Dubai Press Club Report Reveals Arab Media’s Next Decade

Dubai Press Club revealed its ‘Arab Media Outlook – Future Vision’ report at the Arab Media Summit. The report predicts robust growth in the region’s media sector. The MENA media market will expand from $17 billion in 2024 to $20.6 billion by 2028, creating a valuable chance for industry players.

The detailed report emphasizes several trends that will shape Arab media’s future. Internet advertising leads as the largest media subsegment and will grow 7.2% each year. The gaming sector shows strong potential with a predicted 4.4% yearly growth rate. Dubai production city and media city showcase a dynamic media ecosystem where arab video and other content formats continue to rise in popularity. AI is a vital force that will revolutionize the entire media value chain from content creation to distribution and consumption.

Dubai Press Club unveils ‘Arab Media Outlook – Future Vision’ report at the Arab Media Summit

_{Image Source: Dubai Press Club}

The Dubai Press Club’s senior officials unveiled their complete ‘Arab Media Outlook – Future Vision’ report at a landmark Arab Media Summit event. This strategic analysis looks at media’s changing dynamics throughout the Arab world. It specifically highlights the growth within key media centers like media city and dubai production city.

The report showcased several key trends that shape how regional audiences consume media. TV viewing stays strong in the Arab world, unlike global cord-cutting trends. Audiences still connect well with specialized content. The analysis also shows major growth in arabic video production, where local content creators now compete with international platforms.

Research teams mixed market analysis with expert insights from industry leaders to create this report. They spoke with media executives, technology specialists, and content creators to build an all-encompassing view of where the industry heads. Their analytical approach reveals new opportunities in strong markets like Saudi Arabia and the UAE. It also spotlights potential growth in North African media sectors.

The report highlights how traditional media organizations now become digital-first enterprises. This change mirrors broader shifts in how people consume content. Young viewers show clear priorities for mobile-first, on-demand content experiences.

Summit attendees praised the report’s usefulness as a strategic planning tool. It outlines possible scenarios for media development based on how fast people adopt technology, what regulations exist, and how viewer priorities change.

The ‘Arab Media Outlook’ shows Dubai Press Club’s dedication to helping media grow through research and knowledge sharing. These findings will likely shape investment choices and policy frameworks across the region. They’ll help stakeholders guide the complex mix of technology, content, and commerce in our changing digital world.

Report forecasts MENA media market to reach $20.6B by 2028

_{Image Source: Consultancy-me.com}

The ‘Arab Media Outlook – Future Vision’ report outlines a complete financial roadmap for the region’s media scene. The MENA media market will grow from AED 62.42 billion in 2024 to AED 75.64 billion (approximately $20.6 billion) by 2028, with a compound annual growth rate of 4.9%.

Advertising remains the largest subsegment and will represent 38% of the total market value by 2028, with video content following close behind[71]. Both segments are quickly adapting to digital changes. Internet advertising shows strong growth with a reliable 7.2% CAGR that outperforms traditional media formats, which continue to decline[72].

The gaming sector stands out with 4.4% yearly growth through 2028[71]. This growth comes from increasing consumer needs, easier platform access, and rising interest in esports events[72]. Markets of all sizes in MENA will see steady growth in gaming revenues during this period.

The report highlights several emerging subsegments that are gaining ground in the region. Over-the-Top (OTT) video services and music streaming show steady growth[72]. Music streaming brings in over 80% of total audio revenue, while podcasting gains popularity as a new format[71]. Traditional broadcasters now adopt hybrid broadcast-digital models to stay relevant[71].

Publishers adapt to new consumption patterns, finding success with e-books, audiobooks, and digital journalism. Print media faces ongoing challenges as digital platforms take more market share.

The study shows advertising budgets now favor digital channels, with Google, Meta, and TikTok taking much of the market[72]. This change reflects how people consume content differently now, preferring customized, on-demand experiences in the digital world.

AI and digital infrastructure reshape Arab media landscape

AI is pioneering transformative changes that alter the map of Arab media operations, according to the ‘Arab Media Outlook – Future Vision’ report. AI applications now cover the entire media value chain from content personalization and automated news writing to immersive formats in gaming and advertising.

Gulf states with reliable economies have moved beyond simple implementation in the regional AI landscape. Countries with weaker economies still face basic integration challenges. Only 6.2% of Arab newsrooms keep using AI tools, though this number varies by a lot across markets.

Major media organizations have rolled out impressive AI solutions. Al Jazeera Arabic launched its AI news anchor “Ebtekar,” Kuwait News created “Fedha,” and UAE’s Al-Ain news agency developed “Aref Bin Teqani”—a virtual robot writer that produces weekly AI-generated articles. The UAE National Media Office has also teamed up with Abu Dhabi-based Presight to build an AI platform that analyzes billions of media data points daily.

In spite of that, major hurdles block widespread adoption. Arab media organizations lack clear AI implementation strategies due to editorial resistance and limited leadership interest. A massive skills gap exists with too few professionals having the needed AI and data science expertise in regional newsrooms.

The economic gap between Gulf states and other Arab countries makes these challenges worse. Smaller independent newsrooms in Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan can only access AI training through NGOs instead of institutional initiatives.

The report stresses that AI adoption must balance state-of-the-art solutions with regulatory and ethical challenges. Media organizations should develop clear AI strategies, invest in talent growth, and build proper digital infrastructure to stay competitive.

The key recommendations include building Arab digital platforms to counter foreign media influence, starting regional fact-checking initiatives, and preparing future journalists with digital skills for an AI-driven media world.

Looking Ahead: Arab Media’s Digital Progress

The ‘Arab Media Outlook – Future Vision’ report marks a defining moment for regional media stakeholders. This detailed analysis shows how tech advances and changing consumer behaviors alter the Arab media’s core structure. The sector shows remarkable strength and promise with projected growth from $17 billion to $20.6 billion by 2028, even amid global economic uncertainty.

Digital platforms now rule all media segments. Internet advertising propels this growth at 7.2% yearly, and gaming stands out as another strong performer. Traditional media formats don’t vanish completely but adapt through hybrid digital models. The move toward tailored content mirrors worldwide changes, yet keeps unique regional features.

AI adoption remains the key factor that will determine Arab media organizations’ future success. Gulf states have moved past simple implementation phases. Other countries still face basic integration hurdles. This tech gap mirrors the region’s economic differences. Companies must close critical skills gaps and create clear implementation plans to stay competitive.

Dubai Press Club’s report works as both analysis and guide. Media leaders can use these insights to direct their path through complex tech, content, and business decisions. Policy makers might also use these findings to craft rules that balance new ideas with ethical concerns.

Arab media now faces a choice between tradition and change. Success relies on smart investments in digital systems, talent growth, and fresh content ideas. Organizations that accept these changes while honoring cultural values will grow stronger in the next decade. Those who resist change risk losing relevance in this fast-changing media world.