Dubai: The Dubai Press Club (DPC) announced the graduation of the second cohort of the Arab Podcast Programme, a pioneering initiative designed to foster audio content creation and nurture content creators' skills across the Arab world.
According to Emirates News Agency, the announcement was made during the fifth edition of the Dubai PodFest, organised by DPC under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Media Council. The ceremony also celebrated the top three winners, highlighting the Club's commitment to promoting innovation and global competitiveness in podcasting.
Launched by Dubai Press Club to support the regional podcast industry, the programme empowers young Arabs to create meaningful audio content. This year's cohort included 24 participants from various fields such as society and culture, AI, sports, media, education, and the arts, showcasing the creativity of Arab youth.
Mona Al Marri, Vice Chairperson and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council, and President of the Dubai Press Club, congratulated the graduates. She emphasized that the programme is crafted to enhance content creators' skills, enabling them to address topics significant to the Arab community, especially as podcast listenership is rapidly growing across the region.
Al Marri noted that the graduation of this cohort demonstrates the Club's dedication to discovering and empowering young media talent, preparing them to actively shape Arab audio content and enrich the regional media landscape's diversity. Recognizing outstanding projects, she added, encourages innovation and inspires impactful content creation, positioning podcasting as a potent platform for engaging and inspiring global audiences.
The ceremony honored the top three winners. Emirati writer and educator Amani Abdullah Al Taneiji secured first place for her podcast 'Mareekh', which provides mothers with a platform to share experiences and gain insights from academia and research. Saudi media professional Raghd Al Arishi earned second place for 'Qudam', a cultural and tourism podcast exploring lesser-known Gulf destinations. Tahani Mohammed Zuhayman won third place for 'Esma'ha Meni', which revives Arab heritage through engaging stories in classical Arabic.
The top winners received significant prizes to support their professional audio content journey. Dubai Media will produce and publish a complete podcast season for the first-place winner, while the second-place winner will create six episodes with Poddster. The third-place winner will receive a full podcast kit from Media Cast. Additionally, standout projects beyond the top three will be awarded 20 free recording hours, reinforcing the programme's commitment to developing young talent.
Maryam Al Mulla, Director of Dubai Press Club, highlighted that the 'Arab Podcast Programme' offers a comprehensive hands-on experience, guiding participants from concept to global distribution and producing projects with real community impact. She emphasized the Club's commitment to empowering young talent, fostering creativity, and shaping an innovative Arab media landscape.
Mahfoudha Abdullah, Manager of Dubai PodFest, praised the participants' projects for reflecting their ambition and skills gained through the programme, demonstrating a commitment to high-quality Arabic audio content. She noted that the programme equips young creators to confidently enter the digital media space, nurturing a new generation capable of regional and international competition while upholding Arab cultural values.
The 'Arab Podcast Programme' is part of Dubai Press Club's efforts to bolster Dubai's role as a regional hub for digital media and audio content, empowering young Arabs to enhance their skills and launch innovative projects that contribute to a dynamic Arabic podcasting industry.