The Premiere YouTube creators included Bahrain’s Omar Farooq, the UAE’s Anas Bukhash, Morocco’s Taha Essou, Palestine’s Haifa Beseisso and Egyptian Sherif Nabil all amassing millions of views on YouTube and creating jobs through their work. The premiere content ranges from documentaries, to personal stories, set in Japan, Morocco, and Indonesia.

The shift reflects a wider trend across the region. YouTube creators across the Middle East and North Africa are rapidly becoming entertainment startups. Companies like Telfaz11 have scaled from popular YouTube series to successful feature films, even fostering new talent in Saudi cinema. Individual creators like Ahmed Al Nasheet now run full-fledged operations with dedicated teams. Similarly, Omar Farooq evolved from solo vlogging to launching “Atanafas,” a production company employing 20 people, creating diverse content for clients across MENA.

A red carpet kicked-off Cinema YouTube, followed by a fan meetup for more than 100 fans who will have the opportunity to watch the screenings and interact with their favourite creators.

The works premiered at Cinema YouTube included:

Escaping the Future by Omar Farouq (7.8M subscribers)

ABtalks Diaries Korea Edition by Anas Bukhash (2.83M subscribers)

Heritage by Taha Essou (2.59M subscribers)

Into the Dark by Haifa Beseisso (of Fly with Haifa, 818K subscribers)

Into the Fire: Mount Ijen by Sherif Nabil (644K subscribers)

Most of the films will be released on the creators channels in the coming weeks.

YouTube has billions of monthly logged-in users and every day people watch billions of hours of video and generate billions of views. The company also recently announced that on average, viewers are watching over one billion hours of YouTube content on televisions daily. As of May of 2024, YouTube reached 12 million people on connected TV in Saudi Arabia, 2.5 million in the United Arab Emirates & 600,000 in Qatar

YouTube’s new insights revealed that as of December 2024, the number of channels earning 7 figures or more in SAR increased by 40% year over year. Egypt also saw a 60% increase in channels reaching 7-figure annual revenues in EGP, while the UAE experienced a 15% growth in AED during the same time period, reflecting YouTube’s support for its partners and contributions to the creator economy. Globally, YouTube has paid out $70 billion USD to creators, artists, and media companies over the last three years.

New data from YouTube also highlights the global appeal and reach of YouTube creators in MENA, YouTube data found that over 95% of watch time for content from channels in the UAE came from outside the country, alongside over 60% for content produced by channels in Egypt.

In 2010, YouTube launched its Arabic-language user interface to help more people from across the region to share their voice with the world and so that more viewers could engage with the content they love. In 2012, YouTube launched the YouTube Partner Program in MENA to help creators earn a living by doing what they love.

The diversity of content reflects the richness of MENA’s stories and culture and in turn, the platform’s reach. YouTube reached 20 million, 7.5 million people over 18 in Saudi Arabia and the UAE respectively in May 2024. In Qatar, YouTube reached over 1.7 million people aged 25-54 during the same time period.

To help more creators share their stories in a way that is most authentic for them and their audience, YouTube offers a range of formats from video on demand (VOD) to podcasts, live & even bringing YouTube creators to the biggest screen in the home – TV. In May 2024, YouTube’s data indicates that the platform reached over 12 million people in Saudi Arabia, over 2.5 million people in the UAE and 600,000 people in Qatar over the age of 18 on connected TV.

In two decades, YouTube has contributed to culture and entertainment through video and built a thriving creative economy. YouTube shares revenue with 3 million creators, artists and partners globally, more than half a million of them started their channel over a decade ago. As YouTube enters its third decade, the platform continues to invest in supporting content creators across MENA.

News & Sports:

The impact of war in the region was reflected in YouTube’s Top Trending lists. Three of YouTube’s Trending Topics in MENA, were related to the war – with searches for Rafah, Houthi movement and Southern Lebanon all trending through the year. Likewise, regional representation in the Olympics was also centre stage with Algerian Boxer Imane Khlief appearing in the Trending Topics. According to YouTube’s Culture & Trends team, in MENA, there have been over 950M views on videos related to EA FC 24 in 2024

Gaming:

The top trending topics on YouTube in 2024 including games like EA Sports FC 24, Free Fire MAX and Poppy Playtime.

