The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) streaming video market is projected to reach $1.5 billion by the end of 2025, with subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) take-up crossing 27 million.
According to new data released by Omdia during the Comcast Technology Summit in Dubai, the leading streaming service is local player Shahid on 4.4 million subscribers, followed by YouTube Premium (3.7 million), Netflix (3 million) and StarzPlay (2.3 million).
“YouTube Premium’s momentum in MENA reflects the region’s appetite for seamless, ad-free streaming across platforms,” said Maria Rua Aguete, Head of Media and Entertainment at Omdia in a keynote presentation. “With over 80 million users in MENA and 3.7 million YouTube Premium video subscribers, the platform is now one of the most significant players in the region’s digital media ecosystem. Saudi Arabia has emerged as one of YouTube Premium’s top 10 global markets.”
In 2024, StarzPlay streamlined its service tiers merging standalone sports and entertainment into a single ‘Max’ bundle. This restructuring resulted in a 30% increase in average revenue per user (ARPU), while maintaining subscriber retention and limiting churn.
“StarzPlay’s emphasis on simplification and value-added bundling is driving measurable financial outcomes,” said Rua Aguete. “It’s a strong example of monetization through intelligent product strategy.”
Omdia projects that the online video market in MENA will grow more than fivefold, reaching $8.4 billion by 2029. Key growth drivers include expanding digital infrastructure, high mobile penetration, and a young, highly engaged population.
