Kick Captures 81.4% of MENA Live-Streaming Viewership as Twitch Falters

Key facts

• Kick held 81.4% of MENA live-streaming viewership in Q1 2026.
• Total quarterly hours watched in MENA rose from 95 million (Q1 2022) to 490 million (Q1 2026).
• Twitch was restricted in Turkey in February 2024 over gambling concerns.
• Twitch's MENA viewership fell from 107 million hours (Q1 2024) to 26 million (Q1 2026), a 75% decline.
• Nine of the top 10 MENA creators by hours watched in Q1 2026 streamed primarily on Kick.
• Top creator Absi logged 34.3 million hours watched, mainly on 'PUBG Mobile' and 'EA Sports FC'.
• The Kings World Cup Nations 2026 peaked at 264,000 concurrent viewers in MENA.
• Arabic speakers account for 65.8% of hours on Twitch and Kick combined in the region.

Kick Dominates MENA Live-Streaming Landscape

Kick has become the dominant live-streaming platform across the Middle East and North Africa, capturing 81.4% of all regional viewership in the first quarter of 2026, according to new data from Stream Hatchet. The total quarterly hours watched in MENA surged from approximately 95 million in Q1 2022 to 490 million in Q1 2026, reflecting explosive growth in the region's streaming market. The platform's rise comes at the expense of Twitch, which saw its MENA viewership collapse from roughly 107 million quarterly hours in Q1 2024 to just 26 million by Q1 2026 — a decline of about 75%. Kick overtook Twitch as early as Q2 2024, starting from near zero in Q3 2023.

Turkish Ban on Twitch Accelerated Shift

Turkish regulators restricted access to Twitch in February 2024, citing concerns over gambling content on the platform. The move redirected a large and active streaming community toward alternatives. Kick reached a compromise with Turkish authorities by limiting gambling sections on its own platform, allowing it to absorb much of the displaced audience. YouTube Gaming also grew steadily over the same period, rising from around 24 million quarterly hours in 2022 to 65 million in Q1 2026. However, Kick captured the lion's share of the growth, benefiting directly from Twitch's regulatory troubles in Turkey.

Language Divide Shapes Platform Preferences

Platform preference in MENA splits along language lines. On YouTube Gaming, Türkiye accounts for 72.7% of all regional hours watched, with Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE each contributing around 5 to 6%. On Twitch and Kick combined, Arabic speakers account for 65.8% of the 425.6 million hours watched on those platforms, while Turkish-language viewers contribute 34.7%. This linguistic segmentation underscores how local content and community dynamics drive platform loyalty. Arabic-language creators have flocked to Kick, while Turkish audiences remain more fragmented across YouTube Gaming and other services.

Top Creators Concentrate on Kick

Nine of the top 10 MENA creators by hours watched in Q1 2026 streamed primarily on Kick. Absi led all creators with 34.3 million hours watched, building his audience around "PUBG Mobile" and "EA Sports FC" content. Maherco ranked second at 25.4 million hours, drawing viewers through "Slots and Casino" content alongside "Rocket League." Together, the two streamers accounted for more hours watched than the remaining eight creators combined. Other top creators include Drb7h, YZNSA — a professional "Counter-Strike" player turned streamer — and Turkish streamers Eray and Rammus53.

GTA V and PUBG Mobile Lead Game Viewership

"Just Chatting" led all categories with 28.9 million hours watched. Among games, "PUBG Mobile" topped the charts at 10.3 million hours, followed by "GTA V" at 9.0 million. "Respect RP," an Arabic-language "GTA V" roleplay server operating since 2020, contributed an additional 8.3 million hours, bringing the combined "GTA V" total to 17.3 million hours. "Counter-Strike 2" recorded 7.8 million hours, "EA Sports FC 26" reached 7.5 million, and "Rocket League" logged 6.2 million. The "PUBG" franchise across both mobile and PC combined for nearly 15 million hours watched.

Kings World Cup Nations Draws Record Event Audience

The Kings World Cup Nations 2026 peaked at 264,000 concurrent viewers among MENA audiences in Q1 2026, the highest of any live-streaming event in the region during the quarter. Morocco and Saudi Arabia both fielded national teams in the tournament, reflecting the growing importance of organized esports events in driving viewership. As Kick solidifies its lead, the platform faces the challenge of maintaining momentum while navigating regulatory landscapes and competition from YouTube Gaming. The next quarter will reveal whether its dominance can be sustained or if rivals will claw back market share.

The bottom line

• Kick now commands over 80% of MENA live-streaming viewership, a dramatic shift from Twitch's previous dominance.
• The Turkish government's 2024 ban on Twitch over gambling content was the catalyst for the platform's decline in the region.
• Arabic-language creators are the primary driver of Kick's growth, accounting for nearly two-thirds of combined Twitch/Kick hours.
• Top creators Absi and Maherco alone generated more watch time than the next eight creators combined.
• GTA V, including the Respect RP roleplay server, was the most-watched game franchise in MENA during Q1 2026.
• Esports events like the Kings World Cup Nations are becoming key viewership drivers in the region.