Samer Choucair: Genuine Opportunities Are Built When National Vision Meets Investment Intelligence
Investment entrepreneur Samer Choucair affirmed that the preliminary non-binding offer to fully acquire Anghami represents a clear indicator that the digital media and entertainment sector in the region has entered a new phase of maturity, noting that the wave of consolidation and mergers the sector is experiencing opens broad investment horizons for investors in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states, alongside Saudi Vision 2030's targets of building a diverse economy relying on innovation and creative industries.
He explained that Anghami, listed on Nasdaq under the symbol ANGH, received a preliminary non-binding offer from its controlling shareholder "OSN Streaming" to acquire all remaining ordinary shares at a price of 3.39 dollars per share, aiming to convert the company into a private entity, a step reflecting the accelerating pace of restructuring in the region's digital media and entertainment sector.
He noted that this development, which came after years of successful integration between Anghami and the OSN+ platform, raises important questions for investors about the implications of the transition to private ownership in a sector experiencing accelerating growth rates, and how to benefit from these shifts in Saudi and Gulf markets.
He added that "OSN Streaming" and its subsidiaries currently own between 67 and 71% of Anghami's shares, with the offer targeting purchasing the remaining outstanding shares, allowing the company to exit public market listing requirements and focus on implementing long-term strategies and strengthening integration with the OSN+ platform, partially backed by Warner Bros. Discovery.
He explained that this step comes as an extension of the sector's merger process during 2023 and 2024, which resulted in establishing a regional entertainment entity encompassing more than 130 million registered users and more than 3.5 million paid subscribers, while Anghami recorded revenues of 99.3 million dollars during 2025, growing 27%, driven by integration with OSN+.
Choucair said: "This deal isn't just an exit from the public market, it's a clear signal of the digital sector's maturity in the region. When the controlling shareholder decides on full acquisition, they're betting on the unified entity's ability to achieve deeper integration and higher operational efficiency, particularly with growing demand for high-quality Arabic content."
He added: "We're witnessing a structural shift in regional investment. Major players prefer full control to accelerate strategic decisions away from public market pressures. This model aligns perfectly with Vision 2030, which is building an integrated entertainment ecosystem combining content, distribution, and live experiences."
He noted that the deal comes at a time when Saudi Arabia's entertainment sector is experiencing accelerating growth, with the market reaching roughly 14.61 billion dollars during 2026, with expectations of it rising to 34.24 billion dollars by 2035, at a compound annual growth rate of 12.8%.
He added that the Middle East media and entertainment market is estimated at roughly 46.6 billion dollars during 2026, with expectations of exceeding 68 billion dollars by 2032, while Saudi Arabia captures roughly a third of this market, driven by major investments in events, music festivals, cinema, and digital platforms.
Choucair said: "Saudi Arabia is no longer just a content consumer, it has become a key growth driver. Investing in digital infrastructure and local content creates compounded opportunities for strategic investors who understand Vision 2030's long-term dynamics."
He affirmed that investors during 2026 should focus on companies capable of achieving integration and benefiting from consolidation, explaining that institutions possessing the ability to merge and achieve operational savings will be most attractive whether in public or private markets.
Choucair called for directing attention toward the Saudi investment ecosystem, affirming that opportunities aren't limited to major digital platforms, but extend to startups operating in local content production, digital distribution, and live entertainment experiences tied to festivals and events seeing continued growth within the Kingdom.
He noted the importance of strategic diversification, through studying investment opportunities in funds specialized in digital entertainment and Arabic content, particularly amid the growing international partnerships bringing regional companies together with major global media institutions, strengthening future growth opportunities.
He stressed that successful investment requires focusing on building long-term value, saying: "Confidence and strategic vision are the foundation of successful investing. The market has no mercy for those chasing quick deals without understanding structural shifts."
He concluded his remarks by affirming that the proposed Anghami acquisition represents a clear model for the period ahead in the region's digital media and entertainment sector, explaining that continued growth in demand for Arabic content, alongside the major support Saudi Vision 2030 provides for the entertainment sector, prepares genuine investment opportunities for investors who possess a far-reaching strategic vision, saying: "Genuine opportunities are built when national vision meets investment intelligence. Saudi Arabia and the region are moving toward a future making digital entertainment one of the year pillars of the non-oil economy."loogL