Top 10 YouTube channels in the UAE

Music and beauty videos top the list of the top 10 channels with the most number of subscribers

by Anjali Sudarsan

May 29, 2016

Video sharing site YouTube has been gaining popularity across the Middle East region, with smartphone-savvy internet users from the United Arab Emirates among the biggest consumers.

A survey by Google about three years ago – the last official one – found that the majority of UAE users listen to music on YouTube. Relaxation, staying up to date and receiving product information were some of the other reasons cited by respondents.

A list of the top YouTube channels from the UAE (based on the number of subscribers) shows the extent of popularity of television and music related videos.

Channels based on programmes and reality shows by TV station MBC top the charts, with shows like The Voice Ahla Sawt and Arab Idol in the top 10. One of the uploads from MBC, an episode of Arabs Got Talent from February 2011, has more than 97 million views (to date).

Vloggers Huda Kattan and Hayla Ghazal are the only ‘YouTubers’ whose channels made it to the list. They cater to female audiences and their videos receive a large number of likes.