The ninth Dubai International Content Market (DICM) 2026 opened on Tuesday at Madinat Jumeirah, drawing 800 attendees from 50 countries to the two-day event.
Organised by INDEX Conferences & Exhibitions, a member of INDEX Holding, the market brings together buyers, distributors, broadcasters, studios and production companies. More than 200 buyers and over 80 regional and international exhibitors are taking part.
Tariq Abdulsalam AlMadani, Board Member and CEO of Exhibitions and Experiences at INDEX Holding, said the content industry now reaches well beyond creative production to include rights trading, distribution, intellectual property investment and co-production. He said DICM supports INDEX’s aim of strengthening Dubai’s role as a hub linking the global content industry with opportunities across the Middle East and North Africa.
Industry voices pointed to partnerships as the way forward. Rana Jerdak, Content Manager at Al Mashhad TV, highlighted strategic funding and innovative partnerships, while Mustafa Ilbeyli, Advertising Director at Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT), said the growing number of channels and streaming platforms opens routes to wider audiences. Can Okan, Founder and CEO of Inter Medya, described the region as a market where shared cultural links make collaboration central to the company’s next phase of growth.
The DICM Talks programme runs alongside the market, covering Ramadan content, short-form drama and the future of the industry. Sessions include “The Future of TV in MENA” and “Funding in a Down Market: Turning Projects into Production?”, which looks at financing and co-production strategies.
The Spotlight Stories initiative features a live pitching challenge, with five Arabic-language projects presenting to a panel of experts. The winner will be announced on Wednesday.
TRT and MOSKINO sponsor the event, while pavilions from ICC Türkiye, KOCCA of the Republic of Korea and ROSKINO from Russia showcase their markets.
News Source: WAM
