CoProd Guidebook 2025

WELCOME TO

THE COPRODUCTION SALON

Discover • Connect • Invest with

Thank you for picking up the MENA Co-Production & Partnerships Guidebook.

This is the first independent, data-backed snapshot of opportunities across all 22 MENA countries: built with insights from regional media leaders and designed for partners like you who want to build meaningful, profitable collaborations in the Arab world.

Heba Korayem Founder, CoProduction Salon

Why are we here?

Great stories travel.

Capital seeks clarity.

Talent needs the right doors.

The CoProduction Salon exists to connect these pieces—producers, investors, platforms, and broadcasters.

Our mission is not only to help quality Arabic content reach global audiences through partnerships, but also to identify great international opportunities and bring them into the Arab world, where they can find the right partners and thrive. All of this is built on smart financing, fair rights, and long-term value.

How can you

What you’ll

FIND INSIDE

BENEFIT? We offer our clients three essential tools to expedite partnerships and succeed in the MENA region’s vibrant content and media industry:

Market Intelligence

B2B Exposure for your pitch

Matchmaking Opportunities

Clear country overviews, trends, and investment signals

Who’s who across production, commissioning, and distribution

Real-world pathways to co-produce, co-finance, and license

Practical notes on platforms, windows, and partnerships

How to work with us?

Our community is exclusive (by application only), and participation criteria apply https://www.coproductionsalon.com/participation-criteria If you are an international producer, investor, or platform/ broadcaster with a proven track record, capital to invest in your own projects or in others, and a basic understanding of the MENA region...its vast opportunities as well as its limitations—then we invite you to apply.

Welcome to the room where Arab stories meet global ambition.

— Heba Korayem

Founder, Coproduction Salon CoProductionSalon.com | hello@coproductionsalon.com

START HERE

WHAT’S INSIDE 03 What is MENA?

Middle East/ North Africa region: key countries, markets, and content industry potential.

05 industry insights Understanding Production Hubs, and the Content Demand–Supply Gap.

10

Co-Producion & Media partnerships Insights into partnership frameworks, funding models, and international collaboration: existing structures, gaps, and emerging opportunities.

13 Key Drivers of Investment Highlighting the unique investment appeal of the MENA media industry.

21

Deal Making @ CoProduction Salon

25 $0.5 billion: The Ramadan TV Season 2025

Inside the region’s biggest annual content window, driving massive viewership, investments, and ad spend.

Profitability in a Dynamic Region 5 Insights from a veteran who built a regional production giant, demonstrating that resilience and strategy unlock profit beyond political and economic fluctuations.

CoProduction Salon CEO Power Hour event, CABSAT 2025 Dubai, UAE

31

Global Interest in Arabic Content

34

Special feature: Sports

37

Recommended Resources

A focus on detecting growing global appetite for Arabic content, by genre, type, and territory.

Exploring the Arab world’s sports ecosystem: opportunities in exporting and importing sports content, and Saudi Pro League’s rising global influence.

A directory of some of our community’s finest production houses, platforms, distributors, and media service companies.

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WHAT’S MENA?

Middle East & North Africa

MOROCCO

A resource-rich region of 22 22 countries 05 05 content trade sub-regions, MENA is united by a shared language and a deep storytelling heritage.

Market

Snapshot TOTAL POPULATION

YOUNG POPULATION

450M+ 450M+

~47% ~47% youth (0- 24 years)

Source: World Bank \ UN

≈ $3.7

GDP (REGIONAL) $3.7 trillion

Source: IMF / World Bank

of the population are children &

Source: UNICEF

INTERNET PENETRATION

99% lower in other countries: ~V.High in GCC 99% Egypt( >70% >70% penetration) Source: Internet World Stats 2025

SOCIAL MEDIA USERS

YOUTUBE REACH

~320 ~320 M M (>74% Avg penetration)

70%+ 70%+

Source: DataReportal 2025

of population in KSA, UAE, Egypt

Source: Google / DataReportal

AVERAGE DAILY VIDEO CONSUMPTION

MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT MARKET

3-4 3-4 hours per day (KSA, Egypt)

$44.2B $44.2B Projected: $70.5B by 2030

Source: Statista / Arab Media Outlook

Source: Mordor Intelligence

Current.

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Dialect: A Strategic Factor in Pricing and Distribution The Arab world speaks over 100 dialects, shaped by geography and history, but for content trade, they’re grouped into five main market categories.

Sub- Regions

Explained Why Dialect Matters?

In Arabic-language content, dialect is one of the strongest determinants of a video asset’s tradability, licensing value, and crossmarket ROI. Although all 22 Arab countries share Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) as a formal language, audience preferences lean heavily toward colloquial dialects for drama, entertainment, and unscripted content — directly impacting marketability and price.

Egyptian

MSA

Levant

Native Reach ~110M native speakers; widely understood across MENA Secondary markets: highly accepted across all regions. Tastes shifting with younger audiences.

