The Forum represents Dubai’s push to establish itself as a global player in content creation and marks an expansion of the media industry into future-oriented sectors
Media
Dubai
Lyvely powers The Final Pitch Dubai as official audition platform
Lyvely’s partnership with The Final Pitch Dubai, airing on OSN+ in Q4 2025, streamlines start-up pitches, merging the creator economy with venture capital
AI
Saudi businesses look to AI to power marketing amid $135bn GDP push
How FancyTech is supporting Saudi businesses with AI-generated social media content
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi to host regional premiere of Brad Pitt-led F1® The Movie this June
Abu Dhabi will roll out the red carpet for the Middle East premiere of Apple original films high-soctane summer feature, shot partly at the Yas Marina Circuit
Diriyah
MBC to build new HQ in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia
MBC will develop a new headquarters with offices and studios in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia
AlUla
Film AlUla taps MBS Group to operate Saudi Arabia’s flagship production studio
The partnership marks MBS Group’s first operational footprint in MENA region, adding to its global network of roughly 50 facilities
Adel Sajan
Shark Tank Dubai returns to TV with investors including Elie Khouri and Mona Kattan seeking entrepreneurial talent
Shark Tank Dubai returns to TV for third season with new investors looking for next big business ideas
advertising
Dubai’s Mada Media launches single platform for all out-of-home advertising permits
The platform standardises terms and conditions while implementing Dubai’s out-of-home advertising manual
Arab content creators
YouTube reports massive increase in creators in Saudi, Egypt and UAE taking slice of $70bn payout
YouTube creators in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt are earning seven-figure salaries from the platform as it turns 20
Dubai Esports & Games Festival (DEF)
Dubai Esports and Games Festival 2025: $136,000 prizes, gaming tournaments, industry talks
Dubai Esports and Games Festival 2025 will be spotlight event for gaming industry in the UAE
Abu Dhabi F1
Metallica in Abu Dhabi: Rock icons confirmed as Saturday headliner for Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2025
Benson Boone will open the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after-race concert on Thursday, December 4, with Katy Perry closing the weekend as Sunday’s headliner
AlUla
Saudi Arabia’s AlUla to host first Instagram Creators Summit in MENA
The event is slated to be held on April 20-22
Abu Dhabi F1
Benson Boone in Abu Dhabi: American singer to headline F1 Grand Prix after-race concert
Boone has established himself as a major figure in contemporary music with over ten billion global streams
content creators
Dubai launches first-ever tourism content creator academy with Beautiful Destinations
The programme aims to establish global standards for travel content creation and address the growing demand for marketing talent in the Dubai tourism sector
Abu Dhabi real estate
Million Dollar Listing: UAE season 2 confirmed, Dubai and Abu Dhabi real estate broker cast revealed
Million Dollar Listing: UAE has confirmed a second series with recurring real estate cast members and new brokers revealed
Creative economy
Saudi Arabia’s creator economy surges 32% in Q1 2025, TikTok leads growth: Report
User-generated content is transforming Saudi digital engagement, with TikTok’s explosive popularity and rising influencer earnings shaping market dynamics
Ambani
Esports in India: Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Group to partner with BLAST for gaming business
The two will form a joint venture to conduct esports business in India