Dubai Press Club wraps up three-week training programme as participants prepare for final project evaluation ahead of Dubai PodFest 2026
Dubai: The Dubai Press Club (DPC) has concluded the third edition of the Arab Podcast Programme 2026 after an intensive three-week training journey that combined theoretical knowledge with practical application.
The programme was designed to help participants transform creative ideas into professional podcast projects capable of competing effectively and reaching audiences across digital platforms.
The final week featured four specialised workshops focused on publishing and promotion, audience growth and podcast monetisation, equipping participants with practical tools to build sustainable projects beyond the production stage.
Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Vice Chairperson and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council and President of the Dubai Press Club, thanked the programme’s partners for contributing their expertise and professional experience.
She said the programme aims to equip a new generation of media professionals with the tools needed to create high-quality content.
“In collaboration with our industry partners, we remain committed to delivering high-impact projects and initiatives that advance Arab media and enhance its competitiveness in line with the highest professional standards. By investing in young talent and providing platforms that support skills development, we seek to foster innovative Arabic content capable of achieving broad reach and meaningful impact,” she said.
Maryam Al Mulla, Director of the Dubai Press Club, said the third edition delivered a comprehensive learning experience that covered concept development, brand identity, technical production, execution, publishing, promotion and sustainability strategies.
“During the final week, we focused on providing participants with practical knowledge that will help them establish a distinct presence for their projects beyond the production stage. The sessions also enabled them to better understand how to reach audiences and generate sustainable returns,” she said.
The workshop “Distribution and Growth Strategies Across Audio Streaming Platforms” was delivered by Mohammed Ogaily, Chief Operating Officer at Anghami and OSN+, and focused on audio publishing tools, distribution channels and audience growth strategies.
Julia Ibrahim of Next Audio led a session titled “Monetisation Strategies and Sustainable Podcast Revenue”, which explored revenue models, sponsorship opportunities and long-term commercial partnerships for podcast creators.
Abdulrahman Al Hazmi, Strategic Partnerships Lead for YouTube at Google, presented a workshop on podcast publishing on YouTube, highlighting best practices for improving content visibility, audience engagement and platform reach.
The programme concluded with a session titled “Reels: Creating Trends and Smart Promotion Tools”, delivered by Sami Tabshouri, Head of Strategy and Marketing at blinx. The workshop examined how short-form video content can be used to expand podcast reach and promote long-form content across social media platforms.
Projects developed during the third edition of the Arab Podcast Programme will enter the final evaluation stage in August, where a panel of experts and specialists will assess submissions against the technical and creative standards covered throughout the programme.
Three winning projects will be announced and honoured during the official graduation ceremony at Dubai PodFest 2026, which will take place as part of the Arab Media Summit in September.