ROI Impact: +20–30% tradability premium; top export for entertainment

Native Reach Universal comprihension Secondary markets: Formal limited emotional appeal ROI Impact: Neutral or slightly negative for entertainment; positive for kids/edu

Native Reach ~45M widely understood across MENA Secondary markets: Good acceptance across GCC & North Africa, and recently also Egypt and Iraq.

ROI Impact: +15–20% tradability premium; favored for dramas

EGYPT

LEVANT

GULF

Meghreb

Iraq

Maghreb

Khaleeji (GCC)

Native Reach ~80M NOT widely understood across MENA Secondary markets: Limited intelligibility with other sub-regions; often subtitled ROI Impact: −20–30% tradability unless localized; strong local monetization

Native Reach ~58m Secondary markets: Moderate acceptance outside GCC; needs subtitling in Egypt/Maghreb ROI Impact: Neutral ROI within GCC; −10–20% resale value elsewhere. This is changing as production values continue to rise.

Content Market Tracker

Source: H . C O N S U L T Middle East & Beyond

IRAQ

Native Reach ~35-40M Secondary markets: Moderate mutual understanding; subtitling often required ROI Impact: −10% tradability; strong domestic & diaspora monetization. Growing demand in Maghreb & GCC.

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INDUSTRY INISIGHTS

The MENA region hosts one of the world’s most diverse and rapidly growing content industries.

With over 22 markets spanning the Gulf, Levant, Egypt, Maghreb, and Iraq, production capacity and incentives are evolving quickly: driven by OTT growth, government-backed investments, and rising demand for Arabic storytelling.

Production

Landscape What is MENA producing?

Scripted series are the most valuable and most produced/ traded content type in MENA 100

80

60

40

20

0

Egypt

GCC/Khaleej

Maghreb

Levant

Iraq

Arabic Scripted Series Output by Sub-Region (Jan- Sept 2025))

Other (Sudan, Yemen, Libya, Mixed dialect, etc..)

Content Market Tracker

Source: H . C O N S U L T Middle East & Beyond

Scripted drama is the most valuable and most traded genre in the Arab world. For decades, Egypt and Syria with Lebanon have led the way, building strong traditions and experience in drama production. Today, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, and the UAE are quickly rising, backed by new investments, modern studios, and growing local talent. Multi-dialect and niche productions that speak to local identities are attracting interest from regional platforms.

Iraq has emerged as one of the fastest-growing drama markets in the Arab world. Once reliant on imported content, the country’s scripted output has expanded from just 3 tradable- quality titles in 2019 to 26 (and still counting) in 2025, marking nearly a ninefold increase in six years. This consistent year-on-year growth reflects rising local demand, improved production capacity, and growing recognition from both government and private investors who now view the media sector as a promising, untapped opportunity.

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Need Help Navigating MENA? Market Intelligence

Business Viability

Licenses and Legalities

Is it the right time for your content or services in MENA?

How big is the opportunity? When will you start seeing returns?

Referrals to the most specialized

by Country or sub region.

From product launch to investment to co-production, our native Arabic specialists ensure every step is taken with clarity, confidence, and cultural intelligence.

www.hconsult.me

Where to produce in

MENA?

Every MENA sub-region offers what productions need — diverse landscapes, strong incentives, and distinct market advantages

The MENA Region’s Key Production Hubs Incentives (%) Production Volume

N/A

Studios

1+

Strength Emerging Market / High Potential

3+

International CoProductions

2+

Creative Talent Cost Efficiency

3+

Cost Efficiency Creative Talent Experienced crew

5+

Pristine Infrastructure Adoption of Technology

Relative Scale / %

Studios count is rated on a 1–5 scale, reflecting how many significant, professional-grade studios exist in each region that can handle TV/film production, post-production, and international-level projects. For example, NEOM in Saudi Arabia, Dubai Studio City and Twofour54 in the UAE, and Katara Studios in Qatar give the GCC its high score.

Production Volume (1–10) reflects how much content a region produces each year — including TV series, films, and shows. It indicates the scale and consistency of output based on industry size, workforce, and broadcaster activity. A higher score means strong, year-round production (e.g. Egypt, GCC), while lower scores signal smaller or emerging industries.

Incentives (%) shows how much financial support governments offer to producers through cash rebates, tax credits, or grants on local spend. t’s a key factor lowering production costs and attracting co-productions — higher percentages mean stronger savings and appeal.

GCC (up to 40% KSA, UAE, Qatar), Maghreb (30%), Levant (25% driven by Top Jordan), while Egypt relies on low costs. Iraq currently offers limited incentives: support, but this is rapidly changing as the industry continues to evolve.

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Content

Supply & Demand How We Measure Supply & Demand All data in this guidebook is collected and compiled by CoProduction Salon’s HCONSULT Content Market Tracker, which tracks content investments across the MENA region.

Supply is measured by the number of scripted titles produced, with each title traced back to its financing model and distribution scope to map how projects are funded and circulated.

Unless otherwise stated, all other supply & audience demand insights are sourced from Parrot Analytics, the CoProduction Salon’s trusted data partner in the region. Parrot measures demand by analyzing billions of daily audience interactions—including viewing, streaming, social engagement, searches, and downloads—to provide a holistic view of what audiences truly want across all platforms.

