Rudaw
Rudaw is a private, Erbil-based Kurdish media network (founded 2013) producing news, live TV, podcasts, documentaries, and photojournalism across five languages for Kurdish-speaking audiences in Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Syria, and the global diaspora.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersErbil, Iraq
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Rudaw does
Rudaw, legally Rudaw Media Network, is a private multi-platform Kurdish media company headquartered in Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, founded in 2013. It operates an integrated media ecosystem comprising a digital news website (rudaw.net), dedicated iOS and Android mobile applications, a linear television channel with live streaming, a podcast platform, an original documentary production unit, a photojournalism gallery, and a financial data widget (Rudaw Stock Exchange). Content is produced and distributed in five languages — Sorani Kurdish, Kurmanji Kurdish, English, Turkish, and Arabic — covering news, politics, economy, culture, health, sports, interviews, and original documentaries aimed at Kurdish-speaking populations in Iraq, Iran, Turkey, and Syria and the global Kurdish diaspora.
The underlying technology is a multi-language digital media platform with live TV streaming, on-demand podcast and video hosting, and mobile app distribution; the company also maintains a documentary film library featuring investigative titles such as 'Abu Ghraib', 'Halabja Massacre', 'Kowarez', and 'Dead Sea'. Specific proprietary technology stack, AI tooling, or backend architecture is not publicly disclosed.
Rudaw's revenue model is not publicly disclosed; based on the absence of subscription or paywall information and the structure of a broadcast-plus-digital news operation, revenue most plausibly derives from advertising and sponsorship, supplemented by potential event, content syndication, or documentary licensing income. The company employs between 501 and 1,000 staff and operates primarily across Kurdish-speaking geographies with global digital reach.
Rudaw firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Rudaw
- Legal name
- Rudaw Media Network
- Website
- https://rudaw.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Rudaw is a private, Erbil-based Kurdish media network (founded 2013) producing news, live TV, podcasts, documentaries, and photojournalism across five languages for Kurdish-speaking audiences in Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Syria, and the global diaspora.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Rudaw industry classification
Industry- Product category
- News Broadcasting & Media Network
- NAICS
- Television Broadcasting Stations (51612), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (5162)
- SIC
- Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)
- akta.pro primary industry
- International Multilingual/Diaspora Broadcasters (MPABAEAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- International/Multilingual Streaming Channels (MPABAHAI), Short-Form Documentaries (MPADADAC)
Keywords
Where Rudaw is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Erbil
- HQ country
- Iraq
- HQ region
- Middle East
Markets served
Rudaw business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Rudaw product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Rudaw is a multi-platform Kurdish media network that produces and distributes news, live television, podcasts, documentaries, photo journalism, and financial market data across five language editions (Sorani Kurdish, Kurmanji Kurdish, English, Turkish, and Arabic). Its offerings are delivered through the rudaw.net website, dedicated iOS and Android mobile applications, and live TV broadcast, serving Kurdish-speaking audiences in Iraq, Iran, Turkey, and Syria as well as the global Kurdish diaspora.
Product overview
Rudaw is a multi-platform Kurdish media network offering a unified media ecosystem comprising a mobile application with live TV streaming, on-demand video content, podcasts, documentary films, photo journalism, and financial market data. The platform provides news, political analysis, cultural programming, sports coverage, and interviews across five language interfaces (Sorani Kurdish, Kurmanji, English, Turkish, Arabic) targeting Kurdish-speaking audiences in Iraq, Iran, Turkey, and the diaspora worldwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Rudaw Mobile Application Rudaw's mobile news and media application available on iOS and Android platforms, providing access to live TV, news articles, interviews, podcasts, documentaries, and multimedia content in Sorani Kurdish, Kurmanji, English, Turkish, and Arabic for global Kurdish-speaking consumers.
- Rudaw Live TV Real-time live television streaming service broadcasting news, political commentary, cultural programs, and current affairs content from the Rudaw Media Network to viewers across the Kurdistan Region and globally.
- Rudaw Podcast Audio podcast content covering Iran nuclear negotiations, regional geopolitics, and current events with extended interview formats, distributed through the Rudaw digital media platform.
- Rudaw Documentary Documentary film library featuring investigative reports on Kurdish history, regional conflicts, cultural heritage, and social issues, including titles such as 'Abu Ghraib', 'Halabja Massacre', 'Kowarez', and 'Dead Sea'.
- Rudaw Stock Exchange (بروسەی رووداو) Financial data widget on the Rudaw platform displaying real-time currency exchange rates (USD/IQD), gold prices, and silver prices for Iraqi markets, integrated into the news website for consumer financial reference.
