UAE praised for protection of privacy at BRIDGE Summit 2025

The UAE has been praised for its protection of privacy during a discussion held on its rising threat to the community at the BRIDGE Summit 2025 on Tuesday.

The sesion was led Dr. Jamal Mohammed Obaid Al Kaabi, Vice Chairman of BRIDGE, titled “In the Spotlight: Privacy, Risk and Resilience in the Age of Misinformation,” featuring Richard Attias, Strategic Advisor to the Chairman of the BRIDGE Alliance, and Cécilia Attias, Founder and President of the Cécilia Attias Foundation for Women and Advisory Board Member of the BRIDGE Alliance.

Cécilia Attias gave the conversation a deep personal dimension on privacy as she spoke about family life, her children, and the dangers that some in the media can present to those who live in the spotlight.

She reflected on the importance of guarding private life with intention and creating protected moments away from public scrutiny.

 Attias noted that false stories are one of the most persistent burdens faced by public figures, alongside everyday constraints such as being unable to shop freely with family due to constant cameras.

Her thoughts on family life and the impact of media led the couple to reflect on the years they lived in the UAE and the country’s continuing importance to their ongoing work, with both sharing a deep admiration and devotion to the Emirates.

“It’s one of the rare countries in the world with total objectivity, where privacy is respected,” she said. “We never had a single issue when we were living here.”

“There is a warmth in the people of this region that is so important,” she said.

Richard Attias also highlighted the UAE's overall impact on his career, stating that the country, with its cultural diversity and spirit of coexistence, has long inspired his work in creating spaces for meaningful, solutions-driven conversation.

"“I moved from building physical bridges to building bridges between people," he said. 

He stressed that the accelerating power of AI makes it more important than ever for humans to remain in control of their tools, not the other way around..

Held until December 10, this session forms part of a 300+ session programme that reflects BRIDGE Summit’s scale and ambition at ADNEC in Abu Dhabi.