Beyond business and dialogue, DICM continued to nurture new voices through its first edition of the Spotlight Stories Pitching Challenge.
The Dubai International Content Market (DICM) 2025, held on November 4–5 at Madinat Jumeirah, concluded its 8th edition with remarkable momentum, bringing together 900 participants from 55 countries, 94 exhibiting companies representing 19 countries, and 230 buyers from 41 countries. Over 2,000 meetings were held across two days, doubling the number of pre-scheduled sessions, and reaffirming DICM’s status as the MENA region’s leading hub for content distribution, co-production, and creative exchange.
This year’s edition saw an exceptional diversity of participation with strong regional pavilions, including Türkiye (Istanbul Chamber of Commerce), Korea (KOCCA and JCIA), and Russia (Roskino), along with exhibitors and buyers from Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Gulf. The event once again proved to be a powerful platform for business and storytelling innovation, with major broadcasters such as Qatar Media Corporation finding new animation content and co-production opportunities at the market.
Reflecting the strength of the Content Business Hub, Tania Wazzan from Al Jadeed TV shared her experience as a buyer: “A successful exhibition is not about attendance, but about the meaningful connections and opportunities it creates, and DICM continues to deliver that every year.”
Her sentiment echoed across the floor, where producers, buyers, and distributors connected to build partnerships shaping the future of entertainment across MENA and beyond.
The DICM Talks programme featured over 30 influential speakers exploring the latest trends driving global content innovation.
Across two days, DICM Talks 2025 delivered a rich lineup of discussions and showcases exploring the latest shifts in content, creativity, and audience behavior. Day 1 opened with “Unlocking Sports ROI: An 8-Step Demand-Driven Framework” by Parrot Analytics, setting a data-driven tone for the event. It continued with the insightful panel “Ramadan and Beyond: The Year-Round Content Formula for Success” led by Sarah Btaddini with Bilal Dayani, Ali Ghamlouch, and Dina Korayem, followed by “Inside the Mind of a Commissioner” featuring Tariq Al Ibrahim (MBC Group). One of the day’s biggest successes was “Stories in Seconds: How Micro-Drama and Social Platforms Are Redefining Storytelling,” which captured how short-form narratives are reshaping viewership across MENA. The day concluded with Fabric’s session “Bridging Worlds: How MENA Productions Are Going Global” and the inspiring Spotlight Stories Pitching Challenge, where emerging creators presented their projects to industry leaders.
Day 2 expanded on the momentum with “Learnings from Ramadan: Shifts in Media and Streaming Behavior” by IPSOS, and “Why Global Markets Should Pay Attention to Arabic Cinema” featuring Mohamed Hefzy (Film Clinic), Ali F. Mostafa (AFM), Hussein Fakhri (Katara Studios), and Gianluca Chakra (Front Row Filmed Entertainment). The day also spotlighted sessions by Rise Studios and Parrot Analytics on regional creativity, as well as a thought-provoking discussion, “Women Shaping the Future of MENA Content.”
Exclusive screenings by Globo, Linmon International, and UnicoPlay added a strong content-showcase dimension, connecting global buyers with standout new formats and dramas. Together, the sessions and screenings reflected DICM’s growing influence as a crossroads of ideas, business, and creativity for the global entertainment landscape.
Mohamed Hefzy, producer and founder of Film Clinic, who spoke at DICM Talks, emphasised the market’s growing global relevance: “This is my first year participating at DICM, and I’m impressed to see so many distributors and content creators from international markets, exactly the kind of connections we’re looking for to distribute our content and explore co-production opportunities.”
His words captured the spirit of DICM Talks, a forum where ideas, strategies, and future collaborations are born.
Beyond business and dialogue, DICM continued to nurture new voices through its first edition of the Spotlight Stories Pitching Challenge. The competition celebrated originality and regional talent, with an esteemed jury selecting the most promising concepts from dozens of submissions.
🥇 First Place: Reborn by Diana Arab
🥈 Second Place: Landwards by Rama Ayasra
🥉 Third Place: The Dream by Michel Chamaa
The competition’s success reinforced DICM’s commitment to supporting emerging creators, with plans already underway to expand the Pitching Challenge in 2026 to reach more storytellers and strengthen the Producers Connect Hub.
Exhibitors and participants alike praised the market’s organisation, international diversity, and business results. Sheren Magdy, from Stars Media, commented: “I’ll be here every year! This edition showcased a wider variety of content and attracted more buyers; well done to the DICM team.”
From the visitor’s perspective, Laura Abou Asaad of Fardous Production FZ LLC shared: “I’m delighted to see how DICM has grown this year with more participants, vibrant crowds, and exceptional hospitality. The event keeps getting bigger, better organized, and is now truly competing with major international markets.”
Their reflections capture the collective spirit of DICM, an event not just about scale, but about substance, connection, and opportunity.
As the curtains close on DICM 2025, organizers are already looking forward to the next chapter. The 2026 edition aims to expand the DICM Talks programme with more specialised panels and training sessions, enhance the meeting platform, and introduce new networking formats focused on co-productions and emerging technologies.
DICM’s vision has always been about sustainable growth, expanding not just in scale, but in the depth and impact of opportunities we create for the global content community.
With such scale, diversity, and energy, DICM 2025 was an event you couldn’t afford to miss, a showcase of Dubai’s creative ambition and its growing influence on the world stage of entertainment.
