Netflix had 3.8m subscribers by end-2023, followed by Shahid VIP with 3.5m and StarzPlay with 3m.
Netflix will lose its market leadership in the Middle East’s SVOD landscape to Shahid VIP, according to Digital TV Research.
By 2029, the region is projected to host 26m SVOD subscriptions across 13 Arabic countries, a significant surge from the 14m recorded in 2023.
At the close of 2023, Netflix led the market with 3.8m subscribers, closely trailed by Shahid VIP with 3.5m subscribers, and StarzPlay with 3m subscribers.
Simon Murray, Principal Analyst at Digital TV Research, emphasised the changing dynamics, and said: “As some of the US-based platforms lower their global rollout and local content commitments, the Arabic players will thrive.”
Shahid VIP, operated by the Saudi state-owned MBC Group, has been a prominent player since its inception. Originally launched in 2008 by MBC, the platform underwent a rebranding in 2020, solidifying its position and enhancing its appeal to audiences across the region.