Pop Culture, Entertainment & Trends:

YouTube native dating reality show “Qesma w Naseeb” was also among the Trending Topics in MENA. YouTube data indicates that there were over 1 billion views of videos on Qesma w Naseeb’s official channel this year alone. The Asoka makeup trend also made waves in the trending topics with people styling with traditional Indian bridal hair, makeup, and outfits.

YouTube 2024 End of Year Lists:

Trending Topics (not ranked): EA Sports FC 24, Free Fire MAX, Al Shami, Rafah, Houthi movement, Southern Lebanon, Asoka (makeup trend), Poppy Playtime: Chapter 3, Imane Khelif, Qesma w Naseeb
Top Creators:

1. AboFlah
2. Majd Alzakout
3. BanderitaX
4. Abo Nooh
5. Shawar
6. ShongxBong
7. Alkaisr
8. Abo Rany
9. POWR Suhaib
10. Alkhal Mahdi

Top Songs:

1. Tamer Ashor – Haygyly Mawgoo3 (Egypt)
2. Mohamed Lazaar (Lazaro) – Mahboul Ana (Morocco)
3. Mahmoud El Leithy – Am Elmagaal (Egypt)
4. Assala & Ahmed Saad – Sabab Farhity (Syria & Egypt)
5. Assala – Fouq (Syria)
6. Cheb Hichem Tgv – Fatou Liyam (Algeria)
7. Lbenj – Hawasy (Morocco)
8. Wael Jassar – Koul Waad (Lebanon)
9. Cheb Hamidou – 3achkek idman (Algeria)
10. AL SHAMI – Sabran (Syria)

The new season includes diverse Saudi creators representing different fields from lifestyle to health, technology, and investment like Beeko, Faisal Alsaif, Sukkari Life, and Faris Alturki who will discuss topics that are top of mind for Saudi youth, such as the future of jobs & artificial intelligence, wellbeing and quality of life, the creator economy and sports. Guests include influential members of the public and private sectors in Saudi Arabia such as representatives from the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence (Dr. Raied Aljadaany), the Quality of Life Program (Ms. Noura Alyusuf), and private sector leaders in the creator economy (Kaswara Al-Khatib) and sports (Haya Sawan).

“YouTube is a reflection of what’s top of mind for Saudi youth thanks to our vibrant creator community in the Kingdom,” said Tarek Amin, YouTube’s Director in MENA. “They’ve built communities around topics that matter to them and their audience. This is why we decided to use Hekayat YouTube as a platform for our creators to engage with decision-makers on these topics and to help them share their experiences with the world” he added.

According to Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Statistics, 63% of Saudis are under the age of 30. YouTube data found that YouTube reached over 20 million people in Saudi Arabia over the age of 18 in December 2022 and the average person watched over 55 minutes of YouTube per day in June 2022.

The five-episode series is available on YouTube Arabia’s YouTube, participating creator’s channels and Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Anghami & Deezer.

These new fan-funding features offer a lower threshold that will allow more creators to make money doing what they love. Now, creators in Saudi Arabia that meet the below criteria will be able to activate fan-funding: 

• 500 subscribers
• 3 public uploads in the last 90 days
• Either 3,000 watch hours in the last 365 days or 3 million Shorts views in the last 90 days
• No active Community Guidelines strike

Commenting on the expansion of YPP, Tarek Amin, YouTube’s Director in MENA said, “Creators are the lifeblood of YouTube and we’re committed to making it the most rewarding place for them — creatively, emotionally, and financially. We hope that this lower eligibility criteria will help support creators who are early in their YouTube journey, paving the way for a new generation of content creators”.

Community engagement and connecting with viewers is at the core of the new fan-funding features. Super Chat & Super Stickers will allow viewers to purchase brightly colored, pinned chat messages and stickers during live streams and premieres hosted by creators. Fans can support their favorite creators and stand out from the crowd, while creators can identify and connect with their top fans while accessing new revenue streams.

Super Thanks is an easy way to give back and show appreciation for creators and their content. Viewers have a fun way to show support and stand out in the comments section with colorful comments, while creators can feel the love for their content with every contribution and connect directly with fans.

