What STARZPLAY does

STARZPLAY (also operating as STARZPLAY Arabia) is a Dubai-headquartered subscription video-on-demand streaming platform serving the Middle East and North Africa region, founded in 2011 as a subsidiary of e& (formerly Etisalat). The platform delivers a diversified content library spanning Hollywood blockbusters, Arabic series, exclusive regional productions (such as the 'Million Dollar Listing UAE' adaptation), and premium live sports including exclusive ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 rights across MENA, all PFL MMA franchises, and previously UFC content. The technology stack is a multi-tier streaming platform supporting SVOD, an ad-supported tier carrying 5,000+ hours of Abu Dhabi Media Arabic content, and integrations with telecom carrier billing systems.

The business model is built on three revenue layers: recurring SVOD subscriptions, an advertising-supported tier, and telecom-bundled distribution. Standard STARZ pricing references indicate $12/month in the U.S. market with promotional add-on rates via Prime Video, while MENA pricing varies materially by telecom partner package through Etisalat (e& UAE) and STC Group. Go-to-market combines direct-to-consumer acquisition via apps and website with channel-partner distribution embedded in carrier packages, reaching South Asian expat, Arabic-speaking, and sports-viewer segments.

As of December 2024, STARZPLAY reported 2.3 million subscribers and approximately 18% MENA streaming market share, ranking fourth behind Shahid (22%), YouTube Premium, and Netflix (17%). The company employs 101–250 staff and has historically been funded through a $25 million round from Ruya Partners (2021) and prior investment from Starz Entertainment and State Street Global Advisors (2018). Leadership is anchored by co-founder and CEO Maaz Sheikh, with U.S. parent STARZ oversight from President and CEO Jeffrey Hirsch.

Name

STARZPLAY

Legal name

STARZPLAY

Website

https://starzplay.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

STARZPLAY is a Dubai-based MENA subscription streaming platform owned by e&, serving 2.3M+ subscribers with Hollywood, Arabic, and exclusive live sports content (ICC cricket, PFL MMA) distributed via SVOD, ad-supported, and telecom-bundled tiers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Subscription Video on Demand

NAICS

Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)

akta.pro primary industry

Enterprise/Creator Video Hosting & OTT SaaS Platforms (MPACAAAL)

Keywords

• Video streaming service
• Subscription video on demand
• Sports streaming platform
• Arabic content streaming
• MENA streaming platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Dubai

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Subscription Video-on-Demand (SVOD): STARZPLAY generates primary revenue through subscription fees for its streaming platform, offering Hollywood content, Arabic series, and exclusive sports programming to subscribers in the MENA region.
2. Ad-supported streaming: Platform offers ad-supported tier providing access to Abu Dhabi Media's catalogue of 5,000+ hours of content, with the partnership giving ADM access to STARZPLAY's subscriber base for ad revenue sharing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

STARZPLAY is a subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) streaming platform serving the MENA region, offering Hollywood blockbusters, Arabic series, exclusive original productions, and live sports content including ICC cricket and PFL MMA. It distributes via direct-to-consumer streaming and through telecom bundling partnerships with Etisalat and STC, and operates an ad-supported tier featuring Abu Dhabi Media's 5,000+ hours of Arabic entertainment.

Product overview

STARZPLAY is a MENA-based subscription video-on-demand streaming platform offering a unified content portfolio featuring Hollywood blockbusters, Arabic series, exclusive productions, and sports streaming (including ICC cricket and PFL MMA). The platform operates through its core STARZPLAY service with an ad-supported tier, complemented by exclusive sports content partnerships and regional productions like 'Million Dollar Listing UAE'. STARZPLAY serves 2.3 million subscribers (as of late 2024) and partners with telecom providers for bundled distribution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• STARZ ON: Streaming platform in the MENA region, operated by evision, that carries content including Red Bull TV and women's sports programming.

