Quest Arabiya

Quest Arabiya was a free-to-air Arabic-language television channel serving audiences across the Middle East and North Africa. It launched on 7 December 2015 as a regional counterpart to the Quest channel in the United Kingdom. The channel was established through a partnership between Discovery Communications and Image Nation, an Abu Dhabi-based media company, and was positioned as a localized factual-entertainment service rather than a general-interest broadcaster. The channel broadcast continuously, 24 hours a day, and was designed to distribute factual and reality-based programming drawn primarily from Discovery's international content library. Much of this programming was adapted for Arabic-speaking viewers through Arabic voice-over translation. An English audio track was subsequently introduced for at least some programming, allowing viewers to watch shows in their original language rather than through the Arabic voice-over version. Quest Arabiya's schedule included documentary and reality formats covering engineering, automotive repair, survival, extreme environments, animals, manufacturing, crime, fishing, and popular science. Its programming mix included titles such as American Chopper, Build It Bigger, Dual Survival, How It's Made, Ultimate Survival, Wheeler Dealers: Trading Up, and Yukon Men. The service therefore combined accessible factual entertainment with adventure and practical-interest formats associated with the broader Quest brand. The channel was intended to reach a large Arabic-speaking audience across 22 countries, with an estimated potential reach of approximately 45 million households. Its stated audience was broad, encompassing both Arabic-speaking men and women, while parts of the schedule were specifically aimed at men aged 16 and above. The localization strategy reflected the commercial and editorial importance of Arabic-language access to internationally produced factual programming in the region. Quest Arabiya ceased broadcasting on 1 May 2019. The closure was announced through the channel's Facebook page on 24 April 2019, but no reason was publicly provided in the available reference material. The service is therefore a defunct regional television-channel brand rather than an active streaming or broadcast property.

Quest Arabiya was created as a localized pan-Arab extension of the Quest television concept. The channel launched on 7 December 2015 and was distributed across the Middle East and North Africa. Its ownership structure involved Discovery Communications and Image Nation, an Abu Dhabi-based media company. The partnership connected Discovery's international factual-programming library with a regional media organization capable of supporting an Arabic-language service. The channel's principal editorial focus was factual entertainment. Rather than concentrating on scripted drama, news, or general entertainment, Quest Arabiya built its schedule around documentaries, reality series, adventure formats, engineering shows, automotive programming, survival programs, and practical-interest content. The channel operated around the clock and was designed for a broad Arabic-speaking audience. At particular times, its scheduling strategy placed emphasis on male viewers aged 16 and above, while the overall service was presented as relevant to both men and women. Localization was central to the service. International programs from Discovery's library were made available with Arabic voice-over translation, improving accessibility for viewers who preferred Arabic-language presentation. The channel later introduced an English audio track, giving audiences the option to hear programs in their original language. This dual-language approach allowed Quest Arabiya to combine regional accessibility with the international character of its acquired factual content. Its programming roster demonstrated the breadth of the brand's offer. Automotive and mechanical titles included American Chopper, Chop Shop: London Garage, and Wheeler Dealers: Trading Up. Survival and extreme-environment programming included Dual Survival, Everest: Beyond the Limit, Lone Target, Ultimate Survival, and Yukon Men. Other formats covered manufacturing, construction, animals, crime, fishing, and science, including How It's Made, Build It Bigger, Animal's Guide to Survival, My Cat from Hell, Off the Hook: Extreme Catches, and Destroyed in Seconds. Quest Arabiya was planned as a large-scale regional service, with an estimated potential reach of 45 million households in 22 countries. Its distribution model and programming strategy reflected the demand for internationally produced factual entertainment adapted for Arabic-speaking viewers. However, the channel did not remain in operation long term. On 24 April 2019, its Facebook page announced that broadcasting would end on 1 May. The announcement did not state the reason for the decision. The channel ceased operations on that date and is now a defunct television brand.

• 2019

  Closure announced

  [1]Quest Arabiyaen.wikipedia.org

  Quest Arabiya announced on 24 April that it would stop broadcasting on 1 May, without disclosing a reason.

• 2019

  Broadcasting ends

  [1]Quest Arabiyaen.wikipedia.org

  The channel ceased operations on 1 May 2019.

• 2015

  Quest Arabiya launches

  [1]Quest Arabiyaen.wikipedia.org

  Quest Arabiya began broadcasting on 7 December as a free-to-air factual-entertainment channel for the Middle East and North Africa.

• English audio track introduced

  [1]Quest Arabiyaen.wikipedia.org

  The channel expanded its audio options beyond Arabic voice-over, enabling viewers to watch selected programming in English.

A free-to-air pan-Arab factual-entertainment channel offering Arabic-localized versions of international documentary, reality, adventure, engineering, automotive, and science programming.

• Free-to-air television channel · 2015

  Quest Arabiya television service

  The core Quest Arabiya offering was a 24-hour free-to-air television service distributed across the Middle East and North Africa. It presented a localized selection of factual and reality-based programs, primarily sourced from Discovery's library. Arabic voice-over was the principal localization method, while an English audio track was later made available for viewers who preferred original-language presentation. The channel targeted a broad Arabic-speaking audience and ceased operations in 2019.

• Television programming · 2015

  Factual and reality programming lineup

  Quest Arabiya's programming mix covered survival, extreme environments, automotive repair, engineering, manufacturing, animals, crime, fishing