How TikTok is celebrating the UAE’s Hope Mars Mission

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Updated 20 July 2020
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How TikTok is celebrating the UAE’s Hope Mars Mission

In an historic moment for the Arab world, the UAE successfully launched its Hope Probe - Al Amal in Arabic - on Sunday. The mission has been carried out and overseen by the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre and the UAE Space Agency.

The mission has gained massive recognition on social media, with Twitter and Instagram abuzz with different hashtags such as #HopeProbe and #FirstArabicCountdown. Even brands and landmarks are celebrating, with the Burj Khalifa lighting up as it held a countdown.

Keen to celebrate the event, TikTok launched a new challenge for its creators called #HopeMarsMission. As part of the challenge, users from the UAE and beyond are encouraged to express their love for the historic mission and share what it means to them personally through unique content. “From intergalactic-themed fashion statements to Mars-inspired artworks, the TikTok community is invited to take their creativity to astronomical new heights,” the app said in a statement.

In addition to the challenge, the brand has also created a special space-themed sticker called “Spaceman” for international users on the platform to simulate being in space to celebrate the UAE’s pioneering mission.

So far celebrities including Raya Abi Rached, Balqees Fathi, and content creator Sarah Milad have participated in sharing their best wishes for the UAE’s Hope Mars Mission. TikTok users can also tune into the platform, where educational creators will share insightful information about Mars and the galaxy.
 


Shahid, Disney+ and OSN+ launch exclusive streaming bundle across GCC

Updated 24 December 2025
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Shahid, Disney+ and OSN+ launch exclusive streaming bundle across GCC

  • Bundle available exclusively visa Shahid for $25 a month

RIYADH: In a landmark regional collaboration, Shahid, Disney+, and OSN+ have announced an exclusive streaming bundle that brings together world-class hits from the three platforms under a single subscription in a first-of-its-kind offer for audiences in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

The all-in-one entertainment package, available only through Shahid in the GCC for about $25 a month, grants subscribers full access to three leading platforms covering Hollywood blockbusters, Disney+’s expansive range of beloved films, animations and series, OSN+’s library of HBO originals and international hits, and Shahid’s Arabic premium content.

The bundle is designed to simplify subscription management with a unified payment model, allowing viewers to access all three apps at the price of two and offering a streamlined user experience. 

Natasha Matos-Hemingway, chief commercial and marketing officer at Shahid, said the partnership reflects a broader effort to expand digital entertainment offerings in the Middle East, catering to a growing audience seeking diversity, convenience and high-quality programming.

“We are proud to collaborate with OSN+ and Disney+ to offer an unmatched streaming experience to our subscribers,” she said. “With one subscription, one payment, and full access to premium content from all three platforms, we’re delivering unbeatable convenience, value and entertainment.”

With a growing demand for high-quality on-demand content, the bundle is expected to attract a wide range of users seeking comprehensive entertainment without juggling multiple subscriptions.

The move also signals increasing cooperation between global media giants and regional platforms, in a bid to meet the entertainment preferences of Arab audiences while expanding market reach.

Karl Holmes, SVP and general manager at Disney+ EMEA, said the collaboration will bring award-winning series like FX’s “Shogun” and favorites such as “Lilo & Stitch” into a unique bundle with Shahid’s regional hits including “Al Dariya.”

The agreement “reflects a shared ambition between Disney+ and Shahid to shape the future of entertainment in the Middle East,” said Holmes. “The Middle East is young, dynamic and fast-growing, and we’re delighted to give consumers a new and easy way to access extraordinary content at exceptional value.”

Choucri Khairallah, chief business officer at OSN+, said the partnership takes OSN+’s entertainment experience “to the next level.”

He added: “Today’s audiences expect more than great content; they seek seamless access, variety and exceptional value. This all-in-one bundle delivers exactly that.”