Dialect Arabic Scripted

The data highlights a significant concentration of audience demand around Egyptian dialect content, which accounts for 81% of total demand, while supply lags behind at 63%. This gap underscores strong cross- regional appetite for Egyptian storytelling and suggests sustained investment potential in this dialect — particularly in high-value genres such as social drama and comedy series.

The current oversupply of Khaleeji content — 26% of total supply vs 11% of demand — reflects a strategic shift by major domestic platforms, particularly Shahid, which are prioritizing investment in Saudi and Gulf productions. This gap signals a market in transition, as audiences are still adapting to the surge of high-productionvalue titles entering the market. As viewing habits evolve and the visibility of premium Khaleeji storytelling increases, demand is expected to catch up, reinforcing the region’s ambition to position Khaleeji content as a major cultural export.

Levantine, Maghrebi (Franco-Arab) , and Mixed dialect incl. Iraqi content each account for under 10% of total supply and demand. While niche, these categories present rising opportunities — especially for regional platforms seeking differentiation or international co-productions looking for authentic, localized storytelling.

Content Market Tracker

H.CONSULT Middle East & Beyond

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What Genres are there in MENA? what do audiences like? Are there any opportunity gaps?

Socio-cultural drama and comedy genres dominate, MENA audiences are signalling stronger interest in socially conscious, comedic, and suspense-driven content.

Genre Arabic Scripted

Drama, Social Drama Leads but Needs Freshness In MENA, Drama/ Social stories are still the main focus of Arabic content (32% of what’s made vs 28% of what’s wanted).

It’s strong, but to keep audiences engaged, producers should bring in new storylines, subgenres, and higher quality.

Comedy and Social Drama Stories Are in High Demand, Particularly in Ramadan

Content Market Tracker

H.CONSULT

Comedy is one of the few genres where audience demand and production supply are perfectly aligned, reflecting a healthy and stable segment in the Arabic content market.

In contrast, socially themed dramas show an oversupply (32% supply vs 25% demand). While these stories have long been a comfort zone for producers, the data signals a potential market imbalance: if this gap isn’t addressed, it could lead to declining returns and audience fatigue over time.

Middle East & Beyond

Growing Interest in Other Genres.

Suspense genre accounts for nearly 30% of audience demand, yet remain underproduced.

Meanwhile, action, crime, and historical dramas are gaining steady year-on-year popularity — especially outside the Ramadan season — fuelled by strong storytelling and improved production quality from Saudi Arabia, Morocco, and Iraq.

The Lawyer

The first Saudi series led by women.

Shahid Original Produced by Sadaf Media Production

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& &

CO-PRODUCTION PARTNERSHIPS Overview: Co-Production Market

Co-production structures in MENA vary significantly between series and films, shaped by distinct funding sources, distribution goals, and ROI horizons.

While series prioritize speed, cashflow, and platform demand, films rely on grants, equity, and festival exposure for long-term value and IP retention

Co-Production Models:

Series vs. Films in MENA Series

Films Drivers

Platform demand (Shahid, Netflix, Yango Play) and Ramadan cycles

Cinema investments, Eid cycles, Festivals, theatrical, grants

Goal Creative control, global recognition, commercial gains if regional

Consistent output & regional reach

Main Models Full platform commission

Equity co-productions (cross-border)

Equity partnerships (e.g. MBC + Cedars Art, or Dubai Studios +Kaband)

Grant stacking (DFI, Red Sea Fund, AFAC)

Hybrid financing (equity + pre-sales (not frequent) + rebates)

Festival/distributor pre-sales

Hybrid (equity + grants + rebates)

Brand integration & sponsorships (popular model during Ramadan in Algeria, Tunisia, Libya)

Funding Profile Streamer-led, cashflow priority, limited IP retention

Grant- and equity-led, higher IP ownership

ROI Focus Fast recoupment (6–18 months), ad/sponsorship-driven

Slower recoupment (12–36 months), driven by multiwindow revenues across box office, TV/OTT licensing, and brand integrations, with added prestige ROI from festivals and international exposure.

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Case Study: Co-Production Success

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In 2025, 38% of scripted series released in MENA were co-produced with one or more regional partners.

While the main drivers were Arab-led platforms such as Shahid, STC, WatchIt, Forja, and other satellite broadcasters, international co-producers and financing partners were primarily regional platforms with a strong MENA presence, including Viu, Yango Play, Zee, and Netflix.

Examples of successful Co-Prodctions in MENA

Films

Hanging Gardens (2022)

🇵🇸 🇮🇶🇬🇧🇸🇦🇫🇷

Paletine 36 (2025)

🇵🇸🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇸🇦🇶🇦

Perfect Strangers (2022_

Aïcha (2024)

🇱🇧🇪🇬🇦🇪

🇹🇳🇫🇷🇮🇹🇸🇦🇶🇦

Rashash (2021)

Taj (2024)

Shabab Imra’a (2025)

Wesh ElSa’d (2025)

Series

🇦🇪 🇸🇦

🇱🇧🇸🇦

Key Areas for Development in MENA Co-Productions Co-Production Treaties for TV & Streaming Most existing treaties and funding mechanisms focus on film, leaving series and digital platforms without clear cross-border frameworks.

