In a notable shift for the Middle East’s streaming landscape, Netflix is partnering with regional powerhouse MBC Group and its streaming service, Shahid, in Saudi Arabia. The deal, announced July 28, offers customers in the kingdom a bundled subscription that includes Netflix’s catalog, Shahid content and MBC’s live TV channels.

It’s the first such partnership for Netflix in the region and mirrors recent agreements the company has struck in other markets, such as a pact with Canal+ in Africa in June 2025. Crucially, this MBC deal has Netflix joining forces with the market leader in a region where the US player once appeared poised to win the so-called streaming wars.  

Last year, Shahid’s paying subscriber base expanded by 25.6%, to five million, while its free, ad-supported tier grew 22.1%, to 18.6 million. Netflix, meanwhile, does not break down numbers for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), but heading into 2024 it was estimated to have had 3.8 million subscribers across 13 Arabic-speaking markets — just ahead of another local streamer, Starzplay Arabia, which had roughly three million subscribers.

With Riyadh-based MBC’s grip on the market strengthening, this new partnership with Netflix might appear to suggest a move from competition to collaboration — or even capitulation. A closer look, however, reveals a more nuanced situation.