Netflix and MBC's Shahid team up for first joint subscription in Middle East

Groundbreaking bundle is available now in Saudi Arabia ahead of planned Mena roll-out

Global streaming giant Netflix, which produced the popular programme Squid Game, will now be available with MBC's Shahid platform. Reuters

Netflix and MBC Group’s Shahid platform will be available through a single subscription for the first time in the Middle East and North Africa, as part of a new partnership announced on Monday.

The regional agreement, the first of its kind for Netflix in Mena, sees both streaming services offered together through MBCNOW – a digital entertainment aggregator launched earlier this year by MBC Group. The bundle will also include MBC’s suite of linear TV channels.

The bundle is now available in Saudi Arabia through major retailers and online outlets. MBC confirmed to The National that it will expand across the GCC and the wider Mena region "after the summer", with an exact date to be announced in the near future.

MBC Group says the combined offer caters to a wide range of audiences in the GCC and beyond, featuring a mix of international and Arabic-language content across genres.

MBC's Shahid is the most popular Arabic-language streaming platform. Photo: MBC

“To have two streaming giants – Shahid and Netflix – come together under one platform is something never seen before in Saudi Arabia and the wider Mena region,” said Fadel Zahreddine, group director of emerging media at MBC Group. “This is a major milestone in the region’s digital media evolution.”

Bhanu Chaddha, director of distribution and TV products at MBC Group, called the partnership “the future of streaming".

"We’re thrilled to bring Netflix content to our audiences under the convenience of a single subscription.”

Mohammed Al Kuraishi, Netflix’s head of business development and partnerships for the Middle East and Africa, said the partnership would give users easier access to a broad range of global and regional programming. “This collaboration brings an unparalleled entertainment offering to our members and puts them at the heart of the experience."

The new Shahid + Netflix Pack combines Shahid’s Arabic-language shows, films and documentaries with Netflix’s full catalogue of global series, movies, live events and gaming content. MBC Group says the package offers more than 21 per cent savings compared to subscribing to each service individually.

MBCNOW was launched in February as a centralised hub for live and on-demand viewing, aiming to integrate the brand's traditional broadcast and digital services. With the addition of Netflix, the platform is now positioned as one of the region’s most comprehensive entertainment offerings.