The UAE’s live streaming market is projected to grow from $1.9 billion to $3.4 billion by 2030, according to a new report from TikTok in collaboration with consulting firm Kearney. The live streaming industry in the broader Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is expected to reach $17.8 billion by 2030, up from its current valuation of $8.1 billion.

Approximately 115,000 UAE social media users go live daily across various streaming platforms, producing content ranging from entertainment and education to lifestyle and niche formats. Across the MENA region, more than 10 million people have livestreamed at least once, highlighting the format’s growing accessibility and popularity.

“Livestreaming is redefining how content is created, consumed, and monetised across MENA,” Yahya Munir, TikTok Live Trust & Experience Manager for MENA, told Khaleej Times. “This is no longer just a creator trend – it’s a fast-growing economic force that is unlocking opportunities for creators, brands, and communities alike.”

Global Industry Context

The regional growth aligns with global trends, as the live streaming industry demonstrated a 12% year-over-year increase in 2024, with viewership reaching 32.5 billion hours watched, approaching the pandemic-era record of 34.6 billion hours set in 2021, according to Stream Hatchet data.

The non-gaming sector grew 12% to reach 5.4 billion hours watched globally, with social content leading at 3.7 billion hours. Platform competition continues to intensify, with Twitch maintaining a market leadership share of 61.1% despite a 3% year-over-year decline.

As Khaleej Times notes, the UAE is positioned to become a regional hub for live streaming due to its infrastructure, regulatory environment, and focus on digital growth. This aligns with the UAE’s Digital Economy Strategy, which aims for the technology sector to constitute 20% of the overall GDP by 2031.

The creator economy continues to expand across the region. YouTube recently reported that channels earning seven figures annually in the UAE increased by 15% year-over-year as of December 2024, with over 95% of watch time for UAE channel content coming from outside the country.

The TikTok report noted that agencies are emerging as important enablers for creators, providing training, tools, and infrastructure. Currently, only around 10% of MENA creators who livestream daily work with agencies, highlighting growth potential compared to markets like China, where approximately 80% of daily livestreamers are agency-affiliated.