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Disney+ said it had gone live in 16 Arab
countries and was tailoring content for the region, including
offering Arabic subtitles on most offerings, particularly
popular content.
Netflix currently leads in the region, with more than 6.8
million subscribers, according to Digital TV Research. Starzplay,
an Abu Dhabi-based competitor, ranks second with just under 2
million, followed by Amazon with 1.4 million.
Some competitors offer original Arabic content. Netflix is
already working on second seasons for its popular series "Al
Rawabi School for Girls" and "Finding Ola".
MBC Group's streaming platform, Shahid, has ordered an Arabic
version of British comedy "The Office". Regional competitor OSN
has an Arabic version of U.S. legal series "Suits".
OSN previously had rights to carry Disney+ original content.
Starzplay is also working on original Arabic content, its CEO
Maaz Sheikh told Reuters last week. He said the region had
plenty of room for growth, since streaming penetration was 10%.
Digital TV Research forecasts that Netflix will grow its base to
11 million by 2027 and that Disney+ will by then take the second
spot with nearly 6.5 million. Amazon is seen reaching 4.8
million subscribers by 2027 and Starzplay just under 3 million.
At a Disney+ pre-launch event at Dubai Opera, Mohamed Diab, the
Egyptian director of Marvel Studios' "Moon Knight", was
promoting the original superhero series, which is making its
regional debut.
His wife, Sarah Goher, was also a producer on the series, which
features ancient Egyptian gods.
(Reporting by Yousef Saba; Editing by Bradley Perrett)
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