CABSAT, the premier event for the broadcast, media, satellite, and entertainment industries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, is commemorating its 30th anniversary by renewing its collaboration with HConsult, a leading content market specialist in the Arabic-speaking MENA region, to host the MENA Co-Production Salon. This exclusive gathering, slated from May 21 to 23, 2024, at the Dubai World Trade Centre, aims to uphold the collaborative ethos that has long characterized the annual event.

The Co-Production Salon, situated within a specially designed VIP lounge adjacent to the Content Congress area, serves as an invitation-only venue bringing together the region's foremost production houses, OTT platforms, TV networks, content investors, and brand representatives. It functions as a pivotal platform for exploring co-production and investment opportunities, with a focus on creating internationally viable TV and film content.

Reflecting on the previous year's success, Heba Korayem, Content Market and Partnerships Specialist at HConsult and host of the MENA Co-Production Salon, noted the overwhelming response it received. Despite over 250 companies vying for participation, only a quarter were admitted due to stringent selection criteria and the intimate nature of the event. Attendees engaged in an average of 15 high-quality meetings each, leading to numerous collaborative investment deals in content production both within and outside the MENA region.

Korayem emphasized the significant impact of the Co-Production Salon, stating, "There are huge things happening in this seemingly compact space. We have tracked USD 8 million in content investment through partnership deals directly resulting from the meetings conducted at the Co-Production Salon in CABSAT."

Elena Brodskaia, Head of International Content Strategy at 'Yango', the MENA region’s first Entertainment super App, shared her experience from the previous year's event, held just months before the app’s launch. She highlighted the Salon's role in facilitating connections with leading regional production houses and its valuable insights on content strategy, particularly regarding Ramadan shows.

Brodskaia stated, "We participated in the Co-production Salon at CABSAT 2023 at the onset of ‘Yango’ Play’s development and it offered a unique opportunity to connect with numerous leading production houses of the region all in one place."

For those interested in participating or attending the MENA Co-Production Salon at CABSAT, detailed information can be found at  https://cabsat.com/co-production-salon