The Dubai Press Membership as we speak unveiled the ‘Arab Media Outlook – Future Imaginative and prescient’, a flagship report providing a complete evaluation of the media business throughout the Center East and North Africa (MENA). The report was launched in the course of the Arab Media Summit, going down in Dubai from twenty sixth to twenty eighth Might.
Developed in partnership with Dubai Media Metropolis, the Data Associate, and Technique&, the Analysis Associate of the report, the publication serves as an important useful resource for policymakers, traders, entrepreneurs, innovators, and professionals shaping the way forward for the area’s media panorama.
The report underscores the profound transformation underway throughout the area’s media sector, pushed by speedy digital disruption, altering viewers behaviours, and bold nationwide methods. Spanning 5 core subsegments—video, audio, publishing, promoting, and gaming—the report highlights the media business’s function as an vital driver of financial diversification, job creation, and cultural affect within the area.
Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Vice Chairperson and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council and President of the Dubai Press Membership, mentioned, “The Arab media business is getting into a brand new section of its improvement, formed by speedy technological change, evolving viewers expectations, and new patterns of content material consumption. Guided by the imaginative and prescient of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, to reinforce the media’s function as a accomplice in progress, we’re working to construct a globally aggressive media ecosystem that performs a higher function within the area’s improvement journey.”
“The ‘Arab Media Outlook – Future Imaginative and prescient’ report is a part of our broader technique to equip decision-makers with the foresight and perception wanted to navigate this transformation. By way of detailed evaluation and actionable insights, the report outlines each the challenges that should be addressed and the numerous alternatives rising throughout the media panorama,” she mentioned.
“This report displays the Dubai Press Membership’s dedication to advancing a media setting that helps innovation, expertise improvement, and funding, not solely in Dubai and the UAE, however throughout the broader Arab world. Beneath the management of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Media Council, we’re pursuing a transparent technique to assist media improvement by fostering creativity, elevating skilled requirements, and enabling the sector to contribute meaningfully to long-term progress. As Dubai continues to develop as a world content material manufacturing and artistic financial system hub, we stay targeted on constructing the partnerships, capabilities and data base that can form the way forward for Arab media,” she added.
Majed Al Suwaidi, Senior Vice President of Dubai Media Metropolis, Dubai Manufacturing Metropolis, and Dubai Studio Metropolis, a part of TECOM Group PJSC, mentioned, “The UAE recognises the media sector as an important pillar that shapes our strategic imaginative and prescient for sustainable improvement that advantages future generations, and Dubai Media Metropolis is proactively shaping its trajectory to tell and enlighten with homegrown storytelling that has international impression.”
“The media business makes a useful contribution to the UAE’s and Dubai’s inventive financial system by driving innovation and data creation for the good thing about the area and past. As Data Associate of the ‘Arab Media Outlook – Future Imaginative and prescient’ report, we’re reaffirming our dedication to nurturing a globally aggressive media panorama that strengthens the imaginative and prescient of the Dubai Financial Agenda D33 and the Dubai Artistic Economic system Technique,” he added.
Tarek Matar, Associate in Media and Leisure at Technique&, mentioned, “The Arab media sector is gaining robust momentum, supported by formidable nationwide visions, increasing digital infrastructure, and a brand new era of inventive expertise. Because the area continues to put money into content material manufacturing, know-how, and coverage innovation, it’s well-positioned to construct a dynamic and globally aggressive media business. This report displays our dedication to offering data-driven insights that allow governments, traders, and media leaders to navigate the evolving panorama and unlock the complete potential of the sector.”
In response to the report, the MENA media market is projected to develop from $17 billion in 2024 to $20.6 billion by 2028, reflecting a compound annual progress price (CAGR) of 4.9%. Promoting stays the biggest subsegment, accounting for 38% of the market by 2028, adopted by video, each of that are present process speedy digitalisation. Progress is being led by digital-first codecs: web promoting is anticipated to develop at 7.2% compound annual progress price (CAGR), and gaming at 4.4% CAGR, whereas conventional media present a decline. Over-the-Prime (OTT) video, and music streaming are scaling steadily, whereas podcasting and esports are rising as new progress frontiers.
The report identifies the video subsegment as probably the most culturally influential, with OTT adoption rising throughout all markets. Conventional broadcast fashions are shifting towards hybrid broadcast-digital fashions. Within the audio house, music streaming accounts for over 80% of income, whereas podcasting, although nascent, is gaining traction, whereas radio retains robust attain in some nations.
The publishing sector is evolving in response to shifting consumption habits, with new momentum seen in e-books, audiobooks, and digital journalism. Main e-book gala’s within the area proceed to drive footfall and visibility. Promoting is transitioning decisively to digital, with international platforms like Google, Meta, and TikTok commanding a major share of spend.
Gaming is the fastest-growing subsegment throughout the area, pushed by rising shopper demand, expanded entry to platforms, and rising curiosity in esports. From 2024 to 2028, all main MENA markets are anticipated to see constant progress in gaming revenues. Cinema is present process a region-wide revival, led by the UAE and Saudi Arabia, with robust progress additionally projected in different MENA markets. Annual admissions throughout most markets within the area are anticipated to develop 5% to six% between 2024 and 2028.
The report identifies key enablers of sustained progress: modernised regulation; expertise improvement; entry to funding; world-class infrastructure; and innovation and analysis and improvement (R&D). Key economies within the area are advancing media sector progress by way of streamlined licensing, up to date possession legal guidelines, and clear content material classification programs that enhance transparency and investor confidence. Funding entry is increasing within the area, with main markets providing manufacturing incentives, early-stage investments, and grants to assist native and worldwide media tasks.
Synthetic intelligence is rising as a game-changer throughout the media worth chain—from content material personalisation and automatic information writing to immersive codecs in gaming and promoting. Whereas AI is opening new frontiers for monetisation and operational effectivity, the report additionally highlights regulatory and moral challenges that should be addressed to make sure sustainable progress.
The Arab Media Outlook 2025 additionally contains international case research on OTT management from superior markets internationally, providing insights into OTT progress methods, audio innovation, and superior promoting fashions, with sensible takeaways for media stakeholders throughout the Arab world.
Observe Emirates 24|7 on Google Information.
