Rotana Media and Scene Join Forces to Accelerate the Rise of Micro-Drama in the Arab World

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The partnership will see the two entities co-produce a slate of micro-dramas—short-form scripted series designed for mobile-first viewing—and adapt select Rotana titles into vertical formats, reflecting the fast-evolving consumption habits of younger audiences.

By blending Rotana’s production and distribution expertise with Scene’s experimental edge, the collaboration signals a clear shift in how Arabic content is created and consumed—faster-paced, platform-native, and closer to the pulse of Gen Z and Millennial viewers.

Nada Makhzoum, CEO of Rotana Channels, said the agreement reinforces Rotana’s commitment to evolving with its audience and platforms. 

"Our partnership with Scene extends this vision by empowering Arab creativity through new, innovative storytelling formats that reach viewers wherever they are, in the way they prefer to watch,” she added.

From his side, Sayed Fenianos, Founder and CEO of Scene, described it as a milestone that brings together Rotana’s media influence with Scene’s mission to cultivate new forms of creative expression for Arab youth.

Fenianos noted: “This strategic collaboration with Rotana represents a milestone partnership. Rotana’s deep expertise and solid position in the Arab media landscape bring tremendous value to this agreement. Together, we aim to introduce a new generation of short-form dramas for Arab youth, combining high production quality with the spirit of the digital age.”

Launched in June, Scene has positioned itself as the region’s first dedicated micro-drama hub—producing serialized stories made up of 60-second episodes. Its ambition is to democratize storytelling and encourage a new generation of filmmakers, writers, and producers to experiment within short, impactful formats that speak the language of digital culture.

The Arab entertainment industry seems poised for brighter days, with veteran players like Rotana Media joining forces with ambitious newcomers such as Scene.

Collaborations like this could well set the stage for a wave of locally produced, high-quality short-form content that reflects the region’s evolving creative pulse.