Dubai / Kuwait – 2026

During Ramadan, the Arab world’s most commercially concentrated commissioning window, Khaleeji musalsalat stand out as a distinct scripted segment within the regional content economy. Gulf-origin drama series from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait account for roughly 20 percent of all Arabic titles entering the peak-season market. Of that Gulf output, more than half is produced in Kuwait and the UAE, long established as principal production hubs since the emergence of Khaleeji drama in the 1960s, according to CoProduction Salon’s content tracking tool.

According to proprietary analysis from CoProduction Salon (CPS), the most recent Ramadan cycle in March 2025 saw 230 Arabic musalsalat distributed across 120 television channels and 37 OTT platforms across MENA, underscoring the industrial scale of the scripted ecosystem in this month-long annual TV Peak season.

While around 80 percent of Khaleeji series continue to follow the traditional 30-episode Ramadan structure, streaming platforms are increasingly influencing commissioning patterns and gradually reshaping episode counts and narrative pacing. Notably, the Ramadan 2026 cycle introduced more than ten scripted titles structured as 10-episode seasons, marking a clear departure from the traditional 30-episode model and catering to the growing influence of platform-driven commissioning strategies.

Within this evolving landscape, UAE-based Active Media Production unveils its Ramadan 2026 slate.

Commenting on the company’s positioning within the shifting Gulf scripted landscape, Executive Manager of Active Media Production, Suzy Karajian, said:

“Ramadan remains the highest-value commissioning window in the Arabic content calendar, but it is no longer defined purely by quantity. Platforms are recalibrating commissioning strategies toward differentiated IP, hybrid monetization models and tighter narrative structures. Our Ramadan 2026 slate reflects that transition, we are balancing franchise continuity with strategic platform-first collaborations that extend beyond the traditional 30-day cycle.”

A Strategic Platform Move: “Khotuwat Saghira (little Steps)”

Headlining the lineup is “خطوات صغيرة” (Khotuwat Saghira / Little Steps), marking the first original Khaleeji production for Yango Play and the platform’s first Kuwaiti-commissioned series, signaling its expansion into Gulf-origin scripted content.

As MENA’s streaming sector accelerates, platforms are shifting from catalog aggregation toward exclusive local IP differentiation. Commissioning a Gulf original reflects this structural pivot.

Premiering on the first day of Ramadan 2026, the 30-episode, one-hour social drama is produced in Kuwait and structured for hybrid distribution.

The rollout spans Yango Play; Saudi Arabia’s pay-TV network ART (Arab Radio and Television Network); STC TV, the Kingdom’s leading telco-backed platform; Sharjah TV and its AVOD service Maraya in the UAE; Al Dhafrah TV; and Oman TV.

Written by Anfal Al-Duwisan and directed by Muneer Al-Zoubi, the series departs from heightened melodrama in favor of grounded social realism, examining family fragmentation, post-divorce fallout and the psychological consequences of adult decisions on children. Filmed over approximately 80 production days in Kuwait, the high-budget drama features a leading Gulf ensemble cast.

Produced by Active Media in collaboration with Al-Yahya Artistic Production, the project builds on the company’s prior cross-border co-production experience, including the Egyptian-UAE psychological drama “True Story” (Hadath Bil Fe’l).

Franchise Continuity: “Wadeema & Haleema” Season Five

Balancing the slate is the return of a long-standing Emirati comedy asset, “وديمة وحليمة – الموسم الخامس” (Wadeema & Haleema – Season 5).

The 30-episode half-hour series will premiere across Sama Dubai TV and Dubai Plus on the first day of Ramadan.

Written by Jassem Al-Kharraz and directed by Omar Ibrahim, the franchise recreates 1980s Gulf life through carefully designed period sets and costumes, using visual authenticity as a core element of its enduring brand identity. The returning cast includes Suad Ali, Malak Al-Khalidi and Marai Al-Halyan, ensuring the title’s multi-generational appeal and strengthening continuity across successive Ramadan cycles.

Produced at Dubai Media Incorporated (DMI), Dubai’s state broadcaster studios, the franchise has consistently anchored DMI’s Ramadan comedy slate and ranked among the most-viewed titles on their OTT platform (recently rebranded as Dubai Plus), demonstrating sustained audience loyalty across linear and digital platforms.

Completed in approximately one month, the production reflects operational efficiency within the compressed Ramadan commissioning cycle.

Market Positioning and Production Continuity

CoProduction Salon (CPS) analysis indicates that while the 30-episode structure remains dominant, platform influence continues to reshape Gulf scripted production models. Increasingly, Ramadan titles function not only as advertising anchors but also as subscription drivers and regional IP differentiators within a competitive OTT environment.

Active Media produces approximately four to five titles annually, maintaining a controlled output model focused on execution quality. Its portfolio spans Gulf social drama, long-running Emirati franchises and cross-border collaborations, ensuring that the company is well- positioned across multiple segments of the Arabic scripted market.

Active Media is also a Premium Member of the CoProduction Salon community, aligning the company with a curated network of high-level regional and international stakeholders and reinforcing its strategic orientation toward structured co-productions and global-facing partnerships.

In a region where media investment intensifies within a single 30-day cycle, Active Media’s decade-long contribution to the maturing asset class of Khaleeji musalsalat signals a wider market recalibration, as Gulf scripted content becomes increasingly platform-influenced and globally aligned.

Distribution Footprint and Pipeline Strategy

Beyond production, Active Media maintains a sustained footprint in regional content distribution. Over the past decade, the company has distributed a broad catalog of more than 1000 hours of Arabic television titles spanning multiple genres and territories, a clear indication of its long-term engagement with regional broadcasters and platforms.

Outside its current Ramadan 2026 slate, Active Media is currently in production on a new 30-episode Gulf drama titled “Karma.” Scheduled for delivery immediately following the Ramadan TV season, the series is positioned for acquisition across Gulf and wider MENA broadcasters. This ensures a pipeline continuity beyond seasonal peaks,  and maintains sustained year-round production within the rapidly developing regional scripted ecosystem.