Dubai today launched the third edition of the Arabic Podcast Programme, organised by Dubai Press Club in collaboration with leading media institutions, as well as a distinguished group of podcast creators and specialists across the many fields connected to this fast-growing form of media. The programme is designed to cover the full range of issues linked to producing professional audio content, which has secured a strong presence across the Arab world and globally, particularly as podcasting continues to move further into visual media.
Running for three weeks, this edition features intensive training sessions that combine theory with hands-on practice. The agenda explores the full process of podcast production, from developing an idea and identifying an audience to production, publishing and marketing.
Dubai Press Club underlines media development ambitions
At the programme’s launch, Maryam Al Mulla, Director of Dubai Press Club, said the organisation remains committed to keeping pace with the media sector’s ongoing evolution through initiatives and programmes that reinforce Dubai’s position as a leading centre for media development and contribute meaningfully to preparing media talent capable of delivering quality advances that raise the standard of Arab media output more broadly.
She said: “يشهد قطاع البودكاست تحولاً متسارعاً على مستوى العالم، مدفوعاً بتغير سلوك الجمهور وتنامي الطلب على المحتوى المتخصص، وهو ما يفتح أمام الإعلام العربي فرصةً مهمة لتعزيز حضوره وإنتاج محتوى هادف قادر على المنافسة. وبرنامج البودكاست العربي يأتي امتداداً لالتزام نادي دبي للصحافة بتطوير الكفاءات الإعلامية العربية، عبر توفير خيارات تدريبية تجمع بين المعرفة النظرية والخبرة والتطبيق العملي”.
Al Mulla also thanked the leading institutions, experts and prominent podcast creators taking part in this edition, expressing the Club’s pride in its long-standing partnerships with them and the real value their expertise brings to participants. She said the collaboration reflects a shared belief in the importance of investing in media talent, in line with Dubai’s vision of consolidating its position as a global hub for media creativity.
Practical training and project competition
For her part, Widad Kahoor, Head of Media Talent Development at Dubai Press Club, explained that the Arabic Podcast Programme 2026 will continue until the end of this July at Dubai Press Club’s headquarters, where trainees will take part in developing podcast projects that will be assessed by a panel of specialists. Three winning projects will be selected and honoured, in a bid to encourage healthy competition and support distinctive ideas that can be turned into successful podcast ventures.
The first day of the programme included a session titled “How podcasting contributes to shaping contemporary collective awareness”, featuring leading figures and content creators: Jamal Al Mulla (Arabcast), Safia Al Shahi (Vocast), and Dr Zainab Al Taie (Rio & Zainab Podcast). The discussion examined podcasting’s evolution from a secondary media tool into a knowledge platform with a tangible influence on society, and looked at how in-depth podcast conversations have moved beyond the superficial treatment seen in some forms of digital media towards more thoughtful content capable of enriching public awareness. The speakers also considered how podcast creators can balance digital globalisation with the preservation of cultural specificity and Arab identity.
The session aimed to help participants gain a deeper understanding of podcasting’s capacity to shape beliefs and attitudes, while also introducing standards of professional responsibility and the principles of ethical integrity and intellectual balance in managing a successful and influential podcast.
Building a podcast concept and identity
The first day also featured a session titled “An introduction to podcasting: designing the concept and building the identity”, delivered by Charbel Issa, Customer Success Manager and certified trainer at Podeo, described as the most widely used podcast platform in the Arab world. The session focused on shaping the strategic vision of any podcast project to turn it from an idea into a successful venture, beginning with a comprehensive definition of podcasting, moving through the selection of topics suitable for the target market, and reaching the creation of a distinctive identity for each audio content creator.
It also covered ways to explore modern formats and different content models, how to identify a competitive edge that can give each podcast its own character and help it stand out, and other key success factors such as choosing an appropriate and appealing name for the podcast, the technical equipment used in production, and effective marketing methods.