The Dubai Press Club has announced the graduation of the second cohort of participants from the “Arab Podcast Program,” unique in the region, during the fifth edition of “Dubai Podfest.”
During the graduation ceremony, Mona Ghanem Al Merri, Vice President and Executive Member of the Dubai Media Council and Head of the Dubai Press Club, honored the top three winners of the program. This initiative aims to encourage participants to innovate and motivate them to deliver impactful content that can compete on a global scale.
This program is one of the leading initiatives launched by the Dubai Press Club to support the podcasting industry in the region and empower young people to produce competitive audio content with the help of prominent Arab talents and media figures. The second cohort consisted of 24 participants from various Arab countries across multiple categories, which include:
Community, culture, economy, entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence, sports, media, education, and arts. This showcases the diverse interests of young Arabs and their ability to produce meaningful and distinguished audio content.
A Platform for Innovation and Excellence
Al Merri congratulated the participants of the “Arab Podcast Program” on their graduation from a program custom-designed to enhance their skills and leverage their talents, insights, and ideas in addressing themes pertinent to the Arab community. This is especially relevant given the increasing proliferation of podcast channels and the notable rise in listening hours within the Arab region.
She stated: “The graduation of the second cohort of the ‘Arab Podcast Program’ reflects the club’s commitment to discovering and empowering young media talents and preparing them for effective contributions to the Arab audio content industry, thereby enhancing diversity in the media landscape in the region.”
Al Merri added: “Undoubtedly, recognizing the best projects encourages participants to innovate and stimulates them to present impactful content capable of competing globally. We aim through this program to provide the largest platform for the launch of Arab audio content and to create a podcast series that reflects our vision of its importance as a powerful and innovative tool for transforming community engagement with media and inspiring audiences.”
Top Three Winners
The first place was awarded to Emirati writer and educator Amani Abdullah Al Tani, who excelled with her podcast project “Mars,” which represents a continuation of her academic and personal journey as a mother of five and a master’s student in Learning and Technology Design.
The podcast aims to serve as a different and safe space for mothers, reinterpreting identity and educational concepts, blending academic depth with life experiences to provide mothers with a new language of awareness and balance, making motherhood a journey of inspiration and social impact.
In second place was Raghad Bint Shiban Al Arishi from Saudi Arabia, who merged her passion for media with her interest in tourism and culture through the podcast “Qodam,” a cultural travel program that takes listeners on an auditory journey to lesser-known Gulf destinations, revealing their history, heritage, and the stories behind their identities, providing the audience with a rich experience that intertwines culture and discovery.
Third place went to Suhail Al Zuhayman from Syria with her podcast “Listen to Me,” which presents short story content in Modern Standard Arabic. The program aims to revive Arabic heritage, proverbs, and timeless wisdom in an engaging and compelling narrative style that combines depth and creativity, bringing them closer to new generations and transforming words into a vibrant and inspiring knowledge experience worth listening to.
Podcast Awards
In a bid to support and recognize the talents of creative students enrolled in the “Arab Podcast Program,” a series of valuable awards have been announced for the winners to enable them to embark on a professional journey in audio content production.
The first winner will receive an award from “Dubai Media” that includes recording the complete first season of the podcast along with top-level production and publishing services.
The second winner will have the chance to produce six podcast episodes recorded and fully produced by the leading company “Poddster,” providing practical experience and an opportunity to reach a wider audience. The third-place winner will receive a complete podcasting equipment kit provided by “Media Cast,” supporting them in developing their own content and continuing to produce creative works.
The awards are not limited to the top three winners; participants with outstanding projects will also receive 20 hours of free recording sessions provided by “Media Cast,” reflecting the program’s commitment to supporting as many students as possible and encouraging them to showcase their creative ideas.
Full Support
Mariam Al Mulla, Director of the Dubai Press Club, stated that the “Arab Podcast Program” has offered participants a comprehensive hands-on experience starting from idea generation and script writing, through recording and editing processes, to marketing and distributing content on global platforms. We are thrilled to see participants translating their acquired skills into tangible projects that have a significant impact on the community.
She added: “Honoring outstanding projects reflects our commitment to providing full support to young talents and encouraging them to innovate in audio content production. Our goal is not only to equip participants with new skills but also to enable them to become part of a new Arab media landscape.”
A Complete Experience
For her part, Mahfouza Abdullah, Director of “Dubai Podfest” and Media Talent Development Officer at the Dubai Press Club, stated: “The projects accomplished by the participants reflect the level of ambition and skills acquired throughout the program. We are delighted with the exceptional works they have produced, reflecting their professional commitment and dedication to delivering purposeful and high-quality Arabic audio content.”
She continued: “The program has provided a holistic experience that builds a unique foundation of young content creators and prepares them to enter the digital media arena with confidence and competence as we always strive to cultivate a new generation of innovators capable of competing on both regional and international stages, creating audio content that shows the diversity and cultural values of Arab societies.”
Mona Al Merri
“Dubai Press Club” is committed to empowering young media professionals and preparing them to contribute to the audio content industry.
Recognizing the best projects encourages graduates to innovate and motivates them to create impactful and competitive content globally.
Mariam Al Mulla
We are keen on providing full support to young talents and encouraging them to be creative in audio content production.
<h2:Mahfouza Abdullah:
We aim to prepare a new generation capable of competing on both regional and international levels.
Awards for Winners
First winner: An award from “Dubai Media” for recording a complete season of the podcast with production and publishing services.
Second winner: An opportunity to produce six podcast episodes recorded and fully produced by “Poddster.”
Third winner: A complete podcasting kit provided by “Media Cast” for developing their own content.