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Are you passionate about storytelling?
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CNN
Do you want to learn how CNN gathers and verifies news?
Do you want to experience how a fast-paced, global newsroom operates?
Would you like the chance to put your journalism skills to the test in a unique newsgathering & storytelling simulation?

Then CNN Academy Abu Dhabi is for you.

CNN Academy Abu Dhabi empowers UAE nationals and residents with storytelling skills they need to succeed in today’s fast-paced media landscape.
Who Can Apply?
CNN Academy Abu Dhabi is open to UAE nationals and residents over the age of 17 who have a background and/or interest in media and multiplatform storytelling.

CNN Academy Abu Dhabi is tuition-free. However, participants need to ensure they can attend workshops and training sessions throughout the program.

The program will be delivered in English, so English proficiency is key.
  • 4th year undergraduate students
  • Fresh graduates from 2023/2024
  • Interest in learning about community storytelling
  • Availability to attend in-person training sessions in Abu Dhabi (15th – 19th September and 6th – 10th October 2025) and CNN Academy Health Storytelling Simulation (17th – 22nd November 2025)
APPLICATIONS OPEN
5
May 2025
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30
June 2025
SELECTION
15
July 2025
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15
August 2025
When To Apply?
Course overview
Supported by the Creative Media Authority, CNN Academy Abu Dhabi blends live workshops and interactive webinars led by senior CNN Academy trainers and CNN journalists.
CNN's Becky Anderson with the winners of the 2023 CNN Academy Climate Storytelling Simulation: Abdulrahman Al Marzooqi, Alia Al Zaabi, Lhekkah Sivaraja, Esha Mitra, Daniela Torres Basila
CNN's Becky Anderson with the winners of the 2024 CNN Academy Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security Simulation: (Aysha Meeran, Noor Al Hashemi, Vivienne Serret, Isa Cardona, Asmita Seth)
In the first two weeks, participants deepen their understanding of newsroom essentials—Ethics in Journalism, the Art of Storytelling, Breaking News Coverage, and more—building on the foundational courses they’ve completed on the CNN Academy Hub e-learning platform.

The program culminates in our fourth annual Newsroom Simulation at Yas Creative Hub. Over six intensive days, global participants collaborate with top CNN reporters to master impactful storytelling amid a global health crisis.

