India is formally inviting UAE media and entertainment professionals to participate in the inaugural WAVES Summit — the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit — set for May 1–4, 2025, at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai. The landmark event aims to accelerate international collaboration in the entertainment sector by connecting companies with partners, investors, and emerging technologies.
What Is the WAVES Summit?
Billed as the "Davos for entertainment," WAVES 2025 is an initiative of India's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, led by Secretary Sanjay Jaju. The summit brings together key players from film, television, animation, gaming, OTT platforms, and the broadcasting industry to discuss industry trends, technological developments, and cross-border partnership opportunities.
Key sectors represented include Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR), as well as Broadcasting & Infotainment, Digital Media & Innovation, and Films. Experts and professionals from global creative communities will gather to network and explore opportunities for bilateral cooperation.
India-UAE Media Ties Getting Stronger
Ahead of the summit, a high-level Indian delegation led by Secretary Jaju and Prasar Bharati CEO Gaurav Dwivedi traveled to the UAE to lay the groundwork for deeper media partnerships. The delegation held meetings with:
- Majed Al Suwaidi, Senior Vice President, Dubai Studio City and Production City - Maitha Al Suwaidi, CEO of Strategy and Media Policy, UAE Media Council - Sumaya Al Ali, Director of Partnerships and International Cooperation - Representatives from BPG Group, Emirates News Agency (WAM), and Abu Dhabi Creative Media Authority
Discussions covered regulatory frameworks for bilateral broadcasting cooperation, film production collaborations, virtual production, AI, and opportunities under the existing Prasar Bharati–WAM MoU.
Secretary Jaju described the summit as a milestone for the bilateral relationship: "WAVES 2025 will strengthen our strategic partnership, as India and the UAE continue to be 'Partners in Progress.'"
What UAE Professionals Can Expect
The WAVES Summit is designed to create new avenues for India UAE media collaboration, including investment opportunities, creative exchange, and distribution partnerships. For UAE broadcasters, OTT platforms, and content creators, the summit offers direct access to India's vast production ecosystem and to a global network of over 90 participating countries.
India aims to use UAE media sector engagement to unlock new cooperation opportunities in entertainment and technology — two areas where both nations already maintain strong ties under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which targets $100 billion in bilateral trade by 2030.
A Gateway to the Global Media Market
Beyond the India-UAE angle, WAVES 2025 positions Mumbai as a global media marketplace on par with Cannes or Mipcom. Participants can expect networking with leading voices from across the industry — from film icons to tech executives — as India showcases its growing influence in the worldwide media domain.
For UAE media companies looking to expand into South Asian content markets or co-produce internationally competitive titles, the inaugural WAVES Summit represents a timely and strategic opportunity.
