Inaugural Film and Gaming Forum announced for Arab Media Summit

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, the Dubai Films and Games Commission has announced the inaugural Film and Gaming Forum at the Arab Media Summit 2025.

The Forum, running from May 26-28, features an impressive lineup of leading global and regional organisations.

The opening day features a series of high-profile sessions that spotlight the region’s creative talent and innovation. The Forum will open with a gaming-focused session titled The Future of Gaming: From Passion to Profession, featuring Mohammed Al Albsimi, Founder and CEO of TrueGaming; Abdullah bin Baz, CEO of Baz Station; and Mona Al Falasi, Director of eSports Strategy at the Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment. The session will be moderated by media personality and content creator Jassim Alsheheimi.

Another session, organised in partnership with the Dubai Media Council, will explore emerging trends and technologies shaping the future of media, featuring insights from innovators, influencers, and decision-makers.

A panel on Women in Film and Cinema will be held in collaboration with the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC), Netflix, and the Dubai Films and Games Commission, alongside curated Women in Film screenings.

On the second day of the Summit, which coincides with the Arab Media Forum, the Film and Gaming Forum continues with a session titled Drama’s Success in the Digital Age hosted in partnership with Shahid. The panel brings together leading voices from the region’s drama production industry, including director Mohamed Sami, Tarek Al Ibrahim, General Manager of Content at MBC1 and Shahid, and Ahmed Qandil, Director of Growth, Brand Marketing, and Communications at Shahid, in a conversation moderated by Sarah Dundarawy from Al Arabiya.

In collaboration with Olsberg SPI, the Forum will also feature a session titled Future of TV and Cinema Production, examining how the Arab world can revitalise its golden era of cinema and drama. The session will explore key challenges, emerging opportunities, and the powerful role of these sectors as part of the region’s soft power strategy.

A special session titled Emirati Film Industry … Where is it Heading? will bring together Emirati filmmakers Abdulla Al Kaabi, Nawaf Al Janahi, and Hana Kazim, moderated by Latifa Khoory from the Dubai Media Council.

The day will also feature The Business of Gamification, with insights from Hideaki Uehara, General Manager of Investment and Business Development at Square Enix, followed by City of Stories, a session with Emirati director Ali Mostafa in conversation with Ahmad Abdullah, Director of Dubai TV.

Coinciding with the Arab Social Media Influencers Summit, the final day of the Forum on May 28 opens with a conversation with Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan, moderated by media personality Anas Bukhash.

The Forum will also host actress Laila Abdallah in a session titled Beyond the Truth in Social Media, moderated by LBC presenter Rodolph Hilal.
A high-profile panel of Arab stars will follow, featuring actor Ahmed El Sakka, writer and actor George Khabbaz, and actress Huda Hussein in a session moderated by television host Neshan Der Haroutyounian.

A session titled Your Film at a Festival … What’s Next will feature Dominique Unsworth, CEO Resource Productions, who will discuss the value of festival participation and its role in raising cinematic quality. The session is being held in collaboration with Amazon.

The forum concludes with a session titled Video Game Industry: Between the Public and Private Sector, featuring Rob Otten, CEO of Hexagram Rethink Entertainment; Faisal Kazim, Project Manager at Dubai Future Foundation; and Sophie Boutros from the Mohammed Bin Rashid School for Communication at the American University in Dubai. The session will be moderated by Rashid Al Awar, a specialist at the Virtual Technology Centre.