Despite a reported slump in revenue for Netflix and the entry of new competitors such as Disney+, a recent study revealed that the subscriber base for SVOD in the Arab world is expected to more than double over the next five years. Throughout the year, Netflix has launched original Arabic content, showcasing its commitment to a hyperlocal strategy as a means to increase its subscriber base. 

Following the launch of season 2 of Al Rawabi School for Girls or Palestinian dramedy Mo, Netflix has announced its first Kuwaiti series, a dramedy titled The Cage, set to be released on September 23, 2022.

Produced by Abdullah Boushahri and directed by Jasem Al-Muhanna, the eight-episode series focuses on the highs and lows of married life and features homegrown talent such as Khaled Ameen, Hussain Al-Mahdi, Rawan Mahdi, Lamya Tareq and Hessah Al-Nabhan.

The Cage signifies Netflix’s commitment to featuring original content, following its entry into the nation with a six-week program called TV Writers’ Lab 6×6 in partnership with Kuwait-based National Creative Industries Group, which incubated six writers with the goal of finalizing scripts for Netflix. 

While Netflix is under fire to increase its subscriber base and reports say it is open to experimenting with alternative ad-based models, the streamer lost nearly a million subscribers from April to July.

Its Kuwaiti series announcement comes after its partnership with Egypt-based writer’s hub Sard to train Egyptian women in screenwriting and discover untapped talent.

Most Innovative Companies comes to the Middle East this October! Click here to know more.