The third edition of the 'Arab Podcast Programme', part of the Dubai Press Club's series of initiatives, kicked off in Dubai yesterday. The programme aims to support the development of the media sector and enhance the capabilities of Arab talents in new media, with the participation of a select group of leading media organisations, podcast creators, and specialists across various aspects of audio content production.
The programme, organised by the Dubai Press Club in collaboration with a range of media institutions and industry pioneers, seeks to provide a comprehensive training experience covering all stages of professional podcast production.
The agenda for the third edition, which runs over three weeks, includes training sessions combining theoretical knowledge with practical application. These sessions cover the stages of developing a podcast concept, identifying target audiences, building a brand identity, production, publishing, and marketing — enabling participants to transform creative ideas into fully realised media projects.
Maryam Al Mulla, Director of the Dubai Press Club, confirmed that the third edition of the 'Arab Podcast Programme' marks a qualitative advancement in terms of the level of participation and the diversity of expertise on offer, reflecting the growing interest in audio content production and its expanding role within the modern media landscape.
She explained that the selection process for participants focused on criteria of quality, passion, and readiness for growth, noting that the high volume of applications — exceeding 250 — required a meticulous screening and selection process to ensure a high-quality training experience, ultimately resulting in 54 participants being chosen for the programme.
She added that the programme continues to build on its previous successes by expanding its network of partnerships with international organisations specialising in podcasting, providing participants with access to advanced practical expertise and the opportunity to transform their ideas into professional audio content projects capable of reaching various platforms.
Al Mulla affirmed that these efforts are part of the Dubai Press Club's commitment to keeping pace with the rapidly evolving media sector and cementing Dubai's position as a leading hub for media development and innovation, by preparing cadres capable of producing competitive and impactful Arabic content.
For her part, Widad Kahour, Head of Media Talent Development at the Dubai Press Club, clarified that the Arab Podcast Programme 2026 will continue until the end of July at the Dubai Press Club's headquarters.
Participants will work on developing podcast projects to be evaluated by a panel of specialists, with 3 winning projects selected and their creators honoured, with the aim of encouraging innovative ideas and supporting their transformation into successful media ventures.
The first day of the programme featured a session titled 'How Does Podcasting Contribute to Shaping Contemporary Collective Awareness', with the participation of several industry pioneers and content creators: Jamal Al Mulla from 'Arab Cast Podcast', Safia Al Shahi from 'Vocast', and Dr Zainab Al Taei from 'Rio & Zainab Podcast'.
The session examined the transformation of podcasting from a limited-reach media tool into an influential knowledge platform contributing to the shaping of societal awareness. It also discussed the importance of in-depth conversations in delivering content that goes beyond the surface-level treatment found in some forms of digital media, grounded instead in thought, knowledge, and analysis.
The session also addressed how to strike a balance between keeping pace with global digital developments and preserving cultural specificity and Arab identity, in addition to standards of professional responsibility, ethical integrity, and intellectual balance in managing a successful and impactful podcast. The first day also featured a session titled 'Introduction to Podcasting: Concept Architecture and Identity Building', presented by Charbel Issa, Customer Success Manager and certified trainer at the 'Podeo' platform, in which he explored the foundations that help build a successful podcast project — from formulating the concept and defining the strategic vision, to selecting topics suited to the target audience and building a distinctive content identity.
Abdulrahman Jamal Al Muflahi, a media professional and programme participant, explained that the opening sessions provided an opportunity to learn from diverse experiences in content creation, noting that success in podcasting is linked to consistency and the development of a distinctive project identity.
He added that he is focusing during the training period on building his own brand and launching a podcast that addresses youth issues and challenges through purposeful conversations that present multiple perspectives and deliver content of value to society.
For his part, Sultan Mohammed, a sports content creator and programme participant, expressed his eagerness to benefit from the expertise of the specialists and fellow participants, noting that the diversity of experiences represents an important opportunity to develop new audio projects.
He revealed his readiness to launch a sports podcast that shines a spotlight on talents and emerging age groups in UAE sport, with work on its first episodes to coincide with the conclusion of the programme.
Maryam Al Mulla: The selection of participants focused on criteria of quality, passion, and readiness for growth.
Widad Kahour: Participants will prepare podcast projects to be evaluated by a panel of specialists.