they presented practical solutions that employ artificial intelligence in services and digital experiences, while also addressing its downsides, such as fake and misleading content. Such spaces are not an end in themselves, but a launchpad for ideas that grow into companies, products, and new standards of practice.

With the expansion of international partnerships woven by Bridge under the umbrella of the National Media Office, opportunities for knowledge transfer increase, as does the building of local value chains capable of competing globally.

In this way, Bridge proves that the future belongs to integrated media—an ecosystem that balances creativity and technology, and gives local talent a platform for global impact.

On the 54th Union Day, our country adorns itself in its finest form, built upon the foundations laid by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and his brother Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, may God rest their souls, along with their fellow Rulers of the Emirates. Our nation, which today takes pride in its achievements under wise leadership, continues on a path initiated by the founding figures and carried forward by successive generations.

Since its inception, the United Arab Emirates has established women as an essential partner in the nation-building project, with the support of the Mother of the Nation, Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, who has been—and continues to be—a steadfast supporter of both the nation and its women. The giving of the Mother of the Nation is boundless; it has not been limited to empowerment so that women could merely accompany the journey of the Union, but has continued to renew its impact through presence, responsibility, and leadership to this day.

With the support of the Mother of the Nation, empowerment has been translated into figures and evidence: Emirati women have held 50% of the seats in the Federal National Council since 2019. In terms of competitiveness, the UAE ranks at the forefront regionally in several gender balance indicators, alongside a growing commitment to increasing women’s representation in leadership positions across both the public and private sectors.

Today, Emirati women occupy diverse professions and positions, representing the country in all forums. Emirati girls, in turn, continue to rise, following in the footsteps of pioneering women, in a civilizational moment marked by rapid technological advances and regional and global transformations. Here, their role grows ever more significant as partners to young men, completing the journey with worthy successors to worthy predecessors.

Belief in education, culture, and knowledge is the essence of this story. What women have achieved is not a fleeting privilege, but the result of a vision rooted in our values and identity, and of continuous renewal of tools and opportunities. With every new step, the UAE affirms that its renaissance cannot be complete without the energy of its other half—the woman—who has proven that her partnership is a developmental necessity and a promise of a more balanced and innovative future. Thank you, Mother of the Nation

In radiant Sharjah, the 44th edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair concluded under the slogan “Between You and the Book,” with the participation of more than 2,300 publishing houses from 118 countries and the presentation of over 1,200 cultural and entertainment events for all ages. This was not merely the conclusion of a cultural carnival, but a renewal of an old covenant between the Emirate and books—a covenant that has made Sharjah a meeting place for writers and readers, and a harbor from which stories set sail and return broader in horizon and deeper in meaning.

Each year, Sharjah reaffirms that culture is not a luxury, but a daily necessity like water and air. Here, questions are shaped and assumptions revisited; a child discovers their first sense of wonder before a shining page; a young person finds in an unknown book a path they once thought blocked; and the seasoned reader rekindles a friendship that has never betrayed them. Between the reader and the book lies a short distance, yet it makes the difference between multiplying ignorance and illuminating knowledge.

Imagine, even for a moment, if this flood of books and knowledge began to rival the content of social media platforms—if the echoes of seminars, dialogues, and readings extended to the small screens that rarely leave us. The digital space would then become a natural extension of the exhibition halls, and the noise of superficiality would fade before content that elevates taste and refines dialogue.

From here, I renew my call to writers, thinkers, and publishing houses, and to readers who left the fair carrying a harvest or an idea: fill the platforms with this positive capital. There is no way to confront negative content except by competing with it through content that is higher, truer, and more enduring. Let this year’s edition be the starting signal, and let the book be our lasting bridge between knowledge and life—for us and for generations to come.