Young Emiratis are real target of fake news, Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis hears

Adek chairman calls on young Emiratis to question news stories

The Interactive Science and Technology installation at Mohammed Bin Zayed Council for Future Generations sessions at Adnec. Reem Mohammed / The National

The Interactive Science and Technology installation at Mohammed Bin Zayed Council for Future Generations sessions at Adnec. Reem Mohammed / The National

The Interactive Science and Technology installation at Mohammed Bin Zayed Council for Future Generations sessions at Adnec. Reem Mohammed / The National

The Mohammed Bin Zayed Council for Future Generations sessions, held at Adnec. Reem Mohammed / The National

Dr Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi speaks at the Majlis in Mohammed Bin Zayed Council for Future Generations sessions. Reem Mohammed / The National

Students listen to Abdullah Bin Touq, Secretary General of the UAE Cabinet, give a talk at the Majilis.

Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, arrives at Mohammed Bin Zayed Council for Future Generations.

Students arrive at Mohammed Bin Zayed Council for Future Generations sessions, held at Adnec. Photos: Reem Mohammed / The National

Students attend Mohammed Bin Zayed Council for Future Generations sessions.

An artist draws a caligraphic mural of Sheikh Zayed at during the Mohammed Bin Zayed Council for Future Generations sessions.

An installation inspired by traditional Emirati clothing at Mohammed Bin Zayed Council for Future Generations.

Mariam Al Shaloubi, 19, a student at UAE University, plays the piano at Mohammed Bin Zayed Council for Future Generations.

Students listen to Abdullah Bin Touq, Secretary General of the UAE Cabinet, at the Majilis in Mohammed Bin Zayed Council for Future Generations.

National service students attend at session in the assembly hall for the Mohammed Bin Zayed Council for Future Generations.

Young Emiratis have been cautioned by a top education official to approach news stories with scepticism because some news is "created" rather than reported.

Speaking at the Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis for Future Students on Monday, Dr Ali Al Nuaimi, chairman of the department of education and knowledge in Abu Dhabi, told hundreds of Emirati university students that they are the target of a media campaign to tarnish the image and interests of the UAE.

“It isn’t the leaders that are a target, it is you,” he said.

Dr Al Nuaimi said the international coverage of the war in Yemen was an example of such smear campaigns.

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“Our armed forces are fighting in Yemen and behind each contingent is another one to provide aid, build schools and reconstruct the country," he said.

"The UAE has never entered a country without providing aid and support.

"And yet our enemies have partnered with media organisations who have reported that the UAE has a prison camp and is committing human rights abuses in Yemen.

"They have bought charity organisations who support them in these lies,” he said, referring to an Amnesty International report that accused the Emirates of involvement in Yemeni prisons.

In July, the UAE rejected those allegations, stressing that Yemeni prisons are fully managed by Yemeni authorities and fall under the jurisdiction of Yemeni state institutions.

The government said the Amnesty report was based on political motives aimed at undermining the UAE's efforts, within the framework of the Arab Coalition, to support Yemen's internationally recognised government against Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

"There is no such thing as reporting news," Dr Al Nuaimi said on Monday. "[News] is created and, depending on the organisations’ agenda, it is either fake or real. Don’t deal with any source of media without scepticism.”