As for channel memberships, these will allow viewers to join a creator’s channel through monthly payments and, give paying viewers members-only perks like badges, emojis, and other goods. Creators can access these new features through the 'Earn' tab in YouTube Studio where they will see if they’re eligible to apply for this new tier. Automatic emails will also be sent once a creator qualifies to apply. It can take up to four weeks for the feature to roll out to 100% of creators.

The YouTube Partnerships Program was one of the first revenue-sharing models on the internet. Creators with more than 1,000 subscribers and have 4,000 watch hours in the last 365 days (or 10 million Shorts views in the last 90 days) will continue to have access to the revenue share from ads and YouTube Premium. 

Showcasing the limitless potential AI can bring to creators, artists, and the creative industry, key announcements include:

• The introduction of Dream Screen, a new generative AI feature to unlock creative expression on Shorts: YouTube will introduce Dream Screen, a new experimental feature that allows creators to add AI-generated video or image backgrounds to their Shorts simply by typing an idea into a prompt for creators. With Dream Screen, creators will be able to generate new, fantastic settings for their Shorts that are only limited by bounds of their imagination.

  • Since launching Shorts in 2020, Shorts has now climbed to over 70B daily views globally from over 2B logged-in users every month. 

• YouTube is bringing Aloud, an AI-powered dubbing tool, into YouTube so creators easily reach audiences well beyond their primary language. 

  • Available to select creators, the feature is currently being tested in English, Portuguese, and Spanish.

• Next year, YouTube Studio will tap generative AI to spark video ideas and draft outlines to help creators brainstorm. These insights are personalized for each channel and based on what audiences are already watching and interested in. 

  • YouTube has been testing early versions of AI-powered tools in YouTube Studio with creators, and more than 70 percent of those surveyed said it’s helped them develop and test ideas for videos.

Commenting on the new AI-powered tools, Tarek Amin, Director of YouTube in the Middle East and North Africa said, “We’re committed to helping creators across the region to thrive on YouTube by helping them to take their creativity to new levels through these AI-powered tools which were designed with content creators and their needs in mind”. 

Neal Mohan, YouTube’s Chief Executive Officer said, “At YouTube, we want to make it easier for everyone to create. Building on our long track record of innovation and our strong expertise in AI, we believe these updates will enable creators to push the boundaries of creative expression — by making difficult things simple and impossible dreams possible. Today’s announcements are part of YouTube’s continued commitment to putting creative power into the hands of billions of people. This is the start of a new era of creativity, and we can’t wait to see what our incredible community of creators and artists do next.”

At the end of each month, we, at Netizency, study the popular conversations happening on social media and online platforms across the Gulf to highlight the most relevant trends and analyze the discussions that have gained momentum. To do so effectively, we’ve identified a group of keywords in Arabic and English that define conversations based on the region’s most relevant industries. We then classify them according to the volume of mentions and analyze the topics of conversation across social and online media between the first day of the month to the last.

In June, the categories’ rankings underwent quite a noteworthy shake-up. Entertainment took the lead, surpassing Electronics, which now holds the second position. Finance moved up from fifth to third place for the first time in over a year, pushing Education to the fourth rank. Following in order are Health, Automotive, Malls & Retail, and Telecommunication.

There’s no doubt that your social media feeds were flooded this month with posts about OceanGate's Titan, the Titanic, Hajj, Eid al-Adha, Father’s Day, Egypt’s shark attack on the Russian tourist, and summer vacation. These stories were all over the internet and impossible to miss! But if you thought that was the end of June’s trending topics, think again! Let’s dive into the key stories that shaped the online chatter in the GCC this month across the top three categories: Entertainment, Electronics, and Finance.

Top Themes

Entertainment

Football aficionados, our first story is for you! The Entertainment dashboard witnessed a spike following the news of Karim Benzema's move to Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia. Passionate users heavily shared all the updates on #Benzema2Ittihad along with videos covering his grand reception at Al-Jawhara Stadium of King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah. The event was attended by over 60,000 enthusiastic supporters of the football club. The flood of comments on relevant posts revealed the immense pride of Saudis in their country’s ability to attract top-notch players like Benzema and even Cristiano Ronaldo, who recently joined Al Nassr FC, cementing Saudi Arabia’s position as a true football industry disruptor globally.

