A groundbreaking achievement in podcasting has emerged from Saudi Arabia, capturing global attention.
Guinness World Records emphasized the episode’s vast appeal, noting that 74% of its viewers were from outside Saudi Arabia, with 21% choosing to watch with English subtitles.
The Saudi podcast Secrets to Thriving Relationships, produced by Thmanyah, has broken the Guinness World Record for the most-viewed podcast episode on YouTube, amassing 110 million views.
This surpasses the previous record of 68 million views held by Joe Rogan’s interview with Elon Musk over a five-year period.
Thmanyah, meaning “eight” in Arabic, launched its flagship podcast Fnjan in 2016. Named after a traditional Arabic coffee cup symbolizing meaningful discussions, Fnjan has cultivated a loyal audience in the Middle East, with each episode averaging over 1 million views. With more than 350 episodes, the podcast has continually refined its content, leading to this landmark achievement.
The record-breaking episode featured relationship coach Yasser Al Hazimi, whose insights on self-awareness, communication, and personal growth struck a chord with listeners. His expertise, paired with the episode’s relatable themes, fueled its viral success.
Although the episode was produced in Arabic, it garnered international appeal, with 21% of viewers opting for English subtitles. This demonstrates the content’s ability to transcend language barriers.
With over 74% of the 110 million views coming from outside Saudi Arabia, the episode proved particularly popular with viewers aged 25-34, reflecting its strong resonance among millennials and young professionals.
This success not only highlights the growing global reach of Arabic-language content but also showcases Thmanyah’s ability to engage a diverse, international audience.