The ARY Digital Network has been the talk of the town in the world of South Asian entertainment, making cultures meet and reaching Pakistan’s bright media face to international audiences. It was founded by Haji Abdul Razzak Yaqoob. This Dubai-based conglomerate, founded in December 2000 as a subsidiary of the ARY Group, is really making entertainment pop with a wide variety of television channels, partnerships, and film productions. It has grown from just catering to the South Asian audience in the UK to this gigantic entertainment hub that entertains millions of viewers worldwide.

Its network now also consists of several channels showing mixed content, catering for different tastes: drama, news, lifestyle, and music. All this has helped ARY Digital connect even more closely with the audience of South Asian diaspora-they are well-informed and entertained, no matter where they happen to be.

The ARY Digital has strategically affiliated with some of the world networks to diversify contents offerings and expand the audience base. One such affiliation resulted in launching FTV Pakistan on December 2005 through its association with Fashion TV. It brought global fashion trends to Pakistani viewers by becoming the first trendsetter for fashion-related content launched by ARY Digital. The networks include Al Jazeera and HBO. A new Al Jazeera Urdu channel aims to reach out to 110 million households which speak Urdu in different parts of the world. HBO Pakistan, made in collaboration with HBO South Asia, brings international quality entertainment to the people of Pakistan. Exciting collaborations include Nickelodeon, allowing the company to reach out to the very young audience with Nick Pakistan, an entertaining and educational channel to them.

Subsidiary of the giant ARY Digital Network, ARY Films plays a very significant role in rejuvenating and enhancing the Pakistani film industry. In 2013, ARY Films brought to the screen 35 movies-distributed under its umbrella in just a single calendar year, which includes 11 Urdu, 6 Punjabi, and 17 Pashto films. Some of the most iconic ARY Films-released movies include Waar, Main Hoon Shahid Afridi, Josh, Chambaili, Zinda Bhaag, Siyaah, and Lamha. These films became commercially successful as well but, more importantly, set new standards for Pakistani films with respect to production values and story lines.

December 2007: A State of Emergency was declared in Pakistan. The situation and challenges to ARY Digital on matters of balanced media coverage made Salman Iqbal, CEO of the network, declare the establishment of the ARY Media Advisory Board. The board’s job was overseeing the contents of the broadcasts on the network to ensure that it reflected reasonableness and fairness in the coverage of media activities. It was made up of 20 members, each representing expertise different in the media, aimed at presenting an equity view of what was going on in Pakistan, and responsible journalism, which would be fair.  ARY Digital has also not been without criticism. Legal wrangles with the network were also in 2003 when it aired a controversial segment of a prisoner speaking about how the Anti-Terrorism Court was against him along with footage of young girls behind bars. It was reported to have escalated into contempt of court, but afterwards charges were withdrawn as ARY Digital issued an unconditional apology.

In August 2015, news that it had its CEO, Salman Iqbal, attempt to take over BOL Network and BOL News, had hogged headlines for the ARY Digital Network. The reason was to afford job security to media personnel and particularly when it happened at a time when the general mood was at a chaotic low for the industry. However, soon after, the deal eventually fell through, and by September 2015, the merger was an unmitigated abdication.

With the ever-changing media landscape, ARY Digital Network has adjusted to the changing times of today with its video-on-demand streaming service called ARY ZAP. Under this service, the viewer can watch his favorite ARY shows and movies on the go or any time they please in their time zone and the entire world, thus allowing content to penetrate a global audience. This really represents the commitment of the network to staying at the cutting edge of entertainment technology and responding to the needs and demands of its audience in a digital age.

Mai Selim is a force to be reckoned with within the entertainment world, be it her voice that moves many souls across the Arab world or her ever-growing influence in social media, as she embodies the spirit of new celebrity. She has over 5 million followers on Instagram and has bagged a place as one of the elite influencers in Dubai by making waves in her career in music and acting but also with sharp social media presence. Her journey as a Jordanian-Palestinian star is an inspiring testimonial of creativity, versatility, and the power of connection.

Mai Selim ventures into the entertainment industry at its entry point with music, by launching her debut album, Albi Byehlam, in 2005. Her voice went amiss in the listener’s ears and soon she was embraced as one of the spot talents of Arabic music. This debut threw her into the limelight, where she became an overnight sensation, laying down a foundation for a multi-faceted career that found her gliding between singing, acting, and influencing with ease.

After her foray into the world of music, Mai was determined to make acting the second avenue through which she could expand. This was not long before she struck gold in this field as well. She introduced herself to the cinema in 2010 through the film The Dealer. After that, she took part in various television and film projects, now expressing her versatility as an artist. Her acting portfolio features quite popular productions, such as Zana’et Settat (2015), Shaket Dabous (2016), Khair, and Baraka (2017), and El-Rehla (2018). Each role helped her demonstrate her potential in doing all other characters and made her a household name within the region. Mai Selim is known for being one of the few celebrities who still remain relevant in today’s fast-changing digital world. She took to social media like a duck to water, and she successfully developed a strong connect with her audience.  For example, with more than 5 million followers on Instagram, her account is a testament to the reach she commands. She gives her fans a glimpse into her life-be it shiny modelling shots, some exclusive behind-the-scenes action in films and shows she is working on, or even serious comedy clips. Thus, her ability to stay true to the glamour that makes her who she is while also being relatable has stood the test of time.

