As the third edition of Web Summit Qatar approaches, it serves as a reminder to see results of partnership announcements. Last year, iHeartMedia announced a partnership with GCO Qatar to build out a podcast network for the MENA region. One year later, it has started to bear fruit now known as iHeartArabi. IMHO, the name is fitting for the region itself.
When the news first came out, I struck while the news was fresh seeing the announcement. I knew we had to invite someone to talk about it on The Geeky Nomads podcast (disclosure: I co-host it with my great friend Khan). You can listen to the episode below or watch it on YouTube. You can also glace on the key insights from the conversation.
iHeartMedia has been working behind the scenes to bring the vision to life. Last year, they announced some of their popular shows are expanding to multiple languages (including Arabic). Though they are using AI for this, let’s hope they expand to iHeartArabi’s growing portfolio in the future.
Starting off 2026, iHeartArabi is focused on telling Arabic stories about topics relevant to the MENA region and the diaspora. This included hiring a team that knew how to navigate the growing challenges and sensitivities; kudos to Khan discovering a very peculiar job posting on LinkedIn by MCG Talent.
Under the local leadership of Dina Al-Hajjar (ex-Al Jazeera) and accompanied by Elia Monsef, they have also partnered with Jordan-based Sowt Media (likely for the production aspects). That has resulted in launching two shows to kick-start the work: Khotwa Aziza and Mish Fahem. This will also culminate with the opening their studio and offices before the onset of the hot summers.
Now, they get to bring it to the masses in person at Web Summit Qatar 2026. If you’re attending the event, drop by the iHeart booth.
Image credit: iHeartArabi on Instagram
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