Diversified Funding Mechanisms Current initiatives like the Red Sea Fund and Doha Film Institute primarily support cinema, with limited options for TV and episodic content.

Risk Mitigation Tools Insurance and completion bond frameworks are still in development, limiting investor confidence and access to international financing.

Standardized IP-Sharing Models The region lacks common IP and revenue-sharing templates, which would help shorten negotiations and facilitate equitable partnerships.

🇪🇬🇮🇳

🇪🇬🇦🇪

Voices from the Industry

Saad Shawabkeh, COO, Fujairah Films “At Fujairah Films, we’re constantly exploring international partnerships that align with our vision for premium productions with global reach. We’re proud to be investing in a major Hollywood production — set to be announced by the end of the year...

Stay tuned!”

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KEY DRIVERS OF INVESTMENT High ROI Potential and Fast Recoupment Timelines Arabic IPs circulate across diverse regional windows and are increasingly being dubbed and subtitled for global audiences, maximizing revenue across TV, OTT, cinema, and AVOD. (See page 14)

Talent and Crew Infrastructure With a film heritage dating back to 1927, Egypt’s industry is nearly as old as Hollywood’s, providing a deep pool of experienced, multilingual professionals.

Across the MENA region—notably Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, and the UAE—crews are adaptable, internationally trained, and cost-efficient, often delivering productions at 30–50% lower cost than Western markets.

Supported by training programs and rebates, the region offers a strong, growing talent base ready for international co-productions.

Strategic Advantage & Incentives The MENA region combines generous financial incentives: cash rebates in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Morocco, alongside funding programs like Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Fund and Qatar’s DFI. Also, Its central location between Europe, Asia, and Africa makes it a cost-efficient and accessible hub for international co-productions and multi-market distribution.

“Dune: Part Two”, “Star Wars”, “Mission Impossible” (filmed in Abudhabi, “Kandahar” (filmed in Saudi), and many other documentaries and independent films filmed across Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, and Tunisia, all leveraged MENA incentives Proven by Global Studios

ROI & Recoupment Benchmarks Across Leading Markets - Arabic Series How do the MENA region’s ROI and recoupment timelines compare with those of other major content markets.

Arabic scripted drama — the region’s flagship content asset — is now achieving ROI levels comparable to leading global formats within its home market, signalling a self-sustaining, profitable industry. (See page 31) Even without the international exposure and export scale enjoyed by markets like Turkey, South Korea, Latin America, and Bollywood, investors in MENA are benefiting from comparable ROI’s and faster than average recoupment timelines highlight strong domestic monetization and a sector primed for global breakout success.

ROI and Recoupment Benchmarks Across Leading Markets- Scripted Series Region / Format

ROI Range

Recoupment Timeline

Key Revenue Drivers

Arabic Scripted Drama (MENA)

1.5× – 3×

6–18 months

Peak ad rates, sponsorships, regional licensing, OTT / YouTube second windows

1.5× – 3×

9–24 months

Domestic broadcaster base + strong international exports (MENA, Balkans, LATAM)

2× – 4×

6–12 months

Low cost per ep, daily schedule, huge ad inventory, global dubbing + format sales

2× – 5×

9–18 months

Global platform pre-sales (Netflix, Viki), product placements, remakes

1.8× – 3.5×

9–18 months

Huge domestic ad revenue, OTT licensing (Netflix, Amazon, Hotstar), international diaspora rights

🇺🇸 U.S. Average

1.1× – 1.5×

2–5 years

Domestic ad/SVOD revenues, delayed syndication profits

🇺🇸 U.S. Global Hit /

3× – 10×

3–10 years

Global syndication, spin-offs, merch, franchise value

🇹🇷 Turkish Dizi 🇲🇽 Telenovela (Latin America)

🇰🇷 K-Drama (South Korea)

🇮🇳 Bollywood / Indian Series

Scripted

Franchise

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ROI & Recoupment Benchmarks Across Leading Markets - Standalone Film Region / Model

MENA Cinema excl. Egypt (Arabic Films)

Egyptian Commercial Films MENA International CoProductions (independent) (Arabic + Global Partners)

Turkish Films

Cost Level

$$

Typical ROI Range

1.3× – 3×

$

1.5× – 3.5×

$$

1.2× – 2.5× (financial) + intangible ROI (prestige, festival, cultural export)

$$

1.5× – 3×

Recoupment Timeline

Key Revenue Drivers

12–24 months

Domestic box office (Saudi, Egypt, UAE), regional distribution, OTT licensing (Shahid, Netflix, Yango Play), strong brand integrations

6–18 months

High domestic cinema turnout, strong satellite/TV sales, quick OTT licensing, Strong Brand integrations

24–48 months

Multi-country grants (Red Sea Fund, DFI, CNC, Eurimages), festival awards & exposure, TV/OTT pre-sales, European co-financing, arthouse distribution

