A report titled “A Look at Arab Media – A Future Perspective,” released by the Dubai Press Club, highlights that the podcasting sector is progressively emerging in the Arab media landscape, especially in the digital domain. This growth is largely fueled by an increase in digital platforms and changing listening habits among audiences, despite facing various challenges across the Arab region.
These hurdles limit the sector’s growth potential as it seeks to carve out a significant space within the overall media landscape. The “Dubai Podfest,” which will take place on September 30, aims to gather the largest community of podcast creators in the Arab world.
Coinciding with “International Podcast Day,” the event will discuss the factors that have contributed to the sector’s expansion and the essential components needed to enhance its presence in the Arab media scene, clearly demonstrating its ability to capture the interest of a considerable audience.
This audience is predominantly composed of young individuals, who represent the largest demographic engaging with this relatively new media format first mentioned in the British newspaper The Guardian in 2004. The term “podcast” is a blend of “iPod,” a digital device, and “broadcast.”
The report illustrates that the popularity of podcasts is growing as platforms and creators explore new forms of audio media, despite their recent emergence in the Middle East and North Africa. Several global companies are localizing their podcast offerings, while creators are expanding Arabic-language content to include talk shows, scripted series, and educational material.
The report also notes that podcasts are characterized by low production costs and high engagement potential, providing new channels for revenue generation through sponsorships and brand-related content.
This is particularly crucial for the Middle East and North Africa markets, where podcast creators are seeking higher revenues while traditional audio media continues to dominate, especially as major broadcasting companies increasingly blend traditional and digital formats to reach mobile and smart device users.
Content Innovation and Production Center
MONA GANEM AL-MURRI, Vice President and Executive Member of the Dubai Media Council, as well as Chair of the Dubai Press Club, emphasized that Dubai’s significant role as a center for content innovation and media advancement in various sectors positions it to play a crucial role in supporting podcast growth in the Arab world and serves as a genuine launching point for creators in this field, similar to other media sectors that have flourished in Dubai.
The city boasts robust digital infrastructure resulting from conscious investments aimed at acquiring the best and most reliable technologies globally, backed by wise leadership that recognizes the value of media and its societal impact, encouraging its institutions and professionals with all necessary resources to fulfill their roles in building the future.
While discussing the opportunities for further podcast growth in the Arab region, Ganem noted Dubai’s pivotal role in media development by stating, “We at the Dubai Press Club provide podcast creators with all the elements necessary for excellence.
Through various initiatives, we support their chances of success, and we are committed to establishing Dubai as a leading media hub that has significantly contributed to enhancing Arab media capabilities. We take pride in the club’s contributions to this context through numerous quality initiatives and ongoing efforts aimed at supporting the development of both traditional and new media sectors, both within the UAE and throughout the wider Arab world.”
The Dubai Press Club plays a tangible role in preparing, developing, and presenting programs, projects, and initiatives that focus on knowledge transfer and experience sharing, collaborating with some of the most prominent media institutions and specialized professionals in the region and globally. The “Arabic Podcast Program” is a key aspect of these efforts.
Maryam Mulla, Director of the Dubai Press Club, stated that the program recently concluded its second cycle with participation from a selection of ambitious young talents in the audio content industry, aligning with rapid transformations in the digital media space. It grants the youth an innovative platform for expression and creativity, enabling them to produce podcast content that meets global standards.
The aim is to nurture a generation of podcast creators equipped with the tools to address socially relevant topics in a modern and impactful way, supporting them with what they need to enhance their presence locally and regionally, contributing to this sector’s growth across the Arab world.
While the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt represent the most promising markets for podcast growth due to their high consumption rates, the “A Look at Arab Media – A Future Perspective” report suggests that the podcast industry may still be in its infancy in the Arab world, facing challenges such as internet connectivity issues, payment system limitations, and a lack of local content, which restricts the vast opportunities within this sector.
With “Dubai Podfest” gathering key podcast creators and platforms from the Arab world, the role of the Dubai Press Club is solidified in facilitating access to professional knowledge and exemplary experiences, providing a valuable advantage for advancing the podcast industry in the region. In this regard, Mahfouda Abdullah, Director of Dubai Podfest and Talent Development Officer at the Dubai Press Club, remarked:
“In line with Dubai’s vision for the future of media, the Dubai Press Club is dedicated to being a knowledge and strategic hub for training and developing a new generation of talents capable of leading forthcoming media transformations.
We are enabling talents across various domains of new media, particularly podcasting, by offering training and networking platforms that foster innovation and support the creation of distinctive and impactful content. Our ongoing mission is to help shape competitive Arab media capable of fostering thoughts that create a positive impact in societies.”
Market statistics from various specialized companies indicate that the podcast sector is experiencing continuous global growth in terms of listener numbers and revenue, driven by advancements in audio advertising and the integration of video with audio.
The rise of platforms and the increasing number of podcasts have been well documented. According to the global statistical site “Statista,” by April 2025, there will be over 3.5 million podcasts worldwide, totaling more than 175 million digital episodes.
While statistics on the podcast advertising market vary, they all suggest billions of dollars in potential, with significant growth anticipated over the next five years, reflecting the ample opportunities available in this domain.
Through the participation of a group of leading audio content and podcast producers in serious discussions at “Dubai Podfest 2025,” scheduled for September 30 at The Ritz-Carlton Dubai, the aim remains to achieve clear insights and outline realistic scenarios regarding the requirements for advancing the podcast sector in the Arab world, along with actionable steps to empower content creators in the region to seize the significant opportunities this field holds, as demonstrated by the global data and achievements thus far.
MONA AL-MURRI
Dubai’s media and digital leadership qualifies it to play a pivotal role in supporting podcast growth in the Arab world.
MARYAM MULLA
Nurturing podcast creators capable of discussing societal issues in a modern and engaging manner.
MAHFOUDA ABDULLAH
We are focused on providing training and networking platforms that enhance innovation in the creation of distinctive and beneficial content.