On Wednesday, June 8, Disney+ launched its streaming service in the Middle East and North Africa, seeking market share in a region where the demographic is full of young people but where few of them avail of such services.
The Disney+ logo is seen on the backdrop for the World Premiere of "The Mandalorian" at El Capitan theatre in Hollywood on November 13, 2019.
Disney+ on Arab Region
According to Reuter's report, Disney+ announced that it had launched in 16 Arab nations and was adapting material for the region, including Arabic subtitles on most of its offers, especially popular content.
Based on Digital TV Research's data, Netflix is currently leading the pack boasting more than 6.8 million customers in the region.
Meanwhile, Starzplay, an Abu Dhabi-based streaming service, lands in the second spot with under 2 million subscribers. The third spot goes to Amazon, with only 1.4 million users in the region.
Some of the Disney+ rivals are offering native Arabic content. In fact, Netflix is already working on the second season of two of its most popular shows on the platform, "Al Rawabi School for Girls" and "Finding Ola."
Shahid, the streaming platform of the MBC Group, has ordered an Arabic adaptation of the popular British sitcom "The Office." OSN, a regional competitor, also features an Arabic version of the American legal drama "Suits."
It is worth noting that Disney+ movies and tv series were originally available on OSN's streaming app.
Starzplay's CEO Maaz Sheikh also told Reuters last week that the company is opting for original Arabic programming. He claimed that the region had plenty of space and potential for expansion because streaming penetration was only 10%.
According to Digital TV Research, Netflix's subscriber base will rise to 11 million by 2027, with Disney+ coming in second with almost 6.5 million. Meanwhile, Amazon is forecasted to garner at least 4.8 million members, while Starzplay is expected to have just under 3 million.
Mohamed Diab, the Egyptian director of Marvel Studios' "Moon Knight," was promoting the original superhero series, which is making its regional debut, at a Disney+ pre-launch event at Dubai Opera.
Read also: Disney+ Adds Almost 8 Million New Subscribers While Netflix Lags Behind
What Are the Available Content in Disney+ UAE?
The streaming service will be available on June 8 and it will feature a collection of over 1,200 films, 1,000 series, and 100 exclusive originals.
Popular shows such as Grey's Anatomy, The Simpsons, and The Kardashian are up for streaming in general entertainment. While award-winning movies like Avatar and Free Guy are found in the movie marathon section.
Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe will also be able to watch titles such as Black Panther, Black Widow, Avengers: Endgame, and many more.
NatGeo documentaries and programs such as Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted, The Rescue, and Free Solo will be available on the streaming platform.
Of course, Disney will never be Disney without its classic films. Subscribers will be able to watch Snow White, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, The Lion King, and the popular Frozen series.
Even the live-action remakes of classic Disney films are available for streaming, such as Mulan, Dumbo, and the Academy Award-winning Cruella.
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Written by Joaquin Victor Tacla
