opening of a digital studio, social media hall, and camera museum at al-ahram foundation

Mamdouh Abbas: "Al-Ahram will always remain at the forefront… and we will continue to support its future development projects."

With a strategy that merges its rich history and national responsibility for enlightenment and awareness — and under the slogan "We live for the truth" — Al-Ahram has inaugurated the Boutros-Ghali Digital Studio, the Imam Mohammed Abduh Social Media Hall, and the first photography museum. These inaugurations mark a new phase of "smart journalism" for Al-Ahram, aligning with rapid advancements in the media landscape while preserving the institution’s identity and national role through a blend of authenticity and modernization.

The event was attended by the Board of Trustees of the Kemet Boutros-Ghali Foundation for Peace and Knowledge, led by Mamdouh Abbas, and included prominent figures such as Amr Moussa (former Foreign Minister and Secretary-General of the Arab League), Dr. Alieddin Hilal (former Minister of Youth), Dr. Mostafa El-Feki, Ambassador Raouf Saad, Dr. Noha Bakr, Dr. Ahmed Youssef, Ambassador Laila Bahaa El-Din, and Magda Abdelaziz (Vice-Chair of Al-Joud Charitable Foundation). The event celebrated the development partnership between the historic Al-Ahram institution and the Kemet Foundation, which bears the name of the late Dr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, former Secretary-General of the United Nations.

A Step Toward Modern Media
Al-Ahram Editor-in-Chief Alaa Thabet praised the effective development partnership with the Kemet Foundation, stating it reflects shared visions and goals to enhance national awareness through modern tools and technology. He emphasized the importance of creating journalistic content that supports Egypt's soft power and development ambitions in a time of unprecedented global challenges.

Thabet also highlighted Al-Ahram’s legacy, noting that the paper recently celebrated the publication of its 50,000th issue, a rare achievement among global newspapers. He explained that Al-Ahram’s slogan — "We live for the truth" — reflects its historical responsibility and the long-standing trust placed in it by Egyptian and Arab readers over its 150-year journey.

Attendees toured the Camera Museum, which houses a wide range of historic cameras documenting the evolution of press photography. They admired rare photos of cultural and artistic icons from Egypt and the Arab world, taken by generations of Al-Ahram’s renowned photographers. They also visited the newly equipped digital studio, which will be used to train Al-Ahram journalists, students from Al-Ahram Canadian University’s Faculty of Media, and other media professionals in coordination with the Journalists' Syndicate.

Thabet stressed that embracing digital journalism and modern technologies is part of Al-Ahram’s continuous development journey. He reaffirmed that Al-Ahram has always led the way in adapting to the changing media environment.

Kemet’s Contribution
Mamdouh Abbas, Chair of the Kemet Boutros-Ghali Foundation, expressed his appreciation for Al-Ahram’s efforts to modernize and equip its teams with the latest tools. He emphasized that these efforts help maintain the institution’s leadership position in the Arab press — a position it has held since its establishment in 1875.

Abbas noted his gratitude for witnessing the smart newsroom and Boutros-Ghali Studio, developed and fully equipped by the Kemet Foundation. He affirmed the foundation’s ongoing commitment to support Al-Ahram’s future development projects.

He added that Dr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali had a deep connection with Al-Ahram, launching his public career through articles in the paper and later founding two major publications — Al-Siyassa Al-Dawliya (International Politics) and Al-Ahram Al-Iqtisadi (Al-Ahram Economic Review) — aligning with his passion for contemporary global issues.

Abbas praised Alaa Thabet for his efforts in modernizing Al-Ahram’s operations and expressed pride in Kemet’s role in this significant transformation. He stressed that Al-Ahram will remain a leader in Egyptian journalism.

Honoring a Legacy of Enlightenment
Members of Kemet’s advisory board and trustees praised Al-Ahram’s historical role in raising public awareness. Many recalled personal memories of working on Al-Ahram’s various publications and learning under Dr. Boutros-Ghali. They agreed that Al-Ahram shaped much of their political awareness, serving as a living record of contemporary life.

The advisory board highlighted that this leap forward in technology and development would empower Al-Ahram to maintain its leadership, especially in countering misinformation and rumors that proliferate on social media — particularly among youth who are in urgent need of factual information.

They emphasized that the current challenges facing journalism are global, not just local, and require serious, coordinated efforts to combat fake news and restore credibility to professional journalism.

Giving Back to Society
Magda Abdelaziz, Vice-Chair of Al-Joud Charitable Foundation, described Kemet’s development role as a form of giving back to society. She said the foundation is committed to helping others — through charitable projects and by supporting young researchers — as a core value of its mission.

A Smart Future for Journalism
The newly inaugurated smart journalism units — fully funded by the Kemet Boutros-Ghali Foundation — include:

A state-of-the-art digital studio for producing high-quality video content tailored for social media.
The Imam Mohammed Abduh Social Media Hall, designed to support digital journalism and online engagement.
The Camera Museum, which documents the history of photography and honors the pioneering journalists who captured history through their lenses.
These facilities aim to blend innovation with legacy, helping Al-Ahram navigate the future while staying true to its founding principles and national mission.