The Barbie movie stunts have also taken over the internet, leaving a trail of pink in their wake. From Barbie-themed Xbox consoles to Airbnb’s Barbie Dreamhouse stay in Malibu, it is clear that the brand’s marketing team has reached new heights of hype-building mastery, with clearly zero budget restraints! And with that obviously comes the plethora of memes and posts that we are always excited to sniffle through. One interesting story that sparked humorous responses from the GCC community was the revelation that the movie had caused an actual global shortage of pink paint due to its extensive use in its sets (talk about leaving a colorful impact!). We’ve also come across content from VOX and Novo Cinemas posting countdowns to thrill their fans about its upcoming arrival. But amidst all the excitement, there was some drama too! The #NotMyKen controversy emerged as some fans took to social media arguing that Ryan Gosling is too old to play Ken. Gosling’s response to the backlash was cited by many users and news outlets, where he said, "If you don't want to play with my Ken, there are plenty of others to choose from.” Besides that, it is safe to say that the movie's anticipation has hit a fever pitch as reflected in the sheer volume of mentions including trending TikTok filters we've seen (and continue to!) this month.

June also unfolded as a gamer's paradise, brimming with thrilling events that set the gaming community on fire. The Summer Game Fest 2023 kicked things off, grabbing the spotlight with major announcements and reveals. Gamers in the GCC eagerly shared trailers, recaps, and reviews of the showcased games, including The Lost Crown, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Spider-Man 2, and more.

Next in line was the Dubai Esports and Games Festival, which specifically ignited conversations among UAE-based users. The buzz around the five days of action-packed events was amplified by the likes of Dubai Media Office, Dubai Police, Expo City Dubai, du, and others who actively posted about the festival, further fueling the momentum. The anticipation continued to mount for Gamers8, the upcoming Saudi esports festival set to take place in July. The festival promises a fantastic lineup of concerts, esports competitions, panel discussions, workshops, and community gaming activations. And you know what that means — lots and lots of online chatter! Notably, ticket sales for Rabeh Saqer's concert, the first scheduled performance at the gaming festival, garnered numerous retweets. So this month was truly eventful for gamers, filled with thrilling experiences and plenty to talk about.

Let’s now move to the second top category for this month and see what shaped the conversation spikes there.

Electronics & Technology

Unsurprisingly, Apple once again emerged as the leader in the Electronics and Technology realm as users in the GCC were extensively posting about WWDC 2023. The annual developer conference unveiled an array of releases, such as the 15-inch MacBook Air, Mac Studio update, iPadOS 17, and new iPad features, among many others. However, GCC users specifically took an interest in the arrival of Apple Vision Pro, lauded as the brand's first groundbreaking spatial computer. Tech influencers posted reviews and first impressions vlogs, highlighting Vision Pro's ability to seamlessly blend digital content with the physical world, enabling users to stay connected while remaining present. Equally captivating, iOS 17 gained traction for its family-friendly Check-in feature, allowing users to notify friends and family of their safe arrival at a destination. Furthermore, hardcore tech influencers dwelled on other noteworthy updates introduced in iOS 17, including improvements to communication apps, easier sharing through AirDrop, enhanced text input capabilities, and new experiences with Journal and StandBy, among others.

Google has also made a notable appearance in this category’s discussions this month, with posts focusing on its latest feature and updates. Among the news that picked momentum is Google’s decision to remove Canadian news articles from its search engine following the passage of The Online News Act (Bill C-18), a new law aiming to regulate internet giants and assist the Canadian media industry in recovering financial woes. Additionally, content about Google’s new enhancement to its image recognition tool, "Google Lens" has gained traction. The new feature allows users to describe various skin conditions and obtain initial diagnoses by searching for similar images online. While Google emphasized that it doesn't substitute medical advice, users in the GCC praised this innovative advancement and sought tips on utilizing it.

