Arab Media Outlook 2025: Future of MENA Media Unveiled

Photo: Dubai Government Media Office 

The Dubai Press Club has released a new report called the ‘Arab Media Outlook - Future Vision.’ This report gives a detailed look at the media industry in the Middle East and North Africa, also known as the MENA region. The report was shared during the Arab Media Summit, which took place in Dubai from May 26 to 28. It was created with the help of Dubai Media City, which acted as the Knowledge Partner, and Strategy&, the Research Partner. This report is very important for people like policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs, and professionals who want to understand how media is changing in this region.

The report shows how quickly the media industry is changing because of new digital technology, changes in how people watch and listen to media, and the strong plans many countries have to grow this industry. It looks at five main parts of the media business: video, audio, publishing, advertising, and gaming. The media industry is helping the region’s economy by creating jobs and sharing its culture with the world.

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Her Excellency Mona Ghanem Al Marri, who is the Vice Chairperson and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council and President of the Dubai Press Club, explained that the Arab media industry is entering a new stage of growth. This is because technology is changing fast, and people want new kinds of content. The vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, supports the idea that media should play an important role in helping the region progress. The report is part of Dubai Press Club’s larger plan to help leaders understand the changes happening and prepare for the future. It shares important information about the challenges and exciting opportunities in the media field.

The Dubai Press Club is committed to encouraging creativity, raising the quality of media work, and supporting investments not just in Dubai and the UAE, but throughout the Arab world. Under the leadership of Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, they are working to make Dubai a global center for producing content and creative work. They want to build strong partnerships and knowledge to support the future of Arab media.

Majed Al Suwaidi, a senior leader at Dubai Media City, said that the UAE sees the media industry as very important for its long-term growth. Dubai Media City is focused on creating local stories that can have a worldwide impact. The media industry helps Dubai’s economy by encouraging new ideas and knowledge, and Dubai Media City wants to help build a competitive media market that supports the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and the Dubai Creative Economy Strategy.

Tarek Matar, a partner at Strategy&, explained that the Arab media sector is growing fast. This growth is supported by the goals of different countries, better digital infrastructure, and many young, talented people working in media. The region is investing a lot in making content, new technology, and better policies, which makes the media industry more competitive worldwide. The report offers valuable data to help governments, investors, and media leaders make smart decisions and take advantage of the media industry’s full potential.

The report predicts that the MENA media market will grow from $17 billion in 2024 to $20.6 billion by 2028. This means the market will grow by almost 5% every year. Advertising will remain the biggest part of the market, making up 38% by 2028, followed by video. Both advertising and video are quickly moving toward digital platforms. Digital forms of media are leading this growth: internet advertising is expected to grow by over 7% a year, and gaming by more than 4% a year. Meanwhile, traditional forms of media are shrinking. Video streaming services, music streaming, podcasts, and esports are becoming new areas of growth.

Video is the most influential part of the media, especially with more people using over-the-top (OTT) services, which are streaming video online. Traditional TV is changing to a mix of broadcast and online models. In audio, music streaming makes up most of the revenue, while podcasting is still new but growing. Radio remains popular in some countries.

The publishing industry is also changing because people are reading differently. There is new interest in ebooks, audiobooks, and digital news. Big book fairs in the region are helping keep publishing alive by attracting many visitors. Advertising is moving more to digital platforms like Google, Meta, and TikTok, which now take a large share of advertising spending.

Gaming is the fastest-growing part of the media business in the region. More people are playing games, access to gaming platforms is increasing, and esports is gaining popularity. From 2024 to 2028, all major markets in the MENA region are expected to see steady growth in gaming revenue. Cinema is also making a comeback, especially in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, with other countries in the region also expecting to see more moviegoers. The number of people going to the movies is expected to increase by 5% to 6% every year between 2024 and 2028.

The report points out several important factors that will help the media industry keep growing. These include updated laws and regulations, better training for media workers, easier access to funding, world-class infrastructure, and a focus on research and innovation. Countries in the region are improving how media is regulated, making it easier for investors to trust the market. Funding is increasing through incentives, early investments, and grants for media projects.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming very important across the media industry. AI helps with things like personalizing content for viewers, writing news automatically, and creating new experiences in gaming and advertising. However, the report also warns that AI raises important questions about rules and ethics, which need to be solved to keep the industry growing healthily.

Finally, the Arab Media Outlook 2025 report includes examples from around the world that show how advanced countries are leading in OTT services, audio innovation, and advertising models. These examples give useful lessons for media leaders in the Arab world to help them grow their markets successfully.

This report provides a clear picture of the exciting changes and growth happening in the MENA media industry, helping everyone involved to prepare for the future with confidence.