Divided into competitive teams, they pitch, investigate, and produce a breaking-news package set in a fictional country—putting theory into practice under real-world newsroom pressure.
Course Structure
Calendar
Week One
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September 15th - 19th
  • Introduction & Orientation In-Person at Creative Lab, Yas Island Abu Dhabi
  • CNNA 5th Year Launch with 2021-2024 Alumni graduates and special guests
  • The Art of Storytelling
  • Art of the Pitch
  • Ethics of Journalism
  • Digital Storytelling & Writing for Digital Audiences
  • Headline Writing Exercise
  • Permits & Filming Permission with Abu Dhabi Film Commission
  • Writing for TV News
  • Youth Engagement Opportunities with Talent Management Department of Creative Media Authority
  • Creating a TV Package
  • Scriptwriting Exercises
  • Pitch Sessions with Mentors
Course Structure
Calendar
Week Two
Shape
October 6th - 10th
  • Mobile Storytelling and Assignment
  • Mobile Storytelling
  • Shoot Stories on Location
  • Edit Stories
  • Show Production Session
  • Watch and Review Stories
  • The Art of Anchoring
  • Rundown Exercise with CNN Producers
  • Career Fair Event
*CNNA Masterclasses will be held throughout the two weeks with Becky Anderson in conversation with special guests
THE CNN ACADEMY SIMULATION IN ABU DHABI: Health Storytelling
In the final week, participants converge at Yas Creative Hub in Abu Dhabi for the CNN Academy Newsroom Simulation, all focused on crafting impactful stories amid a global health crisis. Over six days, they’ll join expert-led talks and hands-on workshops with top CNN journalists—learning how to engage audiences, navigate crisis challenges, and bring clarity to complex health issues.
Then, in a high-stakes, competitive exercise, teams will investigate a breaking-news scenario in a fictional country and produce a polished news package under real-world newsroom conditions.
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“The CNN Academy Simulation Week 2024 focused on “Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security” welcomed participants from across the world”
The CNN Academy Newsroom Simulation has been designed in consultation with CNN journalists from around the world that puts journalism skills to the test in a realistic setting.
Apply Your Skills
During the CNN Academy Newsroom Simulation, you will:
01
Understand newsroom workflows during breaking news coverage
04
Enhance interviewing, investigative reporting and decision-making skills
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Experience the diverse roles of a news coverage team (producer, reporter, photojournalist, editor, editorial director)
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Improve technical skills for multiplatform content production
03
Apply fact-checking tools and social verification methods
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Learn how to work under time constraints and with limited resources
01
Understand newsroom workflows during breaking news coverage
02
Experience the diverse roles of a news coverage team (producer, reporter, photojournalist, editor, editorial director)
03
Apply fact-checking tools and social verification methods
04
Enhance interviewing, investigative reporting and decision-making skills
05
Improve technical skills for multiplatform content production
06
Learn how to work under time constraints and with limited resources
FROM THEIR OWN WORDS
Mohammed Balfaqih
"My experience at CNN Academy has truly been transformative. It not only changed the way I consume and interpret stories, but also equipped me with the tools and confidence to begin telling stories of my own. The program was deeply enriching and fulfilling, leaving me with a strong desire to give back and contribute in any way I can."
Lynn El-Hassan
"CNN Academy has had a profound impact on me—it reignited my passion for journalism at a time when I felt uncertain about my future. Before joining the program, I was unsure of my direction, but through this experience, I rediscovered my love for storytelling and gained valuable new skills that set me apart in today’s competitive market. Most importantly, it pushed me to think more creatively and explore ideas beyond conventional boundaries."
CNN ACADEMY
STUDENT PROJECTS
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Heart of the Nature
Discover the breathtaking beauty and ecological richness of the Mangroves National Park as Abdulrahman Al Marzooqi navigates its waters, collecting plastic and waste to preserve this vital ecosystem.
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Insect Innovation: Pioneering Sustainable Solutions
Explore the potential of insects as a sustainable solution to global challenges. Despite bans in the UAE and Qatar, startups like “Circle Biotech” are pioneering insect farming for pet food, biofuel, and water purification, offering innovative alternatives to traditional food consumption.
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Sustainable Dining at COP28: Promoting Planet-Friendly Options
Explore the impact of food production on the climate crisis at COP28 in Dubai. Investigate the rise of plant-based options, with vendors aligning food choices with the 1.5°C global warming limit. Discover delicious and eco-friendly alternatives, showcasing a commitment to sustainability.
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Cats in Crisis: Abu Dhabi's Call for Action to Find Sustainable Solutions
Learn about the challenges faced by Abu Dhabi's cats community in soaring temperatures. A veterinary clinic director highlights the urgent need for action. With temperatures hitting 50°C, cats struggle to survive, prompting initiatives like the TNR program for cats’ population control. Emphasizing sustainable solutions, there's a call for global empathy in animal welfare.
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Transforming Mango Leaves and Coffee Grounds into Sustainable Fashion
Explore the transformation of waste into stylish leather goods, challenging landfill myths. Witness the eco-friendly conversion of mango leaves into durable sheets, addressing sustainability demands. By repurposing coffee waste, this UAE initiative empowers Indonesian communities. Discover how it's reshaping fashion with responsible consumerism and community empowerment.
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UAE's New Law: Ban on Heavy Vehicles Starting Next Year
Discover the UAE's new law targeting heavy vehicles, aimed at cutting costs and improving safety. By banning trucks over 65 tons, it reduces carbon emissions and tackles tire waste. Through tire retreading, it diverts 28,000 tons of waste from landfills yearly, showcasing legislation's role in environmental sustainability.
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UAE Known for Pearl Diving Generations Before Hosting COP28
Discover the sustainability of oysters in the Arabian Gulf, and learn about their crucial role in filtering seawater and maintaining marine ecosystems. Despite their importance, human activity threatens these balances. Advocate for greater environmental responsibility to preserve our planet for future generations.
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Eco-friendly Travelers Turn to Scooters in Dubai
Discover the rise of eco-friendly electric scooters in Dubai, providing emission-free transportation for residents. With designated lanes and easy access, these scooters offer a convenient and sustainable alternative to cars, contributing to Dubai's goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
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The World Through One Lens