9–18 months

Domestic box office, regional export (MENA, Balkans), TV & streaming rights

Bollywood Films

$$ - $$$

1.8× – 4×

6–18 months

Huge domestic box office, strong overseas diaspora market, music rights, satellite & OTT sales

Korean Films

$$

1.5× – 3.5×

9–24 months

Local box office dominance, global distribution, remakes, Netflix deals

2–4 years

Festival sales, limited theatrical, SVOD licensing — often break even or small profit

2–5 years

Box office (domestic + global), merchandise, PVOD, streaming, franchise extensions

U.S. Independent Films

U.S. Studio Tentpoles

$$$$$

0.8× – 1.5×

$$$$$

2× – 6× (hit) / <1× (flop)

With Egypt leading in cost efficiency and quick recoupment, and the wider MENA market offering strong box office and platform demand, Arabic cinema currently stands out as lower than usual-risk, high-potential compared to other markets.

Expanding international co-productions can blend financial ROI with cultural export value, boosting global visibility for MENA storytelling.

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Incentive / Fund

Type

% or Value

Notes

Saudi Film Commission Rebate

Cash Rebate

Up to 40%

Applies to qualifying local spend; part of Vision 2030

Red Sea Fund

Grant / Soft Money

Varies

Supports Arab & African filmmakers

Film AlUla

Rebate / Location Support

Negotiable

Offers location access & promotional support

Abu Dhabi (Twofour54) Rebate

Cash Rebate

30%

Covers production & post-production

SHAMS (Sharjah Media City)

Business Support

—

Facilitates low-cost media company setup

Qatar

Doha Film Institute (DFI)

Grants / Equity

Varies

Funds Arab films & coproductions

Morocco

CCM Rebate

Cash Rebate

30%

Competitive rebate; strong co-pro hub

Tunisia

CNCI Fund

Cash Rebate

20%

Incentive for foreign shoots

Jordan

Royal Film Commission Incentive

Cash Rebate

25%

Rebates on eligible spend; strong crew base

Lebanon

AFAC / Cultural Funds

Grants

Varies

Supports independent projects

Egypt

Egypt

—

—

—

Relies on low-cost production & V.strong talent base

Iraq

MENA Co-Production Incentives & Funds 2025 2025 Country

Iraq

Ministry of Culture Support Programs

Grant / Ad-hoc

—

Early-stage incentive schemes emerging

GCC

Saudi Arabia

Levant

Maghreb

UAE

While Saudi Arabia, UAE, Morocco, and Jordan lead with structured rebate programs, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon are at early stages of incentive development — signaling future potential as governments media’s economic and cultural value. Hybrid models combining local funds and international partners remain the most effective path for high-quality Arabic co-productions.

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Broadcast &

Streaming

Despite the rapid rise of streaming platforms, linear television remains a powerful medium across the Middle East and North Africa.

Traditional TV More than 80% of the channels are

1000+ 1000+ Arabic language TV Channels operating in MENA

Source: (Eutelsat 7/ 8 west

Regional Reach & Viewing Habits

With over 90% household penetration across the GCC, Egypt, and the Levant, satellite TV remains a household staple, especially during Ramadan, weekends, and Eid, when viewership peaks and ad spending surges. A strong family co-viewing culture sustains demand for dramas and talk shows, while a dual ecosystem of national and pan-Arab broadcasters (like SBC, MBC, Rotana, and Dubai TV) ensures both local relevance and regional reach.

Genre Distribution of TV Channels in MENA (2025) Music 7.1%

Culture/Education 5.1% Drama/ General Entertainment 30.3%

Sports 6.1%

Movies 7.1%

Advertising & Economics

TV continues to command a notable 20–30% share of ad spend in many MENA markets, thanks to its wide reach and trusted influence, with brand integrations—especially during Ramadan— remaining highly profitable. Yet, audience fragmentation and limited measurement tools are prompting a shift toward hybrid campaigns that blend TV and digital for better targeting and ROI.

Modernization & Integration

Kids/Youth 9.1%

Religious 11.1%

News/ Current affairs 13.1% Shopping/ Specialty/other 11.1%

Source:Source: Eutelsat, KingOfSat, SatBeams, ASBU

Broadcasters are modernizing through OTT extensions like Shahid, Watch It, Maraya, Forja platforms and leveraging catchup TV and YouTube syndication to extend content lifecycles. With data-driven programming and cross-platform strategies, traditional TV is evolving to stay relevant among younger, digital-first audiences.

Future Outlook

Traditional TV will remain central to MENA’s media landscape, valued for its mass reach, live event coverage, and local storytelling that unites multi-generational audiences. Its future growth, however, hinges on broadcasters’ ability to integrate cross-platform measurement, monetize content across TV, OTT, and social, and embrace co-production and Content Market Tracker rights-sharing to boost ROI. H.CONSULT Middle East & Beyond

Leadership insights: Profitability in a volatile region

Years of Profitability in a Dynamic Region: 75 Lessons From Cedars Art Production

75

5 Insights From a Veteran Who Built the Middle East’s Leading Production Powerhouse

From the heart of a dynamic region, Cedars Art Production (CAP) has made resilience its trademark: Transforming volatility into opportunity while leveraging moments of stability to grow the business.