Products and services

• STARZPLAY Streaming Platform
• STARZ ON

Quantifiable outcome

• 30% ARPU increase following 2024 tier restructuring into 'Max' bundle
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Marriott BonvoycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 February 2026STARZPLAY collaborated with Marriott Bonvoy to launch two Fan Zones in Dubai at Barasti and Warehouse venues as part of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 exclusive streaming rights partnership. This enhances viewer engagement during the tournament featuring 20 teams across 55 matches co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
• Abu Dhabi T10minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 November 2025STARZPLAY secured as an OTT broadcast partner for Abu Dhabi T10 2025 season, covering 150+ countries through 20+ broadcast partners spanning six continents. The partnership reinforces Abu Dhabi's position as an elite destination for world-class sporting entertainment.
• Abu Dhabi Media (ADM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 November 2025Strategic partnership to move all ADtv content to STARZPLAY platform starting November 2025, giving STARZPLAY exclusive access to ADM's catalogue of over 5,000 hours of Arabic entertainment, sports, and cultural programming on its ad-supported streaming tier. The partnership gives ADM access to STARZPLAY's 2.6 million subscribers.
• Professional Fighters League (PFL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 March 2025Multi-year media rights deal making all PFL mixed martial arts programming—including PFL World Tournament, Champions Series, PFL Europe, PFL MENA, and PFL Africa—available across MENA region starting April 3, 2025. PFL MENA quarterfinals were free to watch on Starzplay for regional fans starting May 9 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The partnership strengthens STARZPLAY's MMA content following its 2024 exclusive UFC broadcast rights.
• Telecommunications providers (UAE)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Middle East region demonstrates strong potential and early adoption of digital storytelling models, with platforms like YouTube evolving into television-like ecosystems.
• Etisalat (e& UAE)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with Etisalat UAE offering bundled packages for Etisalat Emerald customers, allowing STARZPLAY to reach telecom subscribers through package deals.
• STC GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTelecom bundling partnership with STC Group providing STARZPLAY content to subscribers in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• YouTube Premium: Subscription video service with 3.7M MENA subscribers. Competes for the same ad-free premium video budget and is ranked #2 in MENA streaming, making it a direct substitute in the consumer wallet.
• Netflix MENA: Global SVOD leader with a localised MENA presence (3.0M subscribers, 17% share). Competes head-to-head with StarzPlay on Hollywood and international content, and represents the primary benchmark for StarzPlay's market share.
• Shahid (MBC Group): Leading Arabic SVOD/AVOD platform in MENA, owned by MBC Group. Directly competes with StarzPlay for Arabic-language viewership and is the #1 player at 4.4M subscribers vs StarzPlay's 2.3M — the most comparable regional rival.
• OSN+ (MBC Group / STARZ JV): Premium pay-TV and OTT service historically co-owned by STARZ and MBC across MENA. Closely related through the STARZ brand legacy and overlaps with StarzPlay on Hollywood/movie content positioning.
• TOD (beIN Media Group): Qatar-based beIN's OTT streaming service offering premium sports and entertainment across MENA. Direct competitor particularly in sports content where StarzPlay holds cricket/MMA rights.

Broad incumbents

• Amazon Prime Video MENA: Global SVOD service (and Starz add-on host) with growing MENA footprint. Competes broadly on premium content and bundles; an incumbent with global scale and deeper content investment than StarzPlay.
• DAZN: Global sports-focused OTT platform with rights in combat sports and major leagues. Compares with StarzPlay's sports positioning via PFL/ICC, and represents a potential alternative bidder for premium rights.
• Starz (Lionsgate): US parent brand and content licensor (Lionsgate subsidiary) whose originals and Lionsgate theatrical slate are core to StarzPlay's library. Direct namesake and principal content supplier, linking StarzPlay to a global streaming incumbent.

Emerging players

• Anghami: MENA-headquartered audio streaming platform with subscription and ad-supported tiers. Compares on the regional subscription/ad-tech model and Arabic content monetisation, though focused on music rather than video.
• FanCode: India-based sports OTT aggregator partnering with StarzPlay for Abu Dhabi T10. Comparable on cricket OTT distribution and emerging-market sports streaming model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/starzplayarabia
• Facebookfacebook.com/starzplay

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors5 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about STARZPLAY