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The company said services would now be
available in 13 Arab markets, including Saudi Arabia, the United
Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Morocco but not Libya, Iraq, Syria, or
Yemen.
Spotify has been unofficially available in the Middle East for
several years via accounts usually registered in other markets
such as Europe.
Claudius Boller, who previously worked in the region with
Universal Music Group, is Spotify's managing director for the
Middle East and Africa.
Boller told Reuters Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, and Morocco
were expected to drive regional growth, pointing to the Middle
East's youthful population and high smartphone penetration.
Spotify will charge per month for its premium service 19.99
riyals ($5.33) in Saudi Arabia, 19.99 dirhams ($5.44) in the UAE,
49.99 Egyptian pounds ($2.8) in Egypt, and $4.99 elsewhere in
the Middle East and North Africa. Its free service is also now
available in the region.
Spotify also added the Palestinian territories on Tuesday. Its
services have been available in Israel since March.
Spotify also launched its 'Arab hub' collection of playlists of
Arab music on Wednesday.
The Swedish company, founded in 2008, listed on the New York
Stock Exchange in April. Before the launch in the Middle East
and North Africa, Spotify's music streaming services were
available in 65 markets, according to its website.
(Reporting by Alexander Cornwell; Editing by Jane Merriman and
Stephen Coates)
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