- Rudaw Photo Story (فۆتۆستۆری) Photojournalism gallery on the Rudaw platform featuring visual news coverage and photo essays documenting current events in Kurdistan and the Middle East for online readers.
Companies that use Rudaw
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Rudaw technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Rudaw partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Rudaw competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Kurdistan24: Kurdistan24 is a Kurdish-focused satellite TV and digital news network based in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, offering multilingual news, live TV, and web coverage. It directly competes with Rudaw for the same Kurdish-speaking audience across Iraq, Turkey, Iran, and the diaspora with a similar multi-platform distribution model.
- NRT (Nalia Media Corporation): NRT is an Erbil-based Kurdish broadcaster operating satellite TV, digital, and social news platforms serving Kurdish-speaking audiences. It competes head-to-head with Rudaw in news coverage, live broadcast, and online distribution within the Kurdistan Region and beyond.
- KNN (Kurdistan News Network): KNN is a Kurdish-language TV and digital news outlet broadcasting from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. It targets the same Kurdish-speaking demographic as Rudaw with news, politics, and current affairs programming distributed via TV and online channels.
- Rudaw (self): (Anchor company retained for reference; no self-peer listed — omitted from final list.)
Broad incumbents
- Voice of America (Kurdish Service): VOA's Kurdish Service is a U.S. government-funded international broadcaster producing Kurdish-language radio, TV, and digital news content for audiences in Iraq, Iran, Turkey, and Syria. It overlaps with Rudaw's Kurdish-language news mission and diaspora audience, though as a publicly funded incumbent rather than a commercial operator.
- BBC World Service: BBC World Service delivers multilingual news across TV, radio, web, and mobile platforms to global audiences including Kurdish-speaking regions. It is comparable to Rudaw in multilingual multi-platform distribution, though it serves a much broader international mandate and is publicly funded.
- Al Jazeera: Al Jazeera is a major pan-Arab and international broadcaster operating TV, digital, and multilingual news platforms with deep Middle East coverage. It is comparable to Rudaw in multi-language Middle East news delivery, live streaming, and digital distribution, though at a vastly larger scale and broader geographic focus.
- DW (Deutsche Welle): DW is a German international broadcaster delivering news in 30+ languages across TV, web, and mobile, including coverage relevant to the Middle East. It is comparable to Rudaw as a multilingual international news platform, though DW is publicly funded and operates at a global scale.
- France 24: France 24 is a French state-funded international news broadcaster operating in multiple languages (French, English, Arabic, Spanish) with strong Middle East coverage. It is comparable to Rudaw in multilingual multi-platform distribution, though with a broader international footprint and publicly funded model.
- Al Arabiya: Al Arabiya is a major pan-Arab satellite TV and digital news network covering Middle East politics, economy, and current affairs in Arabic. It is comparable to Rudaw in regional news delivery, live broadcast, and digital distribution, though focused on Arabic-speaking rather than Kurdish-speaking audiences.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Rudaw social profiles
Digital presenceRudaw financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Rudaw leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Rudaw funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Rudaw M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Rudaw
What does Rudaw do?
Rudaw is a multi-platform Kurdish media network that produces and distributes news, live television, podcasts, documentaries, photo journalism, and financial market data across five language editions (Sorani Kurdish, Kurmanji Kurdish, English, Turkish, and Arabic). Its offerings are delivered through the rudaw.net website, dedicated iOS and Android mobile applications, and live TV broadcast, serving Kurdish-speaking audiences in Iraq, Iran, Turkey, and Syria as well as the global Kurdish diaspora.
Is Rudaw a public or private company?
Rudaw is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Rudaw founded?
Rudaw was founded in 2013. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Rudaw based?
Rudaw is headquartered in Erbil, Iraq, in the Middle East region.
Who are Rudaw's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Kurdistan24, NRT (Nalia Media Corporation), KNN (Kurdistan News Network) and Rudaw (self). Broad incumbents are Voice of America (Kurdish Service), BBC World Service, Al Jazeera, DW (Deutsche Welle), France 24 and Al Arabiya.
Does Rudaw have an API?
No public API is recorded for Rudaw.
What industry is Rudaw in?
Rudaw's product category is News Broadcasting & Media Network. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABAEAG, International Multilingual/Diaspora Broadcasters, with a secondary code of MPABAHAI, International/Multilingual Streaming Channels. Its NAICS code is 51612 and its SIC code is 4833.