Dubai Media City (DMC), one of the region’s largest media communities, has wrapped up an international roadshow that included outings at prominent industry events, such as Gamescom in Germany, Tokyo Game Show in Japan, and ad:tech in the UK.

With the aim of increasing its attractiveness to international content creators and creative industries in general, DMC introduced its offerings to creative talent, professionals and companies within the content creation, gaming, media and advertising sectors, and explored new business opportunities and strategic partnerships.

Responding to the industry shift where viewers are demanding more relevant, innovative and personalised content across platforms and mediums, DMC introduced to the international audiences its new regional festival, ON.DXB.  The largest event of its kind in the region, ON.DXB will feature engaging sessions, live pitches, workshops and panel discussions across the film, game, video, and music industries. The festival that will be held from November 21 to 23, is designed to support growth and talent development in the media, entertainment and content development Majed Al Suwaidi, Managing Director of Dubai Media City (DMC), said: “The roadshow aligned with our mandate to promote Dubai’s credentials as a preferred global business destination, especially for media professionals, content creators and game developers. The three leading international events provided ideal platforms to highlight DMC’s world-class infrastructure and vibrant environment that enables creativity, and the wealth of opportunities for business growth available in the UAE. Furthermore, they offered insights into the latest global trends as well as the best practices of renowned industry players that we now seek to adapt to the UAE market.”

He added: “Known as a community where people can learn, thrive and innovate, DMC is home to over 2,100 companies with 34,500 employees, including several Fortune 500 companies and other multinational enterprises.  We are confident that the success of an event such as On.DXB will help position the emirate as the hub of the media industry, and we continue to support this vision by offering several platforms for industry professionals and companies to network and share knowledge, all with the aim of welcoming the best of global and regional content talent to the city.” With the objective to attract and support regional talent, in5 Media plays a significant role in supporting content creators, entrepreneurs by offering creative spaces such as editing suites, green rooms, multimedia and meeting rooms.

According to the 5^th edition of the Arab Media Outlook (AMO), youth comprises almost half of the population in the MENA region. In addition to the demographic dividend, the region boasts an above average smartphone penetration, resulting in high uptake of social media and mobile gaming as forms of entertainment. The report also highlights the fast-paced growth of the gaming sector, with the value of the global video games market estimated at US$93 billion in 2019.

According to a survey by AdColony EMEA and On Device Research, almost 90 per cent of smartphone owners in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt are active mobile gamers.

Established in 2001, DMC is a key driver of Dubai’s ambitious strategy for the media and content industry. The business community is a destination of choice for companies and entrepreneurs in the traditional media, new media, marketing, communication, and support services sectors.