TikTok to expand London footprint with new office

TikTok is eyeing further expansion amid growing political tensions between Britain and China. (AFP)
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Updated 27 October 2022
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TikTok to expand London footprint with new office

  • The rapidly growing social media platform is eyeing further expansion amid growing political tensions between Britain and China

DUBAI: TikTok is reportedly in talks to lease a new London office a block away from its current UK headquarters, according to Bloomberg.

The rapidly growing social media platform is eyeing further expansion amid growing political tensions between Britain and China. 

The Chinese-owned company is negotiating a lease for the Verdant development at 150 Aldersgate Street near London’s Farringdon district, according to the report. It wants to rent the entire 11-storey, 134,000-sq-ft development, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg.

Last year, TikTok leased Kaleidoscope, an 88,500-square foot office building above the Farringdon East Crossrail Station, in London. The company expected to house 850 UK employees in that office, according to the Evening Standard.

Its expansion plans in the UK have been affected by worsening relations between the UK and China. In July 2020, the company suspended talks to build a global headquarters in the UK after the government limited the use of Huawei Technologies Co. products in the country’s 5G infrastructure, reported The Sunday Times.

The company has instead expanded in Dublin. However, the owner of the Dublin building is now considering selling the property, according to React News. 


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.”