The messaging landscape in the Middle East continues its dynamic evolution, with WhatsApp Channels cementing their status as a crucial platform for direct, private, and high-engagement communication. Our analysis of the Top 10 most popular WhatsApp Channels in the Middle East for November 2025 reveals compelling trends, with an undeniable dominance of sports and media entities, alongside the strong personal brand power of regional celebrities.

The Unstoppable Force: Sports and Media Domination

The November 2025 ranking clearly highlights the region’s passion for football and live media. Channels offering immediate, exclusive updates on these topics are leading the charge, leveraging WhatsApp’s direct-to-consumer model for unparalleled engagement.

• BeIN’s Double Victory: The BeIN network secures the top two spots, demonstrating its massive influence across the Middle East. BeIN Sports at number one, with 5.3 million followers, underscores the region’s insatiable demand for sports content, specifically football. Its main BeIN channel follows closely at 3.8 million, proving the brand’s reach extends beyond sports into general entertainment and news.
• Club Power: Egyptian football giant Al Ahly maintains an impressive presence at number three with 3.5 million followers, showing the enduring and localized strength of major regional clubs. The inclusion of Manchester City Arabic also points to the significant following that international football clubs command when they cater content to the local language and culture.
• News Consumption: The consistent ranking of BBC News Arabic highlights the role of WhatsApp Channels as a rapid, trusted source for global and regional news, a pattern common in markets with high mobile usage.

The Power of Personal Brands and Entertainment

Beyond the major media outlets, the ranking showcases the magnetic pull of regional celebrities and specialized content creators, who manage to connect with a large following through a personal, direct line of communication.

• Celebrity Connection: Egyptian actor and comedian Ahmed Helmy is a significant entry. His channel, with 958,843 underscore the direct, personal connection fans seek with public figures on a platform like WhatsApp. This bypasses the typical social media algorithm, offering a more intimate feel.
• Local Entertainment: Prothom Alo Entertainment and Khaleej Times also feature in the top 10. While Prothom Alo’s presence is a testament to the cross-regional appeal of entertainment content (especially from South Asia), the Khaleej Times‘ solid ranking highlights the importance of local, reliable media within the Gulf’s thriving digital ecosystem.

Key Takeaways for Marketers and Creators

1. Sports and Exclusivity Reign Supreme: For maximum reach, content related to football, major leagues, and immediate sports updates is the current king of engagement. Marketers should look to align with or emulate the content style of the top sports channels.
2. The ‘Million Follower’ Chasm: There’s a noticeable gap between the top four channels (all above 1.7 million) and the rest of the list, which drops below the one-million mark. This suggests that achieving mass scale on WhatsApp Channels requires the backing of a large, established media brand or globally recognized entity.
3. Localize for Success: The inclusion of channels like Al Ahly, Manchester City Arabic, and local news brands proves that content must be tailored to the local language and regional interests to convert followers into highly engaged subscribers.

The November 2025 ranking confirms that WhatsApp Channels are not just a feature; they are a major broadcast platform in the Middle East. Success on this channel hinges on providing instant, high-value, and culturally resonant content, be it live sports updates, breaking news, or intimate celebrity glimpses.

This is precisely what Channels Me, the solution developed by Messaging Me, the world’s first platform dedicated to managing, planning, and automating posts on WhatsApp Channels, allows you to do.