A busy season for the CPS community: Following high-level networking at CABSAT Dubai and new international partnerships at MIPCOM Cannes, CPS renews its Cairo Industry Days collaboration before heading to Riyadh for Saudi Media Forum in 2027.
DUBAI, 29 October 2026: CoProduction Salon (CPS) is concluding its 2026 international market programme with activities spanning Dubai, Cannes and Cairo, bringing together MENA production companies, broadcasters, streaming platforms and international content businesses.
Following its CEO Power Hour at CABSAT Dubai and participation at MIPCOM Cannes, where more than 20 MENA companies collectively held approximately 400 qualified business meetings, CPS will return to Cairo Industry Days in November as an official market partner and in-kind sponsor for a second consecutive year.
Dubai: High-Level Networking at CABSAT
Following the postponement of several industry events in the region earlier this year, CPS resumed its event-based activities at CABSAT Dubai with an invitation-only CEO Power Hour attended by 40 senior executives from regional broadcasters, streaming platforms, production houses and media organisations.
The gathering brought together representatives from regional companies including OSN, Etisalat, Viu, Dubai Studios and Sharjah Media City, alongside international players such as Warner Bros. Discovery and Moonbug. The programme combined curated networking with an exclusive presentation of CPS market intelligence and discussions around upcoming content projects.
Cannes: Qualified Business Meetings and Growing International Interest
At MIPCOM Cannes 2026, more than 20 companies from Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Qatar, Lebanon and Syria participated in the CPS showcase, collectively holding an estimated 400 qualified business meetings.
The figure includes prearranged and independently organised meetings, alongside introductions facilitated through CPS’s on-site matchmaking activities.
Business interest extended across Türkiye, Malaysia, Indonesia, CIS countries, India, Pakistan, Brazil, Colombia and Europe, as well as international inflight entertainment providers.
Based on business enquiries received by CPS during MIPCOM, approximately 60% focused on co-production opportunities, while the remaining 40% concerned content acquisition and licensing.
Southeast Asian companies showed interest in Arabic thrillers, horror and supernatural stories, including narratives inspired by jinn mythology. Brazilian and Colombian companies explored family dramas, films and documentaries, while other discussions covered YouTube revenue-sharing models, AI-powered localisation and dubbing, and cross-border production financing.
MIPCOM Partner Highlights and Industry Announcements
The CPS showcase featured a diverse slate of productions, including the social drama Medical Malpractice from Kuwait’s Active Media, the mystery thriller Stuck in Between from Egypt’s Stars Media, the historical drama Dust of Glory from Qatar’s RCD Media Group, and Tin, a manga-inspired animated series from UAE-based Twelve P. Also featured was Caged Love, an international co-production between Dubai-based Rise Studios and Türkiye’s Inter Medya.
Cross-border collaborations included Fifty-Fifty from Egypt’s SProductions and Dubai Studios, and the comedy series Duty Free from Stars Media and Jordan’s Roya TV. Cedars Art Production presented new scripted releases and a catalogue attracting demand in more than 30 countries, while Iraq’s streaming platform Al Manasa showcased horror, psychological thrillers and upcoming Ramadan comedies. Animation and emerging Arabic microdramas were represented by Pixitoon, Animotion Media Group, Twelve P and Scene platform.
Among the announcements, Pixitoon and Animotion revealed a collaboration at the CPS lounge to introduce The Fixies to Arabic audiences through music. Sharjah Media City announced a strategic partnership with Hungary’s Origo Studios to develop Shams Production Hub, with five sound stages expected in Q1 2027. Egypt’s Nover Studios introduced AI-powered production solutions.
Commercial discussions continued beyond Cannes, with Union Media pursuing several potential agreements involving regional broadcasters and partners in Kuwait and several Asian countries, while Egyptian production company Stars Media advanced talks with a Jordanian broadcaster and international inflight entertainment providers.
The CPS lounge also welcomed Saudi Media Forum President Mohammed Al Harthi, who introduced plans for a new production market at FOMEX in February 2027.
During MIPCOM, CPS distributed 300 copies of its CoProduction Guidebook 2026, with a digital edition planned for distribution to more than 10,000 industry recipients. Covering content markets across 22 Arab countries, financing structures, production incentives and practical co-production models, the publication offers valuable market intelligence for international investors and potential co-production partners looking to enter or expand their presence in the region.
Cairo: Supporting Egyptian Producers and Upcoming Ramadan Projects
From 14–19 November 2026, CPS will return to Cairo Industry Days, held alongside the 47th Cairo International Film Festival, as an official market partner and Cairo Industry Days In-Kind Sponsor.
The partnership includes a dedicated meeting space at the Cairo Film Market for prearranged appointments between approved CPS members and industry executives, with particular attention to Egyptian production companies and upcoming Ramadan drama projects.
As part of its sponsorship, CPS will provide a one-year Premium Membership valued at US$4,800 to the production company behind a winning Cairo Film Connection project.
CPS will nominate three projects for consideration, with the festival’s independent jury responsible for selecting the winner.
The membership provides access to three core services: B2B PR & Visibility, Business Development and Market Intelligence. These will help the winning company promote its projects and corporate profile, identify potential co-production partners and explore licensing and distribution opportunities for completed titles.
CPS is also working with independent producers across the region to develop a framework addressing the commercial and operational requirements of international co-productions.
Riyadh: Continuing the Programme in 2027
Following Cairo, the CPS events programme will resume in February 2027 through its longstanding partnership with Saudi Media Forum and FOMEX in Riyadh.
“Industry markets should not be isolated networking opportunities. Our objective is to create continuity between them, allowing conversations initiated in Dubai to develop in Cannes, progress in Cairo and ultimately translate into commercial partnerships,” said Heba Korayem, Founder of CoProduction Salon.
“What we saw at MIPCOM was particularly encouraging, with international companies from Southeast Asia and Latin America exploring opportunities with Arab producers. Through our partnerships with major industry markets, we want to help our community turn that interest into tangible business.”
About CoProduction Salon
CoProduction Salon (CPS) is a premium, application-based B2B community connecting established producers, broadcasters, streaming platforms and investors across 22 Arab markets with international industry partners.
Through curated matchmaking, market intelligence and B2B exposure, CPS supports content development, financing, co-production and distribution opportunities.
Website: www.coproductionsalon.com