Dubai PodFest 2025 to spotlight future of industry

The fifth edition of the Dubai PodFest will bring together industry experts from around the world on September 30, to explore the future of the sector and unlock new opportunities for growth.

The event is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Media Council, at the Ritz-Carlton, Dubai International Financial Centre.

Organised by the Dubai Press Club (DPC), it will bring together prominent podcasters, audio content creators, experts and leading regional and global organisations in the industry.

It will look at how creators can leverage technology, data and partnerships to strengthen their content and expand its influence.

“Alongside the main stage, we have expanded the event to include a broad range of practical workshops led by experts and specialists from leading platforms. Our goal is to bring the audience closer to real success stories, provide hands-on tips and enable podcasters to overcome challenges from production to monetisation,” said Mahfoudha Abdullah, Project Manager of Dubai PodFest.

The agenda

Dubai PodFest 2025 will open with a keynote session titled ‘The Future of Podcast Monetisation’, featuring Bryan Barletta, President of Podcast Movement, in conversation with Stefano Fallaha, Founder and CEO of Podeo. The session will examine the economic fundamentals of podcasting, spotlighting innovative revenue models that support creative longevity — from sponsorships and advertising to funding streams and platform collaborations. The discussion will explore how monetisation strategies can elevate content quality, expand audience reach, and unlock sustainable growth for creators in the Arab podcasting ecosystem.

The economic dimension continues with a session titled ‘Podcast Advertising – Unlocking Value for Brands and Audiences’, featuring Pauline Rady, Regional Managing Director and Client Lead at WPP Media; Luca Allam, Host of ‘Luca’s Insight Track’; and Lemya Soltani, Co-founder & Commercial Director, NBM, in a conversation moderated by Anam Amin, Host of ‘This Wasn’t in the Manual’. The session will examine the maturing Arabic advertising market, how brands assess podcast audiences and the creative approaches needed to build lasting commercial confidence.

A panel discussion titled ‘Shaping Awareness through Media’ will explore the distinctive qualities that set podcasting apart from traditional media, its growing role in fostering political awareness, and how audience engagement with political content is influencing the rise of digital formats and shaping the themes Arab listeners are increasingly drawn to.

‘Podcasts and the Rise of Streaming Platforms’ will examine how visual storytelling techniques and partnerships with leading networks are expanding podcast reach, while highlighting opportunities for growth across regional and international markets.

The agenda also features a session titled ‘Podcasting in the Age of Live Streaming’ focused on how real-time broadcasting is reshaping the production process and listener engagement.

In a panel titled ‘Independent vs Platform Podcasting’, participants will weigh the benefits of joining podcast platforms versus operating independently, while ‘Beyond the Screen: The Rise of Podcasting’ will highlight the experiences of broadcasters transitioning from radio and television to digital audio.

Another session, ‘Inside a Successful Podcast Episode’ will delve into the essential elements of compelling long-form storytelling, while ‘The Rising Popularity of Crime Podcasts’ will explore the rise of the genre and its blend of suspense, awareness, and entertainment.

A session titled ‘Raising Health Awareness through Podcasting’ will feature a discussion on the role of podcasts in addressing mental health topics and their effectiveness in fostering greater awareness in this field, with a particular focus on the broader social impact of normalising such conversations.

The agenda also features a panel titled ‘Arab Podcast Platforms: Challenges and Opportunities’, which will present practical lessons from regional creators who have established successful podcast platforms, exploring the dynamics of network-building, audience development, and the evolving relationship between creators and distribution platforms.

‘Inspiring Stories from the Arab World’ will spotlight creative success stories from across the region, offering insights into content development, audience growth and the evolving podcasting landscape.

The event will conclude with a session titled ‘Art and Creativity in Sound and Visual Media’, which offers a reflective dialogue on the podcasting journey — from passion and early experimentation to audience-building and broader creative impact across both audio and visual media.