Saddek Al Sabbah CEO, Cedars Art Production

For more than seven decades, CAP has carried Arabic stories through major broadcasters including Shahid and MBC — the region’s leading platforms — as well as Netflix, Amazon, and other global players. Appetite for Arab drama is rising: Ay Yapim acquired the rights to adapt Al Hayba into Turkish as Uzak Şehir, achieving record-breaking ratings on Kanal D with a 14.3% rating and 40% share. Netflix’s global release of Al Hayba reached audiences in over 30 countries, while Soul Rising earned an International Emmy nomination, adding global recognition to CAP’s slate. Today, with Deep Down Under (Tahet Sebeh Ard) winning five Murex D’Or awards and reaching more than 12 million viewers across MENA, CAP shows that Middle Eastern drama is not merely weathering storms... it’s setting benchmarks for the Arabic content industry.

“My father used to say Lebanon is like a tree — it shakes, but it never falls,” Operating in one of the world’s most politically and economically complex regions, CAP has not only endured challenges but also capitalized on periods of stability to expand, building state-of-the-art locations in Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia. These facilities have birthed some of the Arab world’s most iconic series, with production values competing with global counterparts. From constructing an entire village in the Egyptian desert for social drama Dahsha (2014), to re-creating the Syrian city of Raqqa for the Emmy-nominated Egyptian series Soul Rising, Cedars has turned infrastructure into both a survival strategy and a competitive edge.

Here are five insights from Sabbah and his team on building a powerhouse in the world’s most dynamic region:

1 1

Volatility and Stability Coexist Scan for full article

In the Middle East, unpredictability is the norm — but so are long stretches of growth. CAP writes scripts, budgets, and schedules with volatility in mind while maximizing productivity during stable windows. This dual approach has yielded consistent delivery across more than 35 annual series from Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, KSA, and Morocco, ensuring reliable returns

Streaming landscape The MENA region now hosts around 70 streaming platforms, with over half Arabled platforms, originating from one of the 22 countries in the region.

Much like the satellite TV boom of the 1990s, a new wave of niche streamers is emerging—serving cultural communities, sports fans, and interest-based audiences. These platforms focus on targeted experiences over broad, pan-regional catalogs.

Business models are constantly evolving, with services adopting hybrid SVOD/AVOD models, telco bundling, and localized content strategies to match the region’s diverse demographics and dynamic viewing habits.

Top Top 3 3

OTT/Streaming 70+ 70+ OTT platforms currently operate in MENA..and counting!

SVOD

*By Both popularity & Arabic population relevance

Arab-led platftorms in MENA*

Source: HConsult Content Market Tracker

YouTube is the most popular streaming platform MENA- wide, reaching 50-80% of the total population

International platforms in MENA*

Top Top 3 3

Over the past five years, an average of 7–10 new OTT platforms have launched each year.

AVOD/ FAST HYBRID

Telcos/ Telco- backed platforms that lead in content Partnerships: GCC

Egypt

Levant

Maghreb

Iraq

FOUR Rising Trends & Opportunity Alerts in the MENA Streaming Landscape

1

Niche Platforms Much like the satellite channel boom of the early 1990s, the region is now witnessing a new wave of niche streaming platforms catering to specific cultural communities, sports fans, and interest-based audiences. These platforms are reshaping the digital landscape by focusing on targeted content experiences rather than broad, one-size-fits-all programming.

2

FAST Channels

Bahry is a marine-themed OTT platform based in Kuwait and serving the MENA region, fully dedicated to content about the sea, boating, marine life, fishing, diving, and nautical culture.

Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV (FAST) is gradually regaining momentum after last year’s initial hype slowed down. Key players such as Rotana, Smashi, Roya TV, and DAZN FAST are now experimenting with curated 24/7 channels, while SAWA Rights Management continues to lead the technological and distribution development of this emerging segment across the MENA region.

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22

3

Super Apps Yango Play, the region’s entertainment super app launched last year, has quickly positioned itself as a leader in premium Arabic original drama while offering a 360° entertainment experience that includes music, games, and streaming content.

Meanwhile, Tesliya, launched this year, features microdramas alongside a diverse catalogue of Western hits, games, and Arabic variety content, reflecting the growing shift toward multi-format entertainment platforms in MENA. The Series, by Union Media

4

Microdrama

The Cry , by DKL Studios

Brand new Arabic Microdrama series

Brand New Launch: Scene platform following a model pioneered by Chinese short-form platforms, Scene delivers short, intense episodes of Arabic drama designed for mobile-first audiences. The platform uses viewer incentives, interactive hooks, and subscription rewards to keep audiences engaged — adapting a format that has proven wildly popular in China, where microdramas regularly generate billions of views and high monetization through subscriptions and micro-payments.

