Bill Gates will deliver the keynote speech at the 2012 Abu Dhabi Media Summit, which kicks off next week.

More than 400 leaders from the global media industry will attend the three-day invitation only event, which has the theme of Redefining the Digital Frontier.

The summit’s sessions will focus on the nurturing of digital skills and talent and emphasize cross-industry perspectives and East-West dialogue.

Other key speakers include Vice Media Group co-founder & chief executive Shane Smith, YouTube global head of content Robert Kyncl, Viacom International Media Networks chief executive Bob Bakish and Ari Emanuel, the co-chief executive of WME and the inspiration for the character Ari Gold in Entourage.

The Abu Dhabi Media Summit chairman H.E. Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak said: “The continued evolution and strengthening of the summit mirrors the continued development of Abu Dhabi and the UAE as an important hub for the media industry. The 2012 event will also see an even greater emphasis on home-grown talent through a series of master classes and workshops.”

The event takes place at the Yas Viceroy Hotel. It will be held under the patronage of H.H. General Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces.

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