Aldana was a CNN Academy participant that inspired everyone around her, including Maroa who put together this piece to highlight how losing your sight can give you perspective that very few have.
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Art Where No One Looks
An artist sees art where others don't. This is the story of Noura Al Ramahi's sustainable art.
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The Art of Calligraphy
Arabic calligraphy is a corner stone of Arab and Islamic culture. This is the story of the man who sketched it on to the UAE's currency and passport.
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A New Life for Plastic
Check out how a company in the UAE is giving a new purpose to plastic by recycling it into clothes.
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A Slam Dunk for Poetry
Listen to one of the first English speaking Emirati poets as he tells his story of becoming a two-time grand-slam champion.
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Abu Dhabi's Madrollers
Get a sneak peek into Abu Dhabi's adrenaline filled rollerblading community.
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Abu Dhabi's Fabric of Time
The untold story of a 25 year-old tailor's shop in Abu Dhabi and the man inside.
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The Forest in The Middle of The Desert
Take a stroll through Abu Dhabi's plant market and the ones keeping it flourishing.
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Dubai's Underground Supper Clubs
Dubai is known for its food scene, but here is a side to it that you may not know.
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Chemotherapy Reimagined
Step into the lab and learn how a new version of chemotherapy could transform cancer treatment.
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Blast From The Past
A Lebanon glass house is using glass from the country's port blast to bring new life into glass vases and art pieces.
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Drumming a New Beat
COVID-19 has left stands and performance theaters empty across the world in 2020. Kharsha, an Emirati / Japanese drumming band, have felt first-hand what that feels like. With a great question mark cast on the band’s future, they can only hope for the show to go on soon.
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The Unlikely Saviour
Isolated from friends, family and the rest of the world, Twitch — a live-streaming platform— has provided individuals with a window into the world throughout COVID-19. The pandemic has continued to fuel the growth of live-streaming and created a community impact, connecting individuals from all over the world with one another in these trying times.
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The Secret Behind UAE's Vanity License Plates
Talal Al Khoori is the owner of vanity plate Abu Dhabi #5. It is the second most expensive plate in the world and Talal broke records when he purchased it. To some, the practice of spending millions of Dirhams on vanity plates in the UAE is a sign of conspicuous consumption. But when you speak to Talal, you learn that spending so much on a simple alumimum plate has a positive impact on the wider society. Music courtesy of Mansoor Gottem.
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Agility Towards Success
Abdalla Almulla, the founder of MULA design studio, was one of many other designers and business owners affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. But through innovation and agility, Abdalla was able to handle the situation by changing the nature of his work from designing exhibitions to interior design projects.
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A Tale of Perseverance
Saleh Al Yaroubi suffered an accident requiring him to use a wheelchair for more than 40 years. We hear how he overcame his hardships, both mental and physical, seeking from his experience advice on coping with the mental effects of the COVID-19 pandemic today.
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There From the Start
The media industry in the United Arab Emirates has grown exponentially over the past 50 years. This piece profiles one of the first Emirati radio and TV reporters, and my uncle, Obaid Kaboos Alzaabi.
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Portrait of an Artist During a Pandemic
This story is about an artist and a painter who gets his inspiration from people’s faces and facial expression to put it in a nice drawing. He started drawing since he was a child and going through the pandemic lockdown kept him going and continue the thing he love the most which is painting.
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Passing Down the Wings
Falconry is an Emirati tradition passed down from one generation to another. Rashid Ahmed Mujrin is a professional falconer competing in major events. He's also keeping the tradition alive by teaching his sons the art of falconry.
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Pandemic Through the Eyes of a Child
Like many kids, seven-year-old Julie Kayali has been doing online schooling for over a year. With her family welcoming a newborn during the pandemic, how can Julie balance second grade and playtime from the safety of her own home?
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Virtual Vows
South Asian weddings are known for being huge and lavish affairs. During the pandemic however, South Asian couples were forced to shift these celebrations online and say I do through the screen. This piece revolves around the experiences of South Asian couples and a wedding planner who are now adapting to the new norm of virtual weddings.
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A Special Year for Special Kebab
Al Ustad Special Kebab is the oldest Persian family restaurant in the UAE. This is a story about the lessons it learnt from the pandemic a year after lockdown.
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Fashion and Faith
This is a piece about the representation of the Hijab in the fashion industry and the discussion surrounding hijab tokenism and the importance of representation. The topic has been ignited because of the departure of Hijabi supermodel Halima Aden from the fashion industry.
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Knocked Down But Definitely Not Out
Michelle Kuehn is a long-term Dubai resident who turned her passion of boxing into a successful business. Then the pandemic hit and everything she worked toward was crumbling in front of her eyes. This is the story of how she fought back and reclaimed her boxing gym from the grips of the pandemic.
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Olympic Dreams
Ines Boubakri became the first Arab and African woman to win an Olympic medal in fencing during at the 2016 summer games. She's dreaming of greater olympic glory during the upcomig games in Tokyo. But first she has to get through a global pandemic.
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Finding a Friend
My story focuses on the integration of Emiratis and Expats in the UAE. It follows my personal experience; for the first time in 14 years, I found myself in the same (virtual) room as Emiratis, thanks to CNN Academy. My story explores integration from various perspectives to ultimately celebrate the diverse social fabric of the UAE.
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Pressure, Parenting and Pandemic
The pandemic has put a lot of mental, emotional, and financial strain on multiple individuals. This is especially true for mothers who work full-time, take care of the family and the house. This story is about mothers finding a healthy stress outlet and taking time for themselves without feeling ashamed or guilty about it.
Apply Now
For more information, please contact [email protected]