Voices from the Industry

Sayed Fenianos, Chairman, Scene Platform “Scene isn’t just another streaming platform— it’s a movement redefining how stories are told and consumed”

$0.5 $0.5

Billion: The Ramadan TV season

The Ramadan TV drama season is a multi-million dollar industry in the Arab world, driven by hefty production investments, surging advertising spend, and extensive distribution deals. this section provides an overview of the 2025 season’s market value by country and category.

Ramadan: Explained

Ramadan’s Seasonal Impact Season Duration/ timing

30 days of Prime Programming. Moves back 15 days each year, depending on lunar calendar. Ramadan 2026 is in February.

TV Consumption/ Viewing hours

60-80% increase during Ramadan

Ad Spend

20-35% increase in ad spend across digital and linear TV.

Platform and BroadcasterAnnual Budget Allocation

60% of yearly acquisition/ production budgets dedicated to Ramadan series & programs

Distribution snapshot

230 titles in Ramadan 2025 were distributed across 120 TV `channels and 37 OTT platforms in MENA

Unique distribution window

The Ramadan season has established its own specialized distribution framework, with streaming platforms and broadcasters sometimes securing premium content rights for just 30 days. The content is then re-windowed throughout the year to various sub-regions

Countries

17 Countries actively invest in and produce scripted series for Ramadan each year, typically ranging from 10, 15, 30 episodes.

Ramadan stands as the most profitable season in the Arab media calendar, Its unique ecosystem, built on peak consumption, premium pricing, and strategic re-distribution. Ramadan delivers the highest ROI of the year for those who could participate: content producers and investors alike.

Coming Soon

RAMADAN

2026 2026 COPROUCTION GUIDEBOOK 2025

25

Ramadan 2025 2025 How Distribution Trends Reveal Market Traction for investors Top 10 Countries by Number of Ramadan Titles Produced - March 2025 in this study, a title's "Country of Origin" is determined by evaluating production company HQ, financing sources, creative control, perceived intellectual property rights, and target audiences. These factors help establish the project's country of origin, which is done this way for the purpose of tracking investment flows and measuring production impacts on national economies. For instance, MBC, a Saudi company, finances Egyptian-speaking series, leading to titles being attributed to either Saudi Arabia or Egypt.

“Title” is defined as one full season of a scripted series that has been released, including only titles that hold tradeable or commercial value in the market

Top 10 Most Distributed Titles: by Arabic Regional Dialect

Regional dialects comonly used in Arabic content trade Levantine

Egyptian

Khaleeji

Meghreb/FrancoArab

Iraqi

Mixed Dialects

Number of times a title appeared on TV channels + Regional OTT platforms. Excluding Youtube.

This season’s most widely distributed title, “Roxy Nights” is a co-production between Dubai Studios and Kaband Media.

Ramadan title exposure drives investment confidence in the absence of unified audience data in MENA. Investors seek scalable, low-risk properties: Layali Roxy (Roxy Nights) appeared on 20+ platforms across TV and OTT. Dialect dominance in specific regions allows investors to target funding toward content with broader distribution potential.

COPROUCTION GUIDEBOOK 2025

27

Are the most distributed titles also the most popular?

Distribution Patterns: Arabic Dialects

Demand Rankings: All Arabic Scripted Series

Top 10 most distributed titles by Arabic regional dialect

Top 10 most in-demand titles across 4 territories

1 2 Regional dialects comonly used in Arabic content trade

Viewership

3

Levantine

4

Egyptian

5

Khaleeji

6

Distribution

7

Meghreb/FrancoArab

Viewership

Distribution

Iraqi

8

Mixed Dialects

9 10

Number of times a title appeared on TV channels + Regional OTT platforms. Excluding Youtube.

Measured Territories: Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco, and Iraq

Content Market Tracker

H.CONSULT Middle East & Beyond

Demand data reveal a mismatch between supply and demand in the Ramadan 2025 market.

Widely distributed Syrian titles such as Layaly Roxy and Al Ahd did not rank highest in audience demand, while the Saudi comedy Shabab Al Bomb and Egyptian drama Fahd El Batal lead in popularity despite having fewer distribution windows, or as a result of being available on a single high-impact platform like MBC/Shahid.

This shows that wide distribution enhances a project’s profitability through multiple windows, a perfect scenario for distributors, achievable mainly during the Ramadan season. Maximizing exposure however, doesn’t necessarily guarantee higher audience demand.

40% 40% were released on YouTube. of Ramadan scripted series

Count of titles

These series have an estimated value of $80M

One month valued at $500M who are the main investors?

Content Market Tracker

H.CONSULT Middle East & Beyond

Scan to continue reading this report.

Global interest in ARABIC CONTENT

With growing international demand and rising platform investments, Arabic content stands on the verge of a global breakthrough.

According to a joint study by Parrot Analytics and Rise Studios, audience trends and supply-demand metrics indicate that Arabic content is poised for its own "Squid Game moment."

Arabic Content’s Rapid Ascendance

24 x Growth within MENA 21 x Growth Internationally

Tapping Into Arabic Content’s Global Potential Growth opportunities and expansion ahead

14 x Headroom for Growth compared to Hindi content

What key patterns are emerging in regional investment toward Arabic original productions?

