Arabian Licensing Company to Rep Arabic Sesame Street

DUBAI: Bidaya Media has appointed Arabian Licensing Company (ALC) as the master licensing representative for Iftah Ya Simsim, the Arabic version of Sesame Street, in United Arab Emirates (UAE), Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Middle East.

ALC will develop a full-scale licensing program spanning a wide variety of merchandise and retail promotions. The company has also entered into a Saudi-Emirati partnership with Headline Communication to handle the licensing for Saudi Arabia. Iftah Ya Simsim is meant for youngsters between the ages of 4 and 6. The locally produced show features content that is developed according to a curriculum prepared by the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States. It premiered on national TV channels in the region in September after a 25-year hiatus.

"We are proud to represent Iftah Ya Simsim, which is part of the global Sesame Street family that provides engaging educational content to enrich the lives of children around the world," said Fayez Weiss Al-Sabbagh, the chairman of ALC.

Feras Adel Al Maddah, the CEO of Headline Communication, added: "Acquiring this license represents a significant shift. While there is certainly a growing appetite for educational content, just as importantly, Iftah Ya Simsim allows us to help promote the values and culture of the region."