Galaxy Unpacked 2023 also emerged in this month's top word cloud of this category. Driven by Android fanatics, we’ve seen posts announcing the upcoming conference that is set to take place at the end of July in Seoul, South Korea. The discussions have been buzzing with anticipation, particularly surrounding the potential models set to be unveiled, including Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, Galaxy Z Flip 5, Galaxy Tab S9 series, Galaxy Watch S6 series, and Galaxy Buds 3. @SaudiAndroid, @Andro_Arabic, @TariqAljaser, and others emerged as the key influential figures prompting the conversation, enthusiastically tweeting news and leaked images of these soon-to-be-revealed devices. However, amidst the buzz, we’ve seen negative sentiments creeping in as some users expressed concerns about Samsung’s lack of creativity or deviation from previous models.

Up next: What’s trending across the Finance conversation?

Finance

As mentioned previously, the Finance conversation made a significant jump from the fifth rank in May to claiming the third spot this June. This spike was driven by several noteworthy events, and here are some of the highlights. 

The New Global Financing Pact summit held in Paris became a major catalyst for the Finance discussions this month. This high-profile event brought together world leaders and finance executives for two days, with a focus on addressing climate change, and poverty and forging a new agreement between affluent and less prosperous nations in alignment with the current climate state. Analysis articles, recap posts, and videos featuring speakers deliberating key topics that dominated the discussions surrounding the summit. Interestingly, average users also contributed to the chatter — but in their own, unique way of course! To clarify, there was a significant number of retweets from users in Saudi Arabia, showcasing videos capturing the arrival of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman at the summit, which garnered admiration from the community. Additionally, users in the UAE displayed significant interest in HE Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, who spearheaded the Climate Finance Reforms at the summit. They actively retweeted posts featuring him at the event and left comments reflecting their admiration, pride, and support for his achievements.

The announcement of the return of Abu Dhabi Finance Week 2023 (ADFW) sparked a surge in Finance discussions this month as well. Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the second edition of ADFW is set to take place in November. With this year's main theme being 'Investing in the Transition Era,’ the conversation primarily revolved around the event's mission to foster collaboration on capital flows, monetary systems, and global financial impacts during this transitional period.

Bank Albilad also attracted attention in June after announcing its achievement of successfully completing the technical permit requirement and becoming the first Saudi bank to provide Open Banking Services. There was widespread coverage in mainstream media, with interested users responding positively and commending the bank for its dedication to enhancing innovation within the digital banking and fintech sector.

That wraps up our June monthly roundup. But you can always get the freshest trends and social media news delivered straight to your inbox every week by subscribing to our newsletter here.

YouTube announced today the YouTube Ads Cannes Leaderboard, the annual top 10 most watched ads on YouTube in the last 12 months (June 2022- May 2023). The YouTube Ads Leaderboard, now in its eighth year, spans 28 countries across five continents and is seen as a source of pride for the winning brands and agencies throughout the advertising community.

The YouTube Cannes Ads Leaderboard is a list of the top 10 most popular video ads globally from June 2021 to May 2022. The ranking is determined using some of YouTube's strongest signals of viewer affinity including watch time, paid views, and organic views.

The YouTube Ads Leaderboard showcases the most creative ads that people choose to watch. Ads are determined by an algorithm that uses data (e.x. public views, organic views, organic ratio, etc.) pulled from an internal dashboard that indicates audience engagement and retention. YouTube Ads Leaderboard placements are also limited to one ad per brand in order to better reflect the broad range, quality, and popularity of YouTube ads throughout the year. This year’s list totals 213.5MM views, 2.5MM likes, and 70K comments.

Three advertisers in MENA made it to the top list this year –

• Qatar Airways, Qatar –  Official FIFA World Cup song featuring DJ Rodge and Cheb Khaled
• Orange Egypt, Egypt – World Cup 2022 campaign – Crazy about Football
• Telecom Egypt, Egypt – WE Summer Campaign 2022 with Akram Hosny. Telecom Egypt became the first advertiser in the Middle East to appear twice on a YouTube Global Ads Leaderboard within one year.

Anthony Nakache, Managing Director for Google, MENA, said, "It's great to see the MENA region's diversity and creativity shine through on YouTube this year. This exemplifies the different formats on YouTube that allow brands to explore different styles and approaches to storytelling on the platform.  The viewership and engagement numbers are a testament to how great creative can connect with people on YouTube."