Arabic Originals by Funding Source (2020–2025) Count of titles invested in by streamers operating in MENA

Intern ati on

29.6%

al

amers Stre ic t s

eamers Str

Do m e

70.4%

Content Market Tracker

Source: H . C O N S U L T Middle East & Beyond

Between 2020 and 2025, locally funded MENA streamers have been the primary engine behind Arabic original production, accounting for over 70% of all titles.

This dominance reflects the region’s growing creative autonomy, strong government and private investment, and a strategic focus on local-language storytelling tailored to domestic audiences.

Over the past 5 years, nearly 1 in 3 Arabic originals now come from international streamers, signaling rising global confidence in MENA’s content economy

Want deeper streaming insights?

Scan here to unlock the Co-Production Data Portal ***Access requires an active Co-Production Salon Annual Subscription**

A snapshot from the Global Demand tool on the Parrot Analytics platform reveals intriguing patterns in how far Arabic content truly travels—mapping the international performance of the top 10 most in-demand Arabic releases of 2025 (see page 33) and highlighting the key markets where each title performed best.

Global Travelability of Top 10 Arabic Series Released in 2025 (Peak Demand Average) (Data Source: Parrot Analytics – Demand Distribution by Country)

1. Very High (Outstanding) Demand

MENA markets — led by Egypt and Saudi Arabia — expectedly show the strongest demand for the top Arabic titles of 2025, confirming the region’s status as the core monetization base. This is great news for investors, because: Egypt excels in ad-supported models, Saudi Arabia drives subscription-based revenues.

Even better indicators: notable demand from non-Arabic-speaking countries such as Thailand, Malta, the US. and Netherlands indicate that titles with universal themes are breaking beyond diaspora audiences.

2. Emerging Markets

MENA’s untapped huge market is to the East/ Global South. Several emerging territories show “Good” travelability, especially: Latin America (Brazil, Argentina) Asia-Pacific (Thailand, Philippines) This is likely driven by shared storytelling formats: such as family dramas and telenovela-style narratives — that resonate crossculturally.

To expand reach, producers in MENA are now starting to leverage subtitling, dubbing, and localized marketing strategies.

3. Low Penetration Zones

Some regions — including Sub-Saharan Africa, parts of Eastern Europe, and East Asia — currently show limited visibility for Arabic titles.

These represent future growth markets, particularly as language localization, platform expansion, and distribution partnerships improve.

Content Categories from MENA with the Highest International Licensing Fees Historical epics and crime thrillers command the highest international licensing fees, often reaching double-digit thousands of dollars per episode, particularly for period dramas.

Examples include Muawiya by MBC Studios, Al Zind by Cedars Art, and El Hashashin by UMS: all of which demonstrate strong cross-border appeal through high production values, broad cultural interest, and a degree of curious controversy among various viewer groups,.

By comparison, 2nd- 3rd run/ library contemporary family dramas typically license internationally for around $5,000 to $10,000 per episode.

Action series from Egypt with minimal dialogue also perform strongly abroad, as their visual storytelling transcends language barriers, allowing producers to command premium rates.

Romantic comedies remain the most challenging to sell internationally; their localized humour often limits global appeal, making them more suited for regional markets and pricing strategies focused on domestic or Pan-Arab reach.

What’s Trending in MENA

MENA’S

TOP 10 Demanded Titles (ARABIC) (New releases 2025)

Title: And You Meet Your Lover (‫)وتقابل حبيبـب‬ Country of Origin: EGYPT Dialect: Egyptian Arabic Genre: Romance, Drama Release: Ramadan 2025 (March) Produced/ Distributed by: Synergy, UMS Streamed on: Watch IT Short synopsis: a wealthy woman who seeks a new romance after discovering her husband's infidelity and secret second marriage.

🇪🇬

Title: Fahd The Hero ( ‫) فهد البطل‬ Country of Origin: EGYPT Dialect: Egyptian Arabic Genre: Drama, Suspense, Action Release: Ramadan 2025 (March) Produced/ Distributed by: Synergy Streamed on: Watch IT, Viu Short synopsis: a young man from Upper Egypt who flees to Cairo after his uncle kills his father. Starting a new life as a marble craftsman, he finds himself drawn into dangerous conflicts and an intense quest for revenge.

🇪🇬

Title: Esh Esh ( ‫) إش إش‬ Country of Origin: EGYPT Dialect: Egyptian Arabic Genre: Social, Drama Release: Ramadan 2025 (March) Produced/ Distributed by: MBC Studios, Sadaf Media Prod.

Streamed on: Shahid Short synopsis: a young, beautiful woman who, born into poverty, is forced to become a dancer to provide for her family.

🇪🇬

Title: Mother ( ‫) أمى‬ Country of Origin: KSA Dialect: Saudi, Khaleeji Genre: Drama Release: May 2025 Produced/ Distributed by: Medyapim Streamed on: Shahid Short synopsis: A story that explores the struggles of multiple mothers, with a primary focus on a child named Basma who is living in an abusive home.

🇸🇦

Scan for next 5

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