MENA’s Cultural Landscape Reflected in YouTube’s 2024 Year-End Charts

YouTube has launched its annual end-of-year lists, providing an interesting snapshot of the Middle East and North Africa’s (MENA) hottest on-line content material in 2024. This yr marks a big growth, with the platform unveiling its inaugural Top Trending Topics in MENA, offering a broader perspective on the area’s cultural pulse. The lists embody prime creators, trending songs, and distinguished moments, reflecting numerous tastes and pursuits throughout the area.

Javid Aslanov, Head of YouTube within the Middle East & North Africa, commented: “This year’s YouTube End-of-Year lists reveal how YouTube mirrors the most important events in MENA. From breaking news and sporting moments to the latest gaming trends and breakout musical artists, these lists showcase how creators give life to MENA’s most important stories, sharing their perspectives and engage audiences across diverse formats – including Shorts, long-form videos, live streams, and podcasts – on the topics that matter most to them.”

The Trending Topics checklist reveals a charming combine of world phenomena and regional specifics. Gaming dominated, with EA Sports FC 24, Free Fire MAX, and Poppy Playtime: Chapter 3 all that includes prominently. The impression of regional conflicts was additionally evident, with searches for Rafah, the Houthi motion, and Southern Lebanon reflecting vital on-line engagement. Sporting achievements have been celebrated, notably with Algerian boxer Imane Khelif’s look on the checklist. Beyond gaming and information, the Asoka make-up development, a celebration of conventional Indian bridal aesthetics, demonstrated the platform’s capability to replicate international traits inside a regional context. The YouTube-native courting actuality present, Qesma w Naseeb, garnered over a billion views, highlighting the rising reputation of this format in MENA. Finally, the rise of breakout musicians like Al Shami added a vibrant musical component to the Trending Topics.

This yr’s Top Creators checklist showcases a various vary of expertise throughout MENA. Gaming creators dominated, with AboFlah, BanderitaX, ShongxBong, Abo Noo7, and POWR Suhaib all making vital appearances, reflecting the plain reputation of gaming content material. Other notable creators included Majd Alzakout, a UAE-based Syrian artist and life-style creator; Shawar, an Egyptian comedic expertise; Alkaisr, an Egyptian multi-format comic; and Abo Rany, a Palestinian vlogger. Alkhal Mahdi, a Lebanese creator of skits and mini-dramas, additionally secured a spot on the distinguished checklist.

The Top Songs checklist mirrored a wealthy tapestry of musical kinds and artists from throughout the area. Egypt’s Tamer Ashour with “Haygyly Mawgoo” and Morocco’s Mohamed Lazaar (Lazaro) with “Mahboul Ana” topped the chart, demonstrating the platform’s capacity to propel rising artists to wider recognition. Other notable entries included Mahmoud El Leithy (Egypt), Assala & Ahmed Saad (Syria & Egypt), Assala (Syria), Cheb Hichem Tgv (Algeria), Lbenj (Morocco), Wael Jassar (Lebanon), Cheb Hamidou (Algeria), and Al Shami (Syria).

YouTube’s methodology for producing these lists concerned an in-depth evaluation performed by the YouTube Culture and Trends workforce, utilizing inner knowledge, together with views, uploads, and creator exercise. The Trending Topics checklist focuses on moments exhibiting conspicuous reputation, both by way of novelty or vital will increase in person engagement metrics. Top Creators are ranked based mostly on in-country subscriber beneficial properties in 2024, whereas Top Songs are decided by in-country views, encompassing official music movies, lyric movies, and artwork observe movies that debuted in 2024 or skilled substantial year-on-year development. The complete lists present a useful perception into MENA’s vibrant digital tradition.

YouTube 2024 End of Year Lists (Detailed):

• Trending Topics (unranked): EA Sports FC 24, Free Fire MAX, Al Shami, Rafah, Houthi motion, Southern Lebanon, Asoka (make-up development), Poppy Playtime: Chapter 3, Imane Khelif, Qesma w Naseeb
• Top Creators: AboFlah (Kuwait), Majd Alzakout (UAE/Syria), BanderitaX (Saudi Arabia), Abo Nooh (Saudi Arabia), Shawar (Egypt), ShongxBong (Saudi Arabia), Alkaisr (Egypt), Abo Rany (Palestine), POWR Suhaib (Saudi Arabia/Palestine), Alkhal Mahdi (Lebanon)
• Top Songs: Tamer Ashor – Haygyly Mawgoo3 (Egypt), Mohamed Lazaar (Lazaro) – Mahboul Ana (Morocco), Mahmoud El Leithy – Am Elmagaal (Egypt), Assala & Ahmed Saad – Sabab Farhity (Syria & Egypt), Assala – Fouq (Syria), Cheb Hichem Tgv – Fatou Liyam (Algeria), Lbenj – Hawasy (Morocco), Wael Jassar – Koul Waad (Lebanon), Cheb Hamidou – 3achkek idman (Algeria), AL SHAMI – Sabran (Syria)