Participants in the Arab Podcast Programme’s third edition advanced from concept to pilot production.
During the second week, 17 hours of hands‑on workshops equipped creators with audio, visual and technical skills to move ideas toward full‑scale production. The curriculum built on an opening week focused on conceptualisation and identity, then shifted to ‘Technical Production and Execution’. This phase covered sound engineering, visual direction, modern editing techniques, AI‑assisted script development and smart production strategies, preparing participants for the Programme’s upcoming publishing, promotion and final evaluation stages.
Hands‑on workshops boost technical skills
Barry Kassab, Associate Manager, Market Development at Shure MEA, led a session on sound engineering and professional audio processing. Participants learned how to select appropriate recording gear, process audio files and enhance listening quality to meet professional standards. Ahmed Eid Salem, Regional Training Lead at Sony MEA, and Moris Dakar, Director of Photography at Sony MEA, guided a workshop on visual and cinematic direction for podcasts. They explored lighting, camera angles and scene management to help creators produce engaging video‑podcast content. Later, Bilal Ahmed Habib, Senior Certified Trainer at Blackmagic Design, taught modern editing techniques, focusing on pacing, sequencing and the tools needed to craft coherent episodes for digital platforms.
Expert panel guides project refinement
The week opened with a ‘Project Showcase: Evaluation and Readiness Selection Platform’ where participants presented their initial concepts. An evaluation panel featuring Maryam Al Mulla, Director of the Dubai Press Club; Emirati writer Jamal Al Shehhi, founder of Kuttab Café; Patrick Samaha, representing Next Audio; and Abdulla Al Nuaimi, host of the ‘Kursi al Athnein’ podcast, offered feedback on clarity, target audiences and overall identity. This guidance helped attendees refine their ideas before advancing to the production phase.
AI‑supported content development was covered by Meryem Raji, Senior Strategic Partner Manager at YouTube, who demonstrated prompt engineering and script development tools. Her workshop focused on using artificial intelligence to develop ideas, write scripts and structure themes while preserving the originality of the content and the podcaster’s distinctive voice. Amr Zaki, founder and host of the ‘Zaka Mish Istina’i’ podcast, followed with a session on smart podcast production strategies, titled ‘The AI Revolution’.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Arab Podcast Programme?
The Arab Podcast Programme is a Dubai Press Club-run initiative that helps creators turn concepts into pilot episodes through practical workshops.
How many hours of workshops did participants in the Arab Podcast Programme's third edition attend?
Participants attended 17 hours of hands-on workshops to equip them with audio, visual and technical skills for pilot production.
What skills did participants learn in the Arab Podcast Programme's technical production and execution phase?
Participants learned sound engineering, visual direction, modern editing techniques, AI-assisted script development and smart production strategies.
Who led a session on sound engineering and professional audio processing in the Arab Podcast Programme?
Barry Kassab, Associate Manager, Market Development at Shure MEA, led a session on sound engineering and professional audio processing.
