The streaming video market in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is on track to surpass $1.5 billion by 2025, with subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) users anticipated to exceed 27 million.
Recent insights shared by Omdia at the Comcast Technology Summit in Dubai reveal that the spotlight remains on local streaming service Shahid, which leads the market with approximately 4.4 million subscribers. Following Shahid are YouTube Premium, with 3.7 million; Netflix, 3 million; and StarzPlay, 2.3 million.
Maria Rua Aguete, Head of Media and Entertainment at Omdia, emphasised the rise of YouTube Premium in MENA, underscoring the region’s demand for seamless, ad-free streaming experiences. With over 80 million users in MENA, the 3.7 million subscriptions to YouTube Premium showcase its position as a crucial player in the region’s digital media landscape. Notably, Saudi Arabia ranks among YouTube Premium’s top ten global markets.
In 2024, StarzPlay revamped its service offerings by unifying its standalone sports and entertainment tiers into a comprehensive ‘Max’ bundle. This strategic realignment has led to a remarkable 30% rise in average revenue per user (ARPU) while successfully retaining subscribers and minimising churn rates.
“StarzPlay’s focus on simplifying its offerings and providing value-added bundles has yielded significant financial benefits,” stated Rua Aguete. “This is a prime illustration of effective monetisations through strategic product planning.”
Omdia forecasts that the online video market in MENA will expand more than fivefold, potentially reaching $8.4 billion by 2029. The surge is expected to be fueled by digital infrastructure improvements, a high mobile usage rate, and a youthful, engaged demographic.
