The Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department in Dubai, as part of the "Ghiras Al-Khayr" initiative endorsed by the General Secretariat of the Executive Council of Dubai, and in collaboration with the New Media Academy, has launched the "Preachers' Content Creators" program. This program aims to train and qualify digital content creators in the field of religious preaching, contributing to the dissemination of the peaceful values of Islam on social media in an engaging and simplified manner.
The Dubai Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department aims to train 35 specialists in creating religious content and developing their skills through a broad range of courses utilizing the latest scientific techniques. This is achieved in collaboration with professional content creators, digital content marketing experts, and specialists in audience engagement across various platforms.
The New Media Academy will conduct workshops for content creators on skills such as effective public speaking and media presence, creative storytelling and scriptwriting, mobile photography and editing, social media publishing strategies, digital content dissemination, and executing ideas with high professionalism and adherence to global best practices.
Keeping Up with Developments
Dr. Omar Mohammed Al-Khatib, Executive Director of the Islamic Affairs Sector, stated that in line with the department's ongoing efforts to enhance awareness and positive guidance in the community, the "Preachers' Content Creators" program has been launched. He emphasized that this pioneering program aims to train and develop individuals' capabilities in producing purposeful religious content, contributing to delivering effective and credible religious and educational messages. This initiative reflects the department’s belief in the necessity of engaging with contemporary digital tools and social media to create religious content that resonates with diverse community segments.
Dr. Al-Khatib said: "This program is part of our strategy to use modern technology and media to achieve a positive and tangible impact on society. We believe that preaching media plays a crucial role in building values and enhancing positive spirit, and through this program, we aim to equip participants with the tools and knowledge needed to deliver religious and social messages in innovative and attractive ways." He added, "It is crucial to align traditional media with new media and to leverage the unlimited opportunities provided by social media to achieve our goals and strategies, especially given the increasing reliance on digital media platforms as news and knowledge sources. This requires a new approach to communicating and delivering religious information smoothly and clearly to the audience."
Dr. Al-Khatib concluded that the "Preachers' Content Creators" program will mark a significant advancement in the field of preaching media and will greatly contribute to enhancing positive values and principles.
Purposeful Content
Hussein Al-Attouli, Director of the New Media Academy, said: "The training program comes as part of the New Media Academy’s commitment to expanding its collaboration with various departments, institutions, and entities to qualify content creators with specialized knowledge. This is based on the academy's expertise in this field and its ability to provide participants with the necessary skills and details for creating content in a simple and impactful manner through well-crafted and attractive media messages, ensuring they reach the target audience in the most accessible and effective way."
He added: "The training program opens a wide field for participants to become familiar with the latest developments in the new media sector worldwide, including effective use of new media tools for impactful media presence and audience engagement. This will positively reflect on creating religious content in an engaging and simplified manner." He noted that the program, which involves around 20 lecturers from a distinguished group of experts and academics, aligns with the academy’s mission to increase purposeful content on social media platforms.
Professionalism
The "Preachers' Content Creators" program, which lasts for five weeks and operates four days a week, aims to enhance content creators' skills and equip them with more innovative and impactful tools. This will help in delivering religious content to the audience in a simple and accessible manner, contributing to the Dubai Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department’s vision to be globally leading in Islamic affairs and charitable work and in promoting and enhancing Islamic culture.
The program will also provide 100 hours of training, focusing on storytelling techniques by adapting texts and scripts to produce interactive religious content. It will include training in photography and editing, account management, artificial intelligence, publishing, social media basics, and new methodologies in digital marketing, aiming to advance participants to a professional level in content creation.
The training program offers participants the opportunity to connect with key influencers in the digital content field, enabling them to execute their ideas at various stages and manage their content with professionalism. This will enhance their presence on various digital platforms and familiarize the audience with their contributions. The "Ghras Al-Khayr" initiative is part of the initiatives endorsed by the General Secretariat of the Executive Council of Dubai, which serves Dubai's Social Agenda 33. This agenda aims to nurture a generation committed to its Islamic principles, Arabic language, and national identity.