YouTube released a list of this year’s top trending videos in the Middle East and North Africa on Wednesday.
Mohamed Moshaya, one of the first Arab creators dedicated entirely to family content, topped the list with a video of a compilation of his adventures with his three kids.
Like last year, all of 2017’s most trending non-music videos are by the region’s YouTube creators.
The results are also reflective of the diversity of YouTube’s audience in the Middle East. This year’s most trending music videos start with “Khamsa Adwaa” (Five Lights), a Saudi band made up of young girls. The list also includes Moroccan pop sensation Saad Lamjarad, as well as the hit single “Talat Daqat” (Three Beats) by Egypt’s Abu featuring iconic film star Yousra.
YouTube said the region’s watch time, second only to the US, grew by 60 percent last year, and by 90 percent on mobile. “We are proud of how far the Arab creator community has come, having tripled in size in the last three years. These channels grew not just in number of subscribers, but also in quality and variety, as content uploaded grew by 80 percent when compared to last year,” YouTube said.
Saudi Arabia currently constitutes one-third of total watch time on YouTube in the Arab world with 65 percent annual growth in watch time on mobile devices, of which the top content viewed includes entertainment, music and education. As for content creation, 25 percent of video uploads in the Arab world are from Saudi Arabia and 15 percent of the total watch time of local Saudi content is from outside of Saudi Arabia.
Watch time of female-led channels in the Kingdom grew by 75 percent in 2016. Moreover, the fastest growing female YouTube creators in the Arab world come from Saudi Arabia.
Top trending videos of 2017:
1. Top comedy sketch compilations by Mmoshaya
2. “The iPad Generation” episode by Swar Shuaib
3. Ramadan comedy sketch by Shady Srour
4. Lie Detector Test Challenge with Danyah Shafei by D7oomy
5. Wedding night comedy sketch by Nour Stars
Top trending music videos of 2017:
1. Five Lights — “HUSH“
2. Saad Lamjared — “LET GO“
3. Nasr Al-Bahhar — “Ma Rad Ilay“
4. Aymane Serhani — “Nebghi Djini Bsurvet“
5. Cairokee & Tarek El-Sheikh — “Al-Keif“
Mmoshaya 2017’s most trending YouTube video in MENA
Mmoshaya 2017’s most trending YouTube video in MENA
Saudi Arabia world’s safest and most attractive investment destination, says chairman of Sumou Holding
Saudi Arabia has emerged as one of the world’s safest and most attractive destinations for investment, supported by the strength and resilience of its economy, according to Ayed bin Farhan Al-Qahtani, chairman of Sumou Holding.
Al-Qahtani said the Kingdom’s economy has consistently demonstrated its ability to navigate global and regional crises. He noted that Saudi Arabia has historically adapted to challenging conditions and emerged stronger, thanks to prudent economic policies and effective governance, both of which have reinforced the market’s financial strength. Al-Qahtani added that Saudi Vision 2030 has reshaped the structure of the national economy by diversifying income sources and leveraging the country’s core strengths, creating a more flexible and sustainable economic environment capable of withstanding global volatility.
According to Al-Qahtani, business activity across Saudi Arabia continues to operate normally despite current global uncertainties, highlighting the adaptability and experience of Saudi companies across multiple sectors.
Sumou Holding currently manages an investment portfolio valued at about $10 billion. Al-Qahtani said that the group plans to expand its investments in the Kingdom while seeking to attract additional foreign capital through international partnerships and joint ventures.
The company is evaluating a range of new opportunities across key sectors and particularly in real estate, which Al-Qahtani described as one of the most secure and attractive investment sectors in the Saudi market amid rising demand for residential, commercial, and development projects.
Saudi Arabia’s property market has also undergone significant regulatory reforms aimed at boosting its appeal to international investors. A new foreign property ownership law, which came into effect in early 2026, allows non-Saudis — individuals and companies, residents and non-residents — to own residential, commercial, and agricultural properties across designated areas of the Kingdom.
The framework will increase capital inflows into the real estate sector while introducing specific ownership rules for the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah, two markets Al-Qahtani said remain among the most secure and globally attractive for long-term investment.
Sumou Holding owns two companies listed on the Saudi Exchange: Sumou Real Estate Co. and Ader Real Estate Co.
Al-Qahtani added that the group’s international arm, Ader Global, is building partnerships with global investors and directing capital toward promising opportunities in the Saudi market, reinforcing the Kingdom’s role as a regional hub for investment and multinational companies.
With its strong regulatory framework, investment security, and continued government support for the private sector, Saudi Arabia is well positioned to attract further foreign capital in the coming years, Al-Qahtani said, cementing the country’s status as a leading global investment destination both today and in the future.
