Industry experts to deliver keynotes; panel discussions to highlight latest trends, challenges, opportunities in media & entertainment sectors

Nasser Al Sarami: “We believe there was need for this kind of event where industry specialists and investors can sit together and discuss innovative ideas and joint ventures.”

The first edition of the Media & Entertainment Investment Forum will be held in Dubai on 3rd and 4th of April 2018. This original and first of its kind event in the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region will offer a vibrant platform to media and entertainment thought-provoking experts, agile entrepreneurs, and dynamic investors who are looking for new, cutting-edge trends and opportunities in the media and entertainment arena.

The Media & Entertainment Investment Forum is being organized by Hits Marketing DMCC for BASMA Media, the developer of OMNESMEDIA.com – a comprehensive, state-of-the-art platform offering users invaluable insights into a wide spectrum of multichannel media, advertising, PR and digital services, and connecting users with a global network of media industry professionals, experts and service providers. 

“We believe there was a need for this kind of event where industry specialists and investors can sit together and discuss innovative ideas and joint ventures. We hope the event will offer exciting business partnership opportunities in media and entertainment sectors,” commented Nasser Al Sarami, CEO of BASMA Media.

The Media & Entertainment Investment Forum will be held on April 3 & 4, 2018 at The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai International Financial Centre. It is designed as the most influential annual event, both regionally and globally, for professionals engaged in the creation and delivery of breakthrough ideas and solutions in the media and entertainment world.

Al Sarami said, “The Forum will provide ample opportunities to all participants as it’s the ultimate platform for industry leaders and investors to unveil their future business ventures. Therefore, connect with us at this Forum where the worlds of Media, Entertainment, and Investment intersect and where creativity meets business acumen for two days of imagination, innovation, inspiration, and more.”

The media industry in MENA region is going through a period of rapid evolution in line with the rest of the world. The overall media market in the region is expected to grow at an annualized compounded rate (CAGR) of more than 3 per cent from 2016-2018 and touch US$12.4 billion by 2018, according to the latest edition of Arab Media Outlook.

The Media & Entertainment Investment Forum aims to target all those people who are looking beyond the latest and current marketing landscape to inspire, identify, capture, innovate and tap new creative concepts that will shape the future of the most influential industry verticals, setting the ground for enlightened investment and growth.

The Forum will bring together some of the foremost industry thought leaders, innovators, and trend-setters in their fields to cover a wide range of topics that will get the audience to explore new strategies, understand business challenges and opportunities, chart upcoming technological progress, uncover the future road-map of the industry, and equip everyone with the knowledge to take their business to the next level. From game-changing keynotes to industry leaders and experts and thought-provoking futurists, the Forum is your chance to hear from five keynote speakers, over 20 inspirational experts and panelists and three expert moderators across ten sessions.

The Media & Entertainment Investment Forum will also witness a wide-ranging program of panel discussions and keynote speeches on the latest and most controversial challenges and trends, aiming to attract, not only media and entertainment experts but also luminaries in the field and industry thought leaders.

 The Forum’s provisional agenda includes the topics - the Future of Media & Entertainment; Evolution of Video, Gaming and Content; Content, Creativity, and Storytelling; The 21st Century Media Agency: Models and Innovations; Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning in Media & Entertainment; Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR); The Ultimate Experiential Journey; Optimizing Data for the Media & Entertainment Industry; How Can New Media & Entertainment Transform, Impact, and Contribute to a Sustainable Future?; and, Driving Innovation Through Leadership, Diversity, and CSR.

Al Sarami said: “One of the key features of the Forum will be OMNESMedia PitchFest - the manifestation of our mission to contribute to the growth of entrepreneurship and innovation within the Media and Entertainment industry in the MENA region. The OMNESMedia PitchFest is our program of business growth opportunities and experiences for entrepreneurs and small business owners within the M&E industry”.

“The OMNESMedia PitchFest is a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs with start-up, early stage and growth businesses to increase their profile in front of an international audience. Participating entrepreneurs will present their ventures and innovations to venture capitalists and angel investors interested in the media and entertainment industry, media and entertainment professionals, fellow entrepreneurs, and the wider startup community in a friendly competition”. Al Sarami added.