LONDON: YouTube is rounding off its 20th anniversary year with the launch of “Recap,” a new personalized review of users’ viewing habits available to audiences worldwide, including in the Middle East and North Africa.
The feature coincides with the release of YouTube’s end-of-year trending lists, which track the creators, songs and cultural moments that defined 2025 on the platform.
Positioned as YouTube’s answer to Spotify Wrapped, Recap is being used by the company to showcase what it describes as “MENA’s pulse” — from AI and collectible toys to K‑drama and football stars — through regional viewing trends.
“The trending topics across MENA for 2025 highlight a uniquely diverse and globally-attuned audience,” said Javid Aslanov, head of YouTube MENA.
Among this year’s top topics are artificial intelligence, viral plush toy Labubu, Netflix’s Korean hit “Squid Game,” which returned with a third season eariler this year, Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal, and Roblox horticulture game “Grow a Garden,” which spiked in popularity after a mid-year update.
“Their interests stretched from Squid Game to the engaging anime of Blue Lock and the digital sanctuary of Grow a Garden on Roblox, showing how MENA audiences and creators are creating their own rich, dynamic content map right here on YouTube,” Aslanov said.
Recap presents viewers with up to nine “cards” summarizing their year on the platform, including top channels, changing interests, and a tongue‑in‑cheek “personality type” based on their watch history.
On the creator side, Gaza-based Abo Rany ranked as the top MENA-based creator, second only to global star MrBeast.
Abo Rany has built a large following with vlogs and live streams documenting everyday life in Gaza.
Egyptian entertainer Alhassan Adel and Saudi gamer and commentator SHoNgxBоNg (Ahmed Alqahtani) took third and fourth place, reflecting the region’s appetite for comedy and gaming content.
Music fans using YouTube Music see their own top artists and tracks, with more detailed breakdowns by genre and podcast.
Regionally, Bessan Ismail’s collaboration with Fouad Jned, “Khatya,” led the songs ranking.
Trending topics of 2025
AI
Labubu
Squid Game
Lamine Yamal
Grow a Garden
Raphinha
Eid Al Adha
Blue Lock
Ramadan 2025
Brainrot
Top Creators
MrBeast
Abo Rany
Alhassan Adel
SHoNgxBоNg
Faisal Al Saif
Abo Flah
Reda Al Masre
Abu Noo7
Sakher
Om Sayf
Top Songs
Khatya — Bessan Ismail x Fouad Jned
Ahla Rasma — Fadl Chaker
Hafla Tanakorya — Rahma Mohsen
Nary — Ahmed Sattar
Awl Mara — Hamza Almohamadawy
Users in the region can find their personal YouTube Recap on the homepage or under the “You” tab on both mobile and desktop.
