Twitch Accessibility In Bahrain: Unblocking Options

Twitch is an American video live-streaming service that focuses on video game live streaming, including esports competitions, music broadcasts, creative content, and in real life streams. In 2020, millions of viewers tuned in to Arabic-language Twitch streams, with more than 4.4 million fans watching thousands of channels across the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. This article will explore whether Twitch is accessible from Bahrain and discuss the platform's popularity in the region.

Twitch streamers in the Middle East have been blocked from receiving payouts

In February 2022, Twitch streamers in the Middle East reported that they were unable to receive their payouts from the platform. This issue affected streamers from across the region, including Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

According to emails sent to Twitch Support, accounts had been blocked due to a "discrepancy with certain tax information provided during the onboarding process". However, streamers claimed that their tax information was correct and that no clarification was given on how to resolve the issue. As a result, an outcry emerged on Twitter, with many calling for fair treatment for Middle Eastern streamers, using the hashtag #twitch_arab_streamers to raise awareness.

The inability to receive payouts had significant consequences for the affected streamers, with some expressing concerns about becoming homeless if they were unable to access their income from streaming, which was their primary source of income. This issue highlighted the importance of streaming revenue for individuals in the region, especially considering the growth of the gaming market in the Middle East.

At the time of the reports, Twitch had not yet responded to the situation. The lack of communication and resolution from the platform added to the frustration and uncertainty experienced by the streamers. This incident underscored the challenges and vulnerabilities faced by content creators when issues with payment systems arise.

While there is limited recent information available regarding the specific issue of blocked payouts for Middle Eastern Twitch streamers, it is worth noting that Twitch has a presence in Bahrain. Twitch streamers in Bahrain have been able to broadcast their gameplay and attract viewers from the country and beyond.

Twitch streams in Arabic increased by 221% from February to May 2020

Twitch is accessible in Bahrain, and the site's popularity in the country and the wider Middle East region has been growing. In 2020, 4.4 million gaming fans watched Arabic-language Twitch streams across the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. This represented a significant increase, with Twitch streams in Arabic increasing by 221% from February to May 2020. The number of viewers in May 2020 was 556,391, a rise attributed to strict Covid-19 social distancing rules that kept millions at home.

The surge in Twitch's popularity in the Middle East during this period is part of a broader trend of live-streaming's increased popularity during the Covid-19 pandemic. With people staying indoors to comply with lockdown measures, they turned to live-streaming platforms like Twitch to consume more entertainment at home. This trend was observed globally, with a notable example being Italy, where live-stream viewership grew by more than 66% since the beginning of the quarantine there.

The popularity of Twitch in the Middle East, particularly among Arabic speakers, has continued to grow. The total number of active streams from countries in the region throughout 2020 was 252,850. The site's popularity surged again towards the end of the year, with 436,291 gaming fans tuning in during November, followed by 572,143 in December.

The Middle East gaming market's rapid growth has caught the attention of the international gaming industry, as noted by Musab Abdulla, Technology and Innovation Director at Bahrain Economic Development Board. The region's gaming population is expanding at an unprecedented rate, with the MENA region having the fastest-growing online gaming population in the world, increasing by 25% year-on-year. This presents a significant opportunity for the gaming industry, as Arabic gaming is a substantial untapped growth market. Despite 20% of all gamers living in the Middle East, only 4% of games are available in the Arabic language.

Bahrain's visa policy for travellers transiting through the country

Bahrain's Visa Policy for Transit Travellers

Bahrain's visa policy depends on the duration of a traveller's layover or connecting time in the country. If travellers have a connecting time of fewer than 8 hours, they are not required to obtain a Bahrain transit visa. However, they will not be permitted to leave the airport. Conversely, travellers whose layover exceeds 8 hours will need to obtain a transit visa.

The Bahrain transit visa is non-extendable and can only be granted to foreigners who do not have a residence or occupation in Bahrain and whose sole purpose of visiting is for recreation, sightseeing, or casual visits to friends and relatives. The transit visa can be applied for through the airline, a travel agency, or an agent via the visa section of the Bahrain Embassy.

Additionally, travellers with a layover of more than 7 hours but less than 24 hours may qualify for a free transit visa. The admission into the Kingdom of Bahrain is at the discretion of the Ministry of Interior.

For those seeking a longer stay, visit visas are available for up to 6 months. To enter Bahrain, your passport must have an expiry date of at least 6 months after your arrival, and you may be asked to provide evidence of onward or return travel.

It is important to note that Bahrain has specific entry and exit requirements, and travellers are advised to check with the Bahrain Embassy or the Bahrain Immigration Department for detailed information.

The Middle East gaming market is growing at an unprecedented rate

Mobile gaming has surpassed console and PC gaming as the most popular form of gaming in the Middle East, driven by the widespread availability and accessibility of smartphones. The growing demand for mobile games is fuelled by advancements in augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), cloud gaming, and improved internet connectivity through 5G technology. The convenience and portability offered by mobile devices, along with the affordability of mobile gaming compared to traditional consoles or PCs, have contributed to the rising number of smartphone gamers in the region.

The increasing penetration of smartphones and online games has been a decisive factor in the growth of the Middle East gaming market, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when people turned to online gaming services for entertainment and social interaction. The pandemic accelerated the adoption of mobile gaming, with people spending more time at home and seeking alternative forms of engagement.

The gaming industry in the Middle East is also witnessing significant investments from both the public and private sectors. Countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are actively investing in the development of local talent, infrastructure, and industry diversification. Saudi Arabia, in particular, has been focusing on reducing its oil dependency and is investing heavily in its entertainment industry, including theme parks, amusement spaces, and e-sports events. The country's Vision 2030 initiative underscores the importance of digitization, with VR gaming spaces gaining popularity within malls and contributing to the growth of the VR concept in the region.

The Middle East gaming market is expected to continue its rapid expansion, driven by the increasing popularity of e-sports, the growing young population in the region, and the integration of advanced technologies. The market is attracting the attention of major global developers and events, fostering a vibrant and dynamic gaming ecosystem in the region.

The MENA region has the world's fastest-growing online gaming population

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is experiencing a boom in its gaming and esports markets, with the MENA region having the world's fastest-growing online gaming population. This growth is largely driven by the region's highly engaged gaming community, which has made the MENA region a huge opportunity for game developers and console manufacturers.

The MENA region's gaming market is expanding at an impressive rate of 25% year-on-year, outpacing other regions such as Latin America, Asia-Pacific, North America, and Western Europe. This rapid growth has attracted the attention of major global developers and events, and the market is expected to triple in size to $4.4 billion by 2022.

A significant factor contributing to the growth of the MENA region's gaming population is the high proportion of young people, with 50% of the population under the age of 25. These gamers are highly engaged, spending an average of eight hours per week on consoles. Additionally, the region has a high average revenue per user (ARPU) of $181, which is significantly higher than that of other countries, such as China, with an ARPU of just $48.

The popularity of streaming platforms, such as Twitch, has also played a crucial role in the growth of the MENA region's gaming population. In 2020, 4.4 million gaming fans from the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, and Saudi Arabia tuned in to thousands of Arabic-language Twitch streams. The number of streams in Arabic increased significantly during the Covid-19 lockdown, with millions staying at home due to strict social distancing rules. The surge in gaming across the Middle East has produced many top players from countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain.

The MENA region's gaming market remains largely untapped, presenting a compelling opportunity for game localisation. Arabic is one of the top five languages spoken globally, with more than 400 million speakers in the MENA region alone. However, less than 3% of online content is available in Arabic, despite Arabic gamers' demand for more content in their language. This creates a unique opportunity for game developers to cater to this underserved market and drive further growth in the region's gaming population.

Frequently asked questions