The Most Popular Social Media Accounts in the Middle East (H1 2022)

Abstract

For the first time, this report brings together the most popular accounts originating in MENA on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter.

Each of these platforms is explored in more detail in this report, but below we outline the account with the largest number of followers, likes and subscribers, across MENA as well as the region's four biggest markets: Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

Featuring news and music channels, content creators, religious figures, politicians and sports stars, this chart shows the breadth of activity seen on different social media channels and the different ways in which users utilize them.

Egyptian footballer Mohamed Salah is the only person to be featured twice. The Liverpool player, and captain of the Egyptian national team, has the most popular Instagram and Twitter account stemming from Egypt.

The report was made possible with support from the New Media Academy and data from Emplifi. My thanks to them both.

Keywords: social media, social network, social networking, Middle East, MENA, MENA region, Arab World, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, UAE, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter

JEL Classification: o53