The Dubai Press Club announced the opening of the third edition of the Arab Podcast Programme at its headquarters in Dubai, where the three-week course combines theoretical lessons with practical exercises that span the complete podcast workflow. Sessions address idea generation, audience targeting, recording and editing techniques, distribution methods and promotional tactics, according to the club’s published overview. Participants from across the region are developing original podcast projects during the programme, which concludes at the end of July with evaluations conducted by a specialist panel.
Wedad Kahoor, Section Head for Media Talent Development at the Dubai Press Club, stated that the program will see participants developing podcast projects to be evaluated by a panel of specialists. Three exceptional projects will be recognised with awards, encouraging new talent to achieve their full potential and transform innovative ideas into successful podcast productions. The initiative operates in partnership with major media entities, established podcast creators and sector specialists who deliver the training modules.
Previous iterations of the Arab Podcast Programme have produced measurable outcomes, the Dubai Press Club reported, with alumni from the first and second editions progressing to launch independent shows that gained regional audiences. Coverage of the 2025 second edition by Emirates 24|7 highlighted how early workshops prompted creators to experiment with narrative formats tailored to Arab listeners. Those editions ran for five weeks each and drew participants who later contributed to the expanding Arabic podcast landscape.
A PwC Middle East assessment of the regional entertainment and media outlook projected the audio and podcast segment to sustain annual growth exceeding 12 percent through the current year, propelled by wider smartphone adoption and demand for accessible, on-demand material among younger audiences. The consultancy’s figures show this expansion has opened avenues for locally produced content focusing on cultural topics, education and social issues relevant to Arab societies. The Dubai Press Club positioned its training as a direct response to that demand by professionalising the skills of emerging creators.
The current programme edition has drawn applicants eager to enter the field, a Dubai Press Club evaluation found, with supervision provided by industry veterans to maintain production standards. Trainees receive guidance on both creative and technical elements to ensure their output meets audience expectations. Projects completed under the initiative are anticipated to add to the growing catalogue of Arabic podcasts available across digital platforms.
Organisers expect the awarded productions to serve as models for future participants, according to the club’s announcement. The programme’s structure has been refined based on feedback from earlier cohorts to emphasise practical application throughout the three weeks. Industry experts involved in the sessions include prominent figures known for successful Arabic-language audio series.
