by JOSEPH FAHIM
Once a vehicle for Egyptian soft power, Cairo is struggling to exert its influence through its shows
The 2025 Ramadan TV season continues to dominate cultural discourse in the Arab World even after the end of the Muslim holy month, which doubles as the premiere season for blockbuster shows in the region.
An unusual mix of grit and escapism has given Arabs a respite from a dire political climate blighted by Gaza, ever-looming economic recession and Trump 2.0’s shenanigans.
The sometimes conflated and sometimes conflicting relationship between Egypt and Saudi Arabia informed the conversation this year.
Egypt had an atypically solid roster and Saudi Arabia benefitted from ubiquitousness and supremacy of its channels.
The rise of Syrian drama from the ashes of the Assad regime could indicate a potential renewal of the rivalry between Syria and Egypt, but the stagnancy and stuttering condition of the rest of the region’s TV indicates that Egypt will remain the unrivalled king of Ramadan TV for the time being.
It’s Saudi Arabia, however, and not Egypt that now shapes the Arab TV landscape, a volatile landscape oscillating between the pull of commerce and the insatiable determination of Arab autocrats in controlling the narratives accessible to their people.
Egypt continues to possess the brightest talents in the region, but it’s the Saudi money that will dictate what Arabs watch on their TV screens in the near future.
Sisi picks a battle with Saudi Arabia he can’t win
A characteristically ominous statement by Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi during an iftar dinner regarding Egyptian TV drama sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry.
Sisi has made a habit of publicly commenting on the role of TV drama in instilling a spirit of patriotism in the hearts of the nation and promoting a new Egypt, or, rather, his new vision of Egypt.
The policies governing Egypt’s entertainment industry usually change after such speeches.
After taking power in 2013, lavish TV productions endorsing the military and the police bombarded the airwaves.
On screen, the nation’s social reality has been reduced to nothing but vacuous stories of gated suburban life.
The consolidation of numerous media channels, TV, print and web, gave birth to the United Media Services (UMS), the giant government-owned conglomerate that now controls every facet of news and storytelling in the country.
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