The DMC delegation’s engagement included visits to leading Japanese media companies, prominent universities, and influential industry players.
The Dubai Media Council (DMC) commenced its Media Knowledge Exchange Programme with a visit to Japan focused on fostering collaboration and sharing media expertise and best practices. During the five-day visit, the team explored Japan’s advanced media landscape, technological innovations, thriving gaming industry, animation sector, and media education frameworks.
Led by Nehal Badri, Secretary General of the Dubai Media Council, the Council’s delegation engaged with 22 leading Japanese organisations and institutions during the visit. The meetings reflect the Council’s broader commitment to forging closer connections with countries worldwide, adopting best practices that can promote media sector growth and reinforcing Dubai’s rising status as an innovation-driven global media hub.
Mona Al Marri, Vice Chairperson and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council, said that the Media Knowledge Exchange Programme seeks to promote partnerships and share knowledge that will drive growth, innovation, value creation and talent in line with the vision of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Media Council, to raise Dubai’s leadership in the global media industry.
“The first in a series of engagements forming part of the Programme, the visit to Japan was an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of how the country’s innovative media ecosystems leverage technology and creativity to advance industry development. Our efforts to exchange best practices and gain insights on innovative frameworks from advanced media environments such as Japan reflect our dedication to building a dynamic media landscape in Dubai that matches the best in the world. This mission is part of our wider strategy to develop cooperation that promotes sustainable growth in the media sector,” she added.
The DMC delegation’s engagement included visits to leading Japanese media companies, prominent universities, and influential industry players. Meetings spanned diverse areas including advanced media technology, gaming, animation, film and TV production, and government initiatives. The delegation also discussed entertainment and toy industry trends with Bandai Namco, the world’s second largest toy company by revenue.
The delegation further met with the Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS), a major broadcasting network known for its innovative content; the prestigious International Professional University of Technology and Professional Institute of International Fashion, both housed within the iconic Cocoon Tower in Tokyo; and Uni Japan, the organisers of the Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) and TIFFCOM, Asia’s leading content market.
Discussions with Uni Japan focused on successful film festivals, content marketing strategies and support for filmmakers. Other organisations that the delegation engaged with included TV Asahi, renowned for its globally popular television productions; Shibuya Startup Support, which assists startups in launching and growing their businesses; Shochiku, one of Japan’s Big Four film studios; and the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) to promote international trade engagement and partnerships.
The visit sought to advance Dubai Media Council’s objective to enhance Dubai’s media ecosystem, particularly its gaming sector, aligning with the Dubai Program for Gaming 2033 recently launched by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai.The Council’s delegation discussed gaming technology and industry innovation with Sega Corporation, one of the world’s largest video gaming companies; Square Enix, a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises; and Gree, a world leading free-to-play mobile games developer.
Nehal Badri, Secretary General of the Dubai Media Council, said: “Dubai Media Council is committed to fostering a culture of continuous knowledge exchange and global collaboration to drive the evolution of Dubai’s media landscape. Our engagements in Japan have provided us with invaluable insights that will contribute to our strategies and initiatives. By studying cutting-edge practices in leading media markets, we seek to further refine our approaches to enhancing content excellence, talent development, and advanced technology integration in Dubai’s media sector. The outcomes of the Media Knowledge Exchange Programme will help us build a dynamic media ecosystem in Dubai that not only reflects global industry excellence but also supports the emirate’s development journey. We will be working to translating our learnings into actionable steps that will support our initiatives to transform the local and regional media landscape.”
The engagement highlighted the potential to strengthen Dubai’s media landscape with innovative approaches in the Japanese industry and revealed opportunities for collaboration in media production, talent exchange, and the integration of cutting-edge media technology. Furthermore, it positioned Dubai as an attractive strategic partner for Japanese media companies seeking to expand their presence in the Middle East.
The Media Knowledge Exchange Programme is a key milestone in the Dubai Media Council’s mission to develop Dubai’s media sector and consolidate its emergence as a global destination for media enterprise, talent, innovation and investment.
