Future AI Issues Headlined the Agenda of IGCF 2025

The 14th edition of the International Government Communication Forum (IGCF) addressed Artificial Intelligence as a pivotal issue. Its sessions explored AI's impact on media, law, training, and cybersecurity, while providing a platform for new generations to test its creative tools.

The forum's pre-event activities included the "Communication for Students" program, which focused on equipping media and communication students and graduates in the UAE with contemporary government communication skills, alongside the responsible and effective employment of AI tools and techniques.

The program, which concluded its activities on September 4, 2025, at Al Majaz Amphitheatre in Sharjah, represented an integrated training content that combined academic framing with practical application. The forum itself was held on September 10 and 11 last year at Expo Centre Sharjah under the theme "Communication for Resilient Economies."

The session "Artificial Intelligence and its Legal Applications," organized by the Emirates Association for Lawyers and Legal Professionals, focused on the technology's implications for judicial and legislative practices—from smart contracts to judicial forecasting—and the importance of ethical frameworks that protected human rights. The session featured Dr. Abdullah Al Nasser and was moderated by legal consultant Adel Fakher.

Additionally, a session titled "Digital Media for Enhancing Cyber Immunity" was held, where lawyers Sabiha Al Suraidi and Zayed Saeed Al Shamsi (moderated by Khadija Suhail) discussed ways to prevent electronic threats and counter misinformation, alongside establishing joint campaigns to raise community awareness.

From another perspective, Al Qasimia University hosted a session titled "A Window to a Professional Future Generated by Humanity and Intelligence," which highlighted the latest institutional training tools, such as adaptive learning systems and virtual trainers. Speakers included Dr. Hisham Abbas, Dr. Bassam Makkaoui, and Dr. Hala Hamdi Gharaba, and it was moderated by Dr. Atta Hassan Abdel Rahim.

The forum also opened doors for youngsters through the "AI Skills Challenge" organized by the Rubu’ Qarn Foundation for Science and Technology, which lasted three days following an interactive methodology. A group of specialists trained participants (aged 10-16) in programming, robotics, and technical soft skills, showing how to employ them in communication messages regarding food security and quality of life.

Within the framework of student empowerment, the "Communication for Students" program dedicated workshops to "Media Content Creation" by Dr. Mohamed Abdelzaher, "Foundations of Media Coverage" by Dr. Sherine Moussa, and "Social Media Performance Analysis" by Dr. Elsayed Bekhit. The program concluded with a workshop on "Employing AI in Government Storytelling" by Dr. Mohamed Ayish, while Dr. Amal Anbar presented a strategic outlook on managing messages during crises.

The specialized sessions also featured a panel discussion organized by the University of Sharjah titled "Ethics of Employing AI in Government Communication," with the participation of Dr. Khairat Ayad and Dr. Mohamed Bin Moussa, moderated by Dr. Nora Al Houti.

In its 14th edition, the forum brought together over 237 international speakers who enriched dialogues across 51 sessions within a comprehensive program comprising more than 110 diverse events. That year’s edition discussed five global priorities: food security, public health, education, environmental sustainability, and the green economy, underscoring the role of strategic communication in driving impact and guiding policies toward a more sustainable future.