Skip to main content
Mideast & North Africa

Beyond Entertainment: How YouTube Reflected MENA's 2024

03 Dec, 2024

[[read-time]] min read

youtube_social_icon_white
YouTube Arabia team
Collage of 8 content creators' headshots all smiling

It's that time of year again - when we look back at all the amazing things that happened on YouTube in the Middle East and North Africa! This year's trends show just how much YouTube has become a central part of life in the region, reflecting everything from major news events and sporting moments to the hottest music and gaming trends.

Here are some of the highlights:

  • Palestine, the Olympics, and EA FC 24 Dominate Top Trending Topics: The impact of war was deeply felt across the region, and this was reflected in YouTube's trending topics. Searches for "Rafah," "Houthi movement," and "Southern Lebanon" were amongst the most popular, highlighting how people turned to YouTube for authoritative news and information during this critical time.
  • The Olympics in MENA: Algerian boxer Imane Khelif's Olympic success also captured the region's attention, showcasing the power of sports to unite and inspire. And let's not forget the gaming world – EA FC 24 also made it to the trending topics list!
  • A vertical infographic displaying the top 10 trending topics on YouTube in the MENA region for 2024. The topics are presented in a randomized order and include a mix of gaming titles (EA Sports FC 24, Free Fire MAX, Poppy Playtime: Chapter 3), news events (Rafah, Houthi movement, Southern Lebanon), a popular music artist (Al Shami), a makeup trend (Asoka), a sports figure (Imane Khelif), and a YouTube reality show (Qesma w Naseeb). The infographic is titled "TOP 10 TOPICS" and includes a small YouTube play button logo at the top. The design is simple and bold with a black and white color scheme. A note specifying that the topics are not ranked is also included
  • A vertical infographic listing the top 10 YouTube creators in the MENA region for 2024. The list is presented in descending order, with Abo Flah at the top and Alkhal Mahdi at the bottom. Each creator's name is accompanied by their ranking number. The infographic is titled "TOP 10 CREATORS" and includes a small YouTube play button logo at the top. The overall design is simple and bold, with a black and white color scheme.
  • A vertical infographic showcasing the top 10 trending songs on YouTube in the MENA region for 2024. The list is presented in descending order, with "Hygyly Mawgoo" by Tamer Ashor at the top and "Sabran" by Al Shami at the bottom. Each song title is accompanied by the artist's name and ranking number. The infographic is titled "TOP 10 SONGS" and includes a small YouTube play button logo at the top. The overall design is simple and bold, with a teal and black color scheme.
  • Gaming Creators Rise to the Top: Gaming continues to be a massive force on YouTube, with creators like Abo Flah, BanderitaX, ShongBong, Abo Noo7, and POWR Suhaib leading the charge. Games like EA Sports FC 24, Free Fire MAX, and Poppy Playtime were all the rage, proving that YouTube is the place to be for gamers and fans alike.
  • Love is in the Air (and on YouTube!): YouTube native reality show, "Qesma w Naseeb," took the region by storm, racking up over a billion views this year! This shows how YouTube is pushing boundaries and creating original content that resonates with audiences.
  • Breakout artists Al Shami and Mohamed Lazaar (Lazaro) Top the Charts: Music lovers, rejoice! Breakout artists Al Shami and Mohamed Lazaar (Lazaro) made waves this year, with their catchy tunes climbing the YouTube charts. Tamer Ashour's "Haygyly Mawgoo" and Lazaro's "Mahboul Ana" secured the top two spots, proving that YouTube is a launchpad for emerging musical talent.
Link to Moroccan artist Lazaro's hit song "Mahboul Ana"
10:25

Want to see the full lists? Check out the Top Trending Topics, Top Songs, and Top Creators of 2024 below!

This year's trends highlight the incredible diversity and creativity of the MENA region, and we can't wait to see what 2025 brings!

What were your favorite YouTube moments of 2024?

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: Kuwaiti gaming sensation continues to top YouTube’s top creators lists for the fourth year in a row with over 43 million subscribers, his videos have amassed more than 6.5 billion views.
  2. Majd Alzakout: UAE-based Syrian artist & lifestyle creator Majd continues to gain popularity across MENA, with over 2.2 billion views, including his most popular shorts video with over 47 million views.
  3. BanderitaX: Saudi gaming creator Bandar’s authenticity continues to attract audiences across MENA with over 5.4 billion views and 18.1 million subscribers.
  4. Abo Nooh: Saudi Gaming creator Abo Nooh appeared in the top trending creators list for the second year in the row.
  5. Shawar: Egyptian creator Shawar’s humour captured the attention of over 13.1 million subscribers. His top three shorts have over 383 million views alone.
  6. ShongxBong: Another force in the world of gaming content, Saudi Arabia’s SHoNgxBoNg’s unique gaming style continues to attract billions of views.
  7. Alkaisr: Egyptian multiformat comedy creator Alkaisr’s blend of long-form, livestream and shorts amassed over 7 billion views.
  8. Abo Rany: Palestinian creator Abo Rany’s daily vlogs caught the attention of over 3 million subscribers.
  9. POWR Suhaib: Saudi-based Palestinian creator Suhaib is another renowned name in the world of gaming in Saudi Arabia with over 7.3 million subscribers.
  10. Alkhal Mahdi: Lebanon based Mahdi’s skits and mini-dramedies have amassed over 678 million views.

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)
Posted in:

Related stories