Dubai Press Club Celebrates Graduation Of Second Arab Podcast Programme Cohort At Dubai PodFest 2025

The Dubai Press Club (DPC) has celebrated the graduation of the second group from the Arab Podcast Program. This initiative, unique in the region, aims to enhance audio content creation and develop the skills of content creators throughout the Arab world. The announcement took place at the fifth Dubai PodFest, held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

The programme is designed to support young Arabs in producing impactful audio content. This year's cohort included 24 participants from various fields such as society, culture, AI, sports, media, education, and arts. This diversity highlights the creativity and potential of Arab youth in podcasting.

Mona Al Marri, Vice Chairperson and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council and President of DPC, congratulated the graduates. She emphasised that the programme enhances content creators' skills to address topics relevant to the Arab community. Al Marri noted that podcast channels are rapidly growing across the region.

Al Marri also highlighted that recognising exceptional projects encourages innovation and inspires participants to create meaningful content. The programme serves as a platform for Arab audio content, showcasing podcasting's ability to engage audiences globally.

The ceremony recognised three top winners for their outstanding podcasts. Emirati writer Amani Abdullah Al Taneiji won first place with "Mareekh," a podcast offering mothers a space to share experiences and insights from academia. Saudi media professional Raghd Al Arishi secured second place with "Qudam," exploring lesser-known Gulf destinations.

Tahani Mohammed Zuhayman earned third place with "Esma’ha Meni" ("Hear It from Me"), which revives Arab heritage through engaging stories in classical Arabic. These winners received prizes to support their professional journeys in audio content creation.

Supporting Future Talent

The first-place winner will have a complete podcast season produced by Dubai Media. The second-place winner will create six episodes with Poddster, while the third-place winner receives a full podcast kit from Media Cast. Additionally, standout projects beyond the top three will be awarded 20 free recording hours.

Maryam Al Mulla, Director of DPC, stated that the programme offers a comprehensive experience from concept development to global distribution. It aims to empower young talent and foster creativity within a diverse Arab media landscape.

Nurturing Innovation in Podcasting

Mahfoudha Abdullah, Manager of Dubai PodFest, noted that participants' projects demonstrated ambition and skills gained during the programme. The initiative prepares young creators for success in digital media while reflecting Arab cultural values.

The "Arab Podcast Programme" is part of DPC's efforts to position Dubai as a regional hub for digital media and audio content. It empowers young Arabs to develop their skills and launch innovative projects contributing to a vibrant Arabic podcasting industry.

With inputs from WAM