TV owns a big spot in the daily life of the regular Arab family. And contrary to other parts of the world, TV viewership in the Middle East grows by the day. But in the shadows of that dominance a new medium is gaining ground with the young generations in the region.
Web series have been around for a long time now on the international level, but for the past couple of years, high quality Arabic web series has risen to the surface and they are taking direct shots at the big dominant TV industry. In this bit we will share with you 5 of those series that might make you consider quitting TV!
1) Khambala | خمبلة: Meaning random unconnected things, Khambala is one of the most popular web series from Saudi Arabia, with over a million subscribers. Khambala tackles random social issues in a thought-provoking and innovative way.
2) Shankaboot: A drama series from the heart of Beirut. The show’s story reflects on what it is like to live in modern Beirut from the eyes of a 15 year old delivery boy named Suleiman. The series is directed by Amin Dora, starring by Hassan Akil, Samira Kawas, Nasry El Sayegh et al earned multiple international awards including the International Digital Emmy Award and the Reflet d’Or du Meilleure Série Web.
3) Bath Bayakha: A Jordanian comedy series that focuses on Jordanian society and culture. Starring Wissam Tobeileh and Rami Delshad, Bath Bayakha has more than 11 million views under its belt and you won’t regret joining those numbers!
4) Female: Starring Rajaee Qawwas and Tima Shomali, two of the most recognizable Jordanian YouTube stars, Female takes on the hilariously painful process of getting engaged and married in a witty and entertaining way. The show has had two seasons so far and the Kharabeesh product will most likely get at least one more season with the success it’s had.
5) شقة العيال | The Kids Apartment: A Saudi series that puts the spotlight on three Saudi students from different origins and environments coming together in the United States where they went to continue their studies. The series’ first season was released in Ramadan last year with 4 episodes and is expected to return in Ramadan 2015.
Have you heard of any of those web series? Let us know your favorite web series in the comments section below!
