Hey streamers, today we’re looking at the local streamers in MENA 👇
September is back-to-school season, not only for kids but also for streaming professionals. It’s the perfect moment to step back and see what’s been happening in MENA streaming since the start of the year.
My full report about STREAMING in MENA is coming soon, and this article gives you a first overview of the 60 local platforms active in the region.
If you work with in media tech or content, this list could also be a great starting point to find new partners at the many events coming up, like IBC in Amsterdam (Hope to see you there 😉).
👉 This article is part of The Lab, my premium membership. Join to unlock the full list and stay ahead in MENA streaming.
Read on to learn about:
What’s new in MENA streaming: From sports and microstreaming to new partnerships.
Meet the 60 local streamers: Covering general entertainment, sports, and niche platforms.
So What? Is the local ecosystem pushing the industry forward, or are most platforms struggling to survive?
What’s new in MENA streaming
This summer, football was the big story in MENA streaming, but a lot more happened. Since January, we’ve seen new services launch, some rebrand, and others shut down.
Let’s start with sports.
The launch of Thmanyah, the new home of Saudi Football, has made football rights more fragmented than ever. More details in my article from last week:
At the same time, Shahid lost Saudi Pro League but gained one of Europe’s top five: the Bundesliga.
Global platforms are also moving fast. Prime Video got the international rights for the NBA, with games streaming as part of the Prime Video subscription from October.
Apple TV+ is also pushing sports with its MLS Season Pass, available worldwide, including in MENA.
An interesting new player is TX7 from Abu Dhabi. It offers premium regional competitions like the Egyptian Premier League, the Arab Handball Cup, and UAE MMA Championship.
On the entertainment side, Kuwait is buzzing in 2025.
ROD (Rai On Demand) launched as a digital extension of Alrai TV.
Another new service, Bahry, is the first Arabic streaming platform fully focused on the ocean, boating, and maritime life.
Another big trend is micro-drama (or microstreaming). In Saudi Arabia and the UAE, these apps now dominate the download charts, with most of them coming from Asia.
Local players are also moving in. Shahid added a “shorts” feature to its app with highlights from Arabic TV series and football games. This could grow into licensed micro-dramas or even Shahid originals.
A new service called Tesliya also launched recently with micro-dramas at part of its content strategy.
Partnerships are reshaping the market too.
Yango Play signed a bundle deal with Crunchyroll, adding anime directly into its subscription.
TOD partnered with Crunchyroll as well, bringing hit titles like Jujutsu Kaisen and One Punch Man to the platform.
In Iraq, both 1001 and Al-Manasa signed multiple partnerships this summer with Shahid, OSN, Yango Play, Roya Media Group, Almentor, and Wide.
And in Saudi Arabia, MBCNOW keeps growing as a super-aggregator, thanks to a first bundle with Netflix.
Not all platforms made it. Go Play Market (from Ooredoo) and Weyyak (from Zee Entertainment) both shut down this year, showing how competitive the market has become.
Next, I’ll share the full list of local streaming platforms that are active today in MENA
Meet the 60 local streamers
Three years ago, I started a small chart with about 15 local platforms. With help from some platforms, tech, content providers and advertising agencies, it’s grown into a full map of the MENA landscape.
As you can see, more local services are launching, testing new models, and serving specific audiences.
Here’s the updated list of local, homegrown platforms in alphabetical order, with a link to access their desktop web homepage. (A few services have recently closed; I’ve marked them). 👇