The Dubai International Content Market – DICM 2022, concluded on a high note and set an all-time high in attendance and business meetings held. More than 900 meetings took place where more than 600 participants and 60 exhibiting companies from 50 nations gathered at the Jumeriah Beach Hotel Conference Centre during the two-day event. With a wide international representation and dedicated country pavilions that included Türkiye, this year’s Country Guest of Honour, as well as exhibitors from the Middle East, Europe, CIS region, and South East Asia.
DICM proves that it continues to be the gateway to tap into markets from the Middle East, Africa, and beyond. DICM was no short of surprise this year as organizers made two major announcements revealing the opening of the E-Content Market by DICM, which is an online trading platform for buyers and sellers within the content community across the globe. During the second announcement, organizers stated the next DICM event will be held in a larger venue at the Madinat Jumeriah Conference Centre to accommodate the event’s growth as well as the expanding business interests of all those involved.
“We are happy to be here in Dubai. We specialize in media production and consultancy services, and we are really interested to introduce our services to the Middle East market. It was exciting to be at DICM this year, and it is such a great opportunity to expand post-pandemic since the market has opened so much here,” Rafael Herrera, Strategic Consultant for Mediapro, stated.
DICM is the leading and most exclusive event, which is specially designed and structured for content producers and distributors looking for development opportunities with broadcasters and other various platforms. Wafa Aqel, Content Acquisition & Sales Manager at Abu Dhabi Media - UAE, stated: “DICM is a very nice event, well organized and there is a variety of content which is provided by the exhibitors”.
“This is our second year participating in DICM, and we are very happy to be here. This year, we have seen more buyers and participators at this event, so we will also be here next year as well,” Emre Görentaş, Head of Sales for US and Middle East Region at ATV, stated.
Rehima Awol Ibrahim, Programming and Content Manager at Kana Television - Ethiopia, added: “I have been attending DICM since the first edition, and it’s growing and improving year by year and has become a reliable content market for us. I meet important players from the Media sector and have fruitful meetings. I hope to get the needed content for our channel Kana and seal deals”.
Notable dignitaries also visited the event to show support for their country's own homegrown content, including this year’s Country Guest of Honour, Türkiye, who received a visiting delegation on the first day that included H.E. Ahmet Misbah Demircan, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in the Republic of Türkiye; H.E. İlker Kılıç, Consul General of the Republic of Türkiye in Dubai; and Mr. Münir Üstün, Member, Executive Board of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, who were all welcomed by Eng. Anas Al Madani. Korean content has seen heightened global popularity in recent years, partly thanks to K-pop and K-dramas, which keeps viewers hooked on interesting and suspenseful storylines. As such, the Korea Creative Content Agency – KOCCA, as the umbrella government agency for the promotion of Korea’s content industry, supports content production in several genres as broadcasting, and engages in planning, creative production, distribution, and expansion into overseas markets.
Hyo Jin Lee, Project Manager at KOCCA – South Korea, stated: “We brought five companies here to showcase their content to support them and help to release and distribute their content abroad, so we were very happy to be at DICM and introduce our content to buyers. We met with many people and buyers who were very happy with our content, and we are looking forward to being here again next year.”
Rabee Alhajabed, General Manager of Rabee Alhajabed Art Production & Distribution - UAE, said: "As a producer and distributor, it was such a pleasure for me participating in DICM this year, as I managed to meet new potential buyers and sellers to discuss future collaboration opportunities, as well as reconnecting with our current clients."
The Dubai International Content Market is organized annually by INDEX Conferences and Exhibitions Organization Est. – a member of INDEX Holding. The DICM 2023 edition will be held on the 22nd and 23rd of November at the premium Madinat Jumeirah Conference Centre in Dubai and will continue to welcome people from around the world.