"YouTube is one of the main platforms that helps us increase top-of-mind awareness. Different Google solutions such as Performance Max, DV360, and App campaigns help us increase the business results for app installs and lead generation with a very efficient cost.” said, the spokesperson for Orange Egypt.

Mohamed Abutaleb, Commercial Vice President, Telecom Egypt further added, In today’s competitive technology marketplace, agility is key to product success. I rely on my teams to always be ready to test, adjust and reshape our digital communication to create the best advertising experience while staying true to our commercial strategy and long-haul objectives. Google ad technology has been integral to our success on that front.”

Commenting on the recognition, Qatar Airways' spokesperson said, “The official Qatar Airways FIFA World Cup™ song was released in November and premiered at an event hosted by Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, Mr. Akbar Al Baker. “Champions”, which is dedicated to fans everywhere, featuring Cheb Khaled and DJ Rodge received 23+ million views on YouTube and was available for download and streaming – it was the second iconic track specially created for the airline during the year.” “YouTube is a great place for driving brand awareness and one of the key channels to communicate to a wide audience of football fans from around the world.”

Netflix took the number one spot with a well-executed prank in New York City promoting the new Tim Burton series and Addams Family spinoff Wednesday. Max’s official trailer for the new hit series Last of Us generated the most comments with an impressive 26K.

At the end of each month, we, at Netizency, study the popular conversations happening on social media and online platforms across the Gulf to highlight the most relevant trends and analyze the discussions that have gained momentum. To do so effectively, we’ve identified a group of keywords in Arabic and English that define conversations according to the most relevant industries in the region. We then classify them according to the volume of mentions and analyze the topics of conversation across social and online media between the first day of the month to the last.

Despite capturing a considerable dip in its conversation volume, Electronics managed to maintain its reigning position as the most popular category in the GCC this month. All other categories held steady in their rankings as compared to April.

May, the month that felt like a year, flooded our screens with jokes and memes as if we were enduring an eternity instead of just 31 days, and trapped in a never-ending loop, yearning for the month to end instead of simply passing through! Amidst this comical chaos, certain topics emerged as the champions of the virtual realm. Join us as we explore the ones that had the online community buzzing during this seemingly endless month.

Top Themes

Electronics & Technology

Apple was a key champion in the Electronics conversation this month, provoking a mixed bag of emotions ranging from pure excitement to intense outrage. Starting on a positive note, the highly anticipated iPhone 15 took the spotlight as recent leaks unveiled its design and functionalities. Tech enthusiasts eagerly shared the leaked photos of the upcoming range, sparking a frenzy of discussions surrounding its standout features, including the exclusive Pro Max periscope camera and lightning-fast 15W wireless charging. Moreover, Apple Watch emerged as a true hero in a heartwarming tale of a woman whose life was saved by its timely intervention. When she suddenly collapsed due to a serious injury in her heart artery, her Apple Watch sprang into action, alerting emergency services and earning high praise for its life-saving capabilities. Another piece of news that amplified the positive sentiment around the tech giant was the grand entrance of the ChatGPT app on iOS, which was met with virtual high-fives as users eagerly embraced the opportunity to chat with the AI-powered marvel via their Apple devices. But alas, not all was rosy in the Apple conversation. The brand’s decision to discontinue "My Photo Stream" triggered a wave of discontent, with frustrated users vowing to defect to Samsung or other contenders in protest and lamenting Apple's history of removing useful features and gadgets for profit.

Additionally, the conversation surrounding foldable phones skyrocketed in May, largely driven by the announcement of upcoming releases from industry giants. Among the highly anticipated contenders is the Motorola Razr, scheduled to debut in June. Users expressed their eagerness for the arrival of the "Razr Ultra," boasting a large, expansive screen for full apps and more. Google Pixel Fold was another model that garnered attention in the foldable frenzy. Despite some criticism regarding its design and price, the Pixel Fold showcased impressive software, cameras, and overall appeal, as evident from users' positive comments. Meanwhile, Samsung was rumored to unveil the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 on July 26, hot on the heels of its competitors. Huawei's Mate X3 foldable phone also joined the conversation, boasting a book-style foldable design that transforms it from a 6.4-inch phone into a 7.85-inch tablet when opened. Remarkably, the Mate X3 weighed less than the iPhone 14 Pro Max and had a slimmer profile when unfolded, earning Huawei the title of the lightest commercially available foldable phone. So, in this unfolding saga of foldable phones, the excitement and competition were as flexible as the devices themselves!

