Trade Markets | Business | Entertainment | Audiovisual Productions
- The event will take place on November 10 and 11 at Madinat Jumeirah (Dubai), bringing together key players who shape audiences across linear channels and streaming platforms.
- Creators, producers, distributors, buyers, platforms, and content decision-makers—from both the region and international markets—will gather at this prestigious event.
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As the regional and international content industry prepares to meet in Dubai this November, the Dubai International Content Market (DICM) offers a new opportunity for regional creative talent with the return of ‘Spotlight Stories.’ This pitching challenge is designed to discover original Arabic-language content ideas and connect emerging creators with experienced industry decision-makers.
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The 2026 edition of DICM will be held on November 10 and 11 at Madinat Jumeirah (Dubai). At the heart of these discussions, ‘Spotlight Stories’ will give selected creators the chance to pitch projects directly to industry professionals capable of driving their development; the winning script will have the opportunity to advance to the production phase through a collaboration with AFLAM Production. This opportunity is backed by Malek Jaber, Head of Content at AFLAM Production, enabling the selected creator to take their idea beyond the pitch and into a professional development and production environment.
WHERE STORIES MAKE HISTORY
Created for storytellers from the MENA region and Arabic-language fiction content, Spotlight Stories integrates emerging creative voices directly into the broader industry dialogue. For creators, it represents an opportunity to pitch their projects; for industry professionals, it is a chance to discover the new voices and content that audiences will be consuming in the near future. Following the submission and selection process, the finalist storytellers will have the opportunity to present their projects live during DICM on November 11, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. before an expert jury and an audience of industry professionals.
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The selection process will be led by Sinan Mawad, founder and CEO of Writables, who will serve on the jury alongside Mishel Zreik, a television executive and content specialist, and Madonna Khafaja, founder of Whitebee Media. The content industry in the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa) is evolving rapidly, driven by new platforms, new audiences, and a growing demand for regional stories. DICM brings together these advancements, the professionals making them possible, and the opportunities they generate, all in one place.
Tariq Al Madani, CEO of INDEX Conferences and Exhibitions
Tariq Al Madani, CEO of INDEX Conferences and Exhibitions, commented: “The content industry is changing at a rapid pace. Audiences are becoming increasingly diverse, platforms are competing for unique stories, and there is growing interest in content that reflects the voices and perspectives of our region. At the same time, great ideas require more than just creativity to thrive; they need access to producers, buyers, distributors, and the right industry partners.”
“This is where DICM plays a pivotal role,” Tariq continued. “It brings together the professionals driving the content business in Dubai, creating a space where stories can be discovered, partnerships forged, and new opportunities shaped. ‘Spotlight Stories’ goes a step further by offering emerging creators from the MENA region the chance to present their work directly to those who can turn a solid idea into a project that audiences can actually watch.”
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For Malek Jaber, Head of Content at AFLAM Production, this initiative represents an opportunity to identify ideas with genuine potential at an early stage and contribute to their development. “We are delighted to participate in DICM 2026 and to support the Spotlight Stories pitching competition, which creates a valuable platform for emerging storytellers from the MENA region to showcase their ideas. At AFLAM Production, we are always looking for unique voices and stories with the potential to connect with audiences, both regionally and internationally. We look forward to discovering new talent through this initiative and giving the winning screenplay the opportunity to take a significant step toward production.”
For more information on submission requirements and the selection process, please visit DICM. Send proposals to: info@dicm.ae
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