Spotify launches new premium plans in Saudi Arabia, UAE

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Updated 14 November 2025
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Spotify launches new premium plans in Saudi Arabia, UAE

  • Pilot scheme offers 3 subscription options from $6.4 a month

DUBAI: Spotify has launched three new subscription plans in Saudi Arabia and the UAE as part of a pilot program.

The company said its Lite, Standard and Platinum options were designed to cater to different audience types.

“Listening habits aren’t universal,” Marwen Ben Messaoud, Spotify’s growth director for South Asia, Middle East and Africa, told Arab News.

“Engagement grows when we design experiences that truly reflect people’s needs and passions. That’s exactly what this new pilot of premium subscriptions aims to do.”

The Lite plan provides basic ad-free listening, the Standard option enhanced audio quality, while Platinum offers features such as lossless audio — a type of audio compression that maintains sound quality — and third-party DJ integration, which allows users to mix songs from their Spotify library and playlists on external DJ software.

The top package also gives listeners access to audiobooks with features such as automatic bookmarking and a sleep timer.

“All legacy users will be unaffected by this change and will continue to enjoy the same benefits while they are subscribed to their current plan,” Messaoud said.

The pilot program is also set to be rolled out in South Africa, Indonesia and India.

Spotify’s premium plans cost SR23.99 ($6.4) for Lite, SR31.99 for Standard and SR59.99 for Platinum.


DCO and Arab News partner to combat digital misinformation, explore AI’s impact on media

Updated 06 February 2026
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DCO and Arab News partner to combat digital misinformation, explore AI’s impact on media

KUWAIT CITY: The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) and the international Saudi newspaper Arab News have signed a Letter of Engagement aimed at strengthening knowledge and expertise exchange on the impact of artificial intelligence in the media sector, as well as leveraging expert insights to develop best practices to combat online misinformation amid accelerating technological advancements.

DCO said this step aligned with its efforts to strengthen collaboration with international media institutions to support responsible dialogue around digital transformation and contribute to building a more reliable, inclusive, and sustainable digital media environment.

Commenting on the agreement, Deemah AlYahya, Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization, said: “At a moment when AI is reshaping how truth is produced, distributed, and trusted, partnership with credible media institutions is essential.”

She added that “working with Arab News allows us to bridge technology and journalism in a way that protects integrity, strengthens public trust, and elevates responsible innovation. This collaboration is about equipping media ecosystems with the tools, insight, and ethical grounding needed to navigate AI’s impact, while ensuring digital transformation serves people and their prosperity.”

Faisal J. Abbas, Editor-in-Chief of Arab News, emphasized that the partnership enhances media institutions’ ability to keep pace with technological shifts, noting that engagement with representatives of DCO Member States enables deeper understanding of emerging technologies and regulatory developments in the digital space.

He added: “DCO’s commitment to initiatives addressing online content integrity reflects a clear dedication to supporting a responsible digital environment that serves societies and strengthens trust in the digital ecosystem.”

The Letter of agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Fifth DCO General Assembly held in Kuwait City under the theme “Inclusive Prosperity in the Age of AI”, alongside the second edition of the International Digital Cooperation Forum, held from 4–5 February, which brought together ministers, policymakers, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and civil society representatives from more than 60 countries to strengthen international cooperation toward a human-centric, inclusive, and sustainable digital economy.