Generative AI’s growing prominence has made its presence in the trending conversation across this category inevitable. The buzz surrounding this technology is diverse and dynamic, but there are two distinct themes that stood out as key drivers of the discourse in the Gulf throughout the month. One prominent theme revolved around the impact of AI on jobs, generating a mixed range of sentiments as apparent from users' tweets and comments on relevant discussions. Some expressed concerns about the unknown implications of AI's rise and its potential threat to employment, while others enthusiastically embraced its transformative potential. The second trending theme in the AI conversation highlighted the partnership between Abu Dhabi's Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) and Google, utilizing AI to tackle traffic congestion and enhance transportation efficiency and aims to create a smarter and more connected city. As the conversation unfolds, it becomes evident that AI's rise sparks both concerns and excitement, leaving us to ponder: Will we ride the wave of opportunity or get caught in the traffic of uncertainty?

Next up: Entertainment conversation trends!

Entertainment

The Entertainment conversation witnessed a spike thanks to two grand royal celebrations that took place in May. From the United Kingdom to Jordan, the conversations were filled with excitement, admiration, and a deep appreciation for the beauty and diversity of our world – of course with some memes and jokes as well! First, the coronation of King Charles III unfolded as a historic spectacle, steeped in tradition and grandeur. Social media feeds were flooded with videos of the event but with a special focus on the elegance and grace of Kate Middleton. Her fashion choices, tiara selection, and overall radiance garnered admiration and awe.

Meanwhile, in Jordan, a different kind of celebration took center stage. The anticipation leading up to Crown Prince Hussein's wedding reverberated through social media feeds, as Jordanians, Saudis, and all Arabs united to honor the beloved prince and his bride-to-be, Rajwa Alseif. One moment that truly encapsulated this unwavering pride was the unforgettable henna party hosted by Queen Rania of Jordan. It was a vibrant and joyous affair, brimming with traditional music, dance, and the intricate artistry of henna tattoos. Users across various social media platforms marveled at the stunning display of Jordanian heritage, expressing their admiration for the royal family's dedication to preserving and sharing their rich cultural traditions. These royal celebrations not only brought joy and excitement to the Entertainment scene, but also served as a reminder of the power of tradition, cultural heritage, and the unifying force of celebrations that transcend borders.

The Entertainment conversation was also ignited by the electrifying ‘Rawaea Almugi’ night hosted on the Abo Baker Salem stage in the KSA. The lineup of popular Arab singers, including Sherine, Angham, Mai Farouk, Zena Emaad, and many more created a buzz that flooded our social media feeds. Countless videos from the concert attendees filled our TikTok’s For You page, leaving us yearning to be a part of this unforgettable experience. Comparisons between each singer's performances became a topic of conversation. Users were specifically excited about their rendition of the timeless classics, where the nostalgic melodies and poignant lyrics transported everyone back to the good old days, evoking a sense of longing and appreciation for the sheer beauty of the chosen words and music, rekindling fond memories, and reigniting the passion for these timeless treasures.

The Cannes Film Festival also created an uproar in the Entertainment world with its allure and captivating moments. Users eagerly shared their thoughts on celebrities’ fashion choices, while news outlets buzzed with updates on the prestigious awards and movie rankings. Among the highlights was the groundbreaking victory of the Egyptian film "Eissa," which secured the esteemed Rail d'Or Award. Additionally, the Jordanian film "Inshallah a Boy" garnered two accolades at Cannes' Critics Week, running alongside the main festival. Notably, the warm welcome extended to Johnny Depp at the festival's opening stirred discussions among his Gulf-based fans, considering his past legal battles. The conversation encompassed a wide range of topics, and while there's much more to discuss, it's time to shine the spotlight on Education.

Education

Saudi Arabia made remarkable strides in the Education conversation this month, with notable achievements to celebrate. The Saudi Chemistry team secured two medals at the 57^th edition of the Mendeleev Chemistry Olympiad held in Kazakhstan, adding to the Kingdom's impressive tally of 21 awards in the competition. In other news, Saudi students also excelled at the International Invention, Innovation, and Technology Exhibition (ITEX 2023) in Kuala Lumpur, winning a total of 18 medals, including 10 gold and 8 silver, across various fields. These achievements demonstrate the Ministry of Education's commitment to discovering, nurturing, and supporting talented students who represent the Kingdom on the global stage. And they were truly remarkable achievements that left academics inspired, sparking an outpouring of admiration and congratulations in response to relevant posts.

In a major education breakthrough, the UAE witnessed a spike in Education conversations as news spread about iSHP 2.0, an innovative AI-integrated education portal that was recently launched by School Hack. This cutting-edge platform is set to transform interactive learning in leading UAE schools, striking the perfect balance between AI assistance and human ingenuity. With unique user numbers, students can engage with AI in a controlled environment, unleashing its potential while maintaining integrity. This showcases the UAE's commitment to innovation in the education sector, leaving students, parents, and teachers buzzing with excitement and positive comments all over relevant posts.

The Education conversation in the UAE also experienced a significant boost as news outlets covered the changes at the Ministry of Education. Intriguing developments unfolded as new ministers were chosen, tasked with re-evaluating the way young people are taught. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, emphasized the importance of preparing graduates for the future workplace. The changes include structural reforms, with a particular focus on enhancing state schools and early childhood development. This profound shift towards a dynamic approach to learning has generated a palpable sense of anticipation and sparked discussions among students, parents, teachers, and the community at large – and rightfully so.

That's a wrap on our monthly roundup. But you can stay in the loop with our exclusive newsletter, delivering the latest trends directly to your inbox each week. Subscribe here.

Content creators around the world rely on YouTube to share their stories with the world using the different formats the platform has to offer and musical artists are no different. YouTube announced today its latest comprehensive metrics for artists on the platform to meet the demands for multi-format standards of success.

As of this month, the ‘Analytics for Artists' offering will expand to include Shorts data in the ‘Total Reach’ feature. This includes fan-uploaded Shorts in addition to official content uploaded by the artist and long-form videos uploaded by fans. This new metric shows how many people an artist’s music is reaching across all formats, making it the most comprehensive snapshot of the size of an artist's audience on YouTube. YouTube also created a brand new Songs section in Analytics to help artists see how fans are listening to their music or creating with it, across all video formats, all in one place as YouTube continues to see an increase in reach for multiformat artists on YouTube.

For example, in January 2023, fan-created Shorts increased the average artist's audience of unique viewers by more than 80% globally. Meaning that fans on Shorts are nearly doubling an artist’s total reach, so artists can spend more time doing what they do best: making great music. Moreover, Shorts is helping attract new fans. Artists active on Shorts saw more than 50% of their new channel subscribers coming directly from their Shorts posts on average.

Nigerian artist Rema & American sensation Selena Gomez were able to leverage all the video formats available on YouTube. After they surpassed 60 million unique viewers of their official music videos and Shorts for Calm Down, fans uploaded Shorts featuring their track, taking viewership to another level: adding 350 million unique viewers in January, an increase of over 500%.

American singer Oliver Tree is also taking advantage of all of the video formats on YouTube, leaning into the viral success of Miss You, uploading 20 Shorts and 4 long-form videos tied to it. Ultimately, his channel's monthly viewers increased from 6 million to 75 million in just over 4 months. Oliver’s fans brought in another 1.8 billion views in January by uploading Shorts featuring this track.

While Shorts’ growth has been generating 50 billion daily views as of December 2022, it continues to act as the entry point, leading fans to discover the depth of an artist’s catalog, including music videos, interviews, live performances, lyric videos, and more.  

The announcement came as part of YouTube’s ongoing efforts to support musicians and multiformat creators around the world – whether through long-form videos, live streams, Shorts, and more, helping them diversify the ways they engage with their fans.