Exclusive: Netflix has handed control of its Arabic content slate to the service’s long-serving CEO Noha El-Tayeb following the exit of Ahmed El-Sharkawy.
Al-Tayeb has been with Netflix since 2018, and rose to her current role as Content Director for the Middle East, North Africa (MENA) and Turkey region in December 2019.
Following the exit of Director of Arabic Originals Cherkaoui this month, she will expand her role to oversee the entire Arabic content slate, including acquisitions and originals for film and television, both scripted and non-scripted. We understand that it will be based at Netflix’s international headquarters in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Al-Sharqawi, who has been director of Arabic content and development in Amsterdam for the past five years, announced on LinkedIn earlier this month that he was leaving after an “unforgettable journey” and was “excited for new adventures to come.” It has exited Netflix under amicable circumstances.
Under the leadership of Sony Pictures Television Arabia Sharkawi, Netflix has built the team and slate of local scripted content for Netflix. The broadcaster produces original Arabic series and films, such as Paranormal; Abla fajita; Two seasons of Al Rawabi Girls School, Find Ola And exchange; And The feast was destroyed Among other things.
Netflix appears ready to continue investing in films and TV series outside the Arab region under Al-Tayeb’s leadership.
The scripted and unscripted titles that will be revealed at the content exhibition at the end of January include an Emirati version of love is blind Titled Love is blind, my loveA feature film by Saudi actress and first-time director Fatima Al-Banawi entitled SmileKuwaiti romcom honeymoon An eight-episode revenge drama Echoes of the past.
Al-Tayeb is a veteran executive in the Arab entertainment industry, having worked at CBC in Egypt as Head of Acquisitions and as Senior Director of Channels at OSN in the Middle East. Since then, she has worked at Showtime Arabia, a joint venture between a Kuwaiti holding company and Viacom (now known as Paramount Global). Showtime Arabia merged with Orbit Communications to form OSN.