iQIYI Signs Cooperation in Middle East
During the BRIDGE Global Media Summit held in the United Arab Emirates in December 2025, Chinese streaming platform iQIYI (爱奇艺) announced a strategic cooperation with the UAE-based BRIDGE Alliance, an initiative overseen by the UAE National Media Office. The cooperation reportedly involves plans for joint IP development, film and television production and distribution, virtual production and VR applications, and media technology exchanges focused on the Middle East and North Africa. iQIYI (爱奇艺) framed the announcement as a further step in expanding its regional presence following the launch of its MENA service in May 2025. However, the scope, funding, and concrete outcomes of the cooperation remain unspecified, and claims about ecosystem building and cross-regional impact originate primarily from the participating parties and have yet to be independently substantiated.