Mai has also been quite active on TikTok, where it seems that all playfulness comes alive. She posts funny skits, challenges, and other things targeted at a much younger audience and widens her range to a group that would otherwise not give her a second glance beyond her traditional media personality. She manages to float because this has been her transition in making digital content with the diffusion of entertainment consumption from diverse outlooks. The diversity in what she posts is astonishingly varied; some are light-hearted, while others are both empowering posts that give their followers the courage to take up their strengths and live boldly. This bringing together of relatable humour and inspirational content has made her a leading influencer in Dubai. Besides entertainment, her influence as a social media personality translates to a most active influencer of various brands and causes. Her association with different brands speaks well to her influence across digital space. A company wants her endorsement not because of her lots of followers, but because of the trust and sense of belonging she has nurtured among her audience. Her advocacy ranges from lifestyle and beauty products to a call for important cause endorsements; hence, her followers appreciate her honesty in recommending products.

Mai is successful in both music and acting and on social media, yet beneath all of this grandeur, Mai is down to earth, constantly following her heart. Indeed, it is true that her versatility to adapt and change over time as well as open up her arms to embrace new platforms and ways of expression is a great attribute to her robustness as an entertainer. From charming crowds with her singing skills to portraying intricate characters in the silver screen and dishing out massive doses of laughter and inspiration via social media to her followers, she becomes an endearing figure in the field of entertainment.

The story of Mai Selim is more than fame alone: it is passion, growth, and the urge to connect. Whether through her music, acting, or social media presence, she touches the hearts of many, showing that true stardom comes from a combination of talent and hard work mixed with meaningful interaction with one’s audience. Her influence extends far beyond her impressive Instagram following, inspiring others who want to make their mark in the world, one song, one film, and one post at a time.

Ahmed Hossam is one of the fastest-rising stars in the entertainment category with millions of hits on all related skits, which resemble everyday life situations in the UAE and especially in Egypt, where this influencer has garnered a large fan base. His take on comedy and observations are blended and bring him recognition, attention, and millions of views among the audience. The account carries more than 7 million followers, which demonstrates what the network tapped into Hossam’s niche regarding humour, relatable experiences, and a bit of travel glamour. He solidifies his place as one of the leading figures on Instagram.

The main reason behind the popularity of Ahmed Hossam is his natural ability to create accessible content that can make someone laugh. Unlike other types of influencers who mainly use lifestyle content, Hossam has pushed that up a notch by focusing specifically on comedy. His videos sometimes parody real-life situations or contain jokes and skits as funny as they are hilarious while opening the viewer’s perspective on humorous manners in which such events are to be seen. Thus, his comedy focus helped him create a brand that is authentic to an uplifting and creative personality. His creativity does not end at humor-Hossam often finishes viral videos from around the internet with his funny twist, bringing a fresh experience of familiarity for followers.

One of the latest viral reels that gave a glimpse of Hossam’s engagement strength is an absolutely beautiful observation about a mundane everyday thing. The video contained hilarious comments on the little things everybody experiences during the day and climbed to 335 million views, as well as over 21 million engagements. Another reel featuring a similar skit gathered 327 million viewers and maintains an impressive 16 million engagements. These numbers are stunning and clearly demonstrate his appeal to the audience, primarily because of relating through humour. For such a huge audience, Ahmed Hossam retains engagement at its peaks constantly-Average 3 million views per post and around 100,000 interactions, which places his engagement rate at 3%.

Comedy videos aside, Hossam is well-traveled. He would often share lessons and pictures of the travels and aims to be their inspiration towards travels. Whether sharing the most beautiful destinations or fantastic travel anecdotes, he adds a touch of personal relatability to his content. Hossam’s interest in the aviation industry and tourism allows him to mix between entertainment and travel to give his followers what excites, entertains, and inspires them to go out and explore the world.

While Ahmed Hossam is the first Emirati to gain such widespread popularity within the UAE, he has also managed to influence a greater Middle Eastern Region. In excess of 85% of his listeners hail from Egypt, which puts his popularity far beyond his UAE base. Hossam is a niche platform wherein the brands reach the UAE and Egyptian audiences can target him with deep engagement within the diverse follower base. He allows them to gain visibility through his popularity and reach, both locally and regionally, which makes him a good partner for companies looking to connect into the Middle Eastern market.

The Ahmed Hossam case on social media proves that humour, combined with various injections, is a major success ingredient. It was actually his comedy and personal branding-themes of travel that pushed him to the top; he now boasts a fan base and millions of views keep streaming. This journey is more of a study guide for social media influencers on how to connect with an audience through what most people will find relatable and meaningful. Be it sharing a laugh with fans, introducing them to new travel destinations, or taking them along with the everyday quirks of life, Hossam has really become a leader in the digital comedy scene.