With the start of the 2026 Ramadan season, Arab drama appears to be entering a new phase of expansion, which can be glimpsed from this year’s Syrian sample. Discussions of a budget approaching $25 million reflect a clear return to intensive investment in the Ramadan drama entertainment sector. In 2025, the volume of Arab Ramadan drama production reached approximately $270 million in a single month, while the total annual industry value exceeded $500 million, according to prominent producers such as Sadiq Al-Sabah and Gamal El Adl.

Growth during Ramadan 2025 ranged between 30 and 35 percent, driven by rising production costs and higher advertising and broadcasting rights prices. Last year, the total cost of 40 Egyptian series reached around $74.5 million, compared to about $63.8 million in 2024, with media coverage remaining tight on salaries to avoid controversy. For joint productions, the series Muawiya (a Saudi-Egyptian co-production) cost between $100 and $150 million, while the overall Arab drama production market—including Gulf productions—exceeded $210 million for 45 series.

Muawiya Series - Poster

The most notable shift today is the rise of digital platforms, which no longer limit themselves to buying broadcasting rights but have become key production partners. This has led to larger budgets and attracted the brightest stars from Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, the Gulf, Iraq, and Morocco. This competition has also expanded the workforce, including writers, directors, technicians, fashion designers, makeup artists, sound and lighting engineers, set designers, construction crews, transport companies, equipment suppliers, digital marketing teams, and music production companies. It has further boosted related services such as hotel bookings, location rentals, and catering.

According to Egyptian guild estimates, a single series typically employs 150 to 300 people. With 40 series produced during the 2025 Ramadan season, the number of direct job opportunities ranged roughly between 6,000 and 12,000. Including indirect jobs in transportation, lighting, wardrobe, catering, and filming services, the total number of jobs could reach between 15,000 and 25,000—just in Egypt.

Thus, the Ramadan drama entertainment industry has become a real economic driver, contributing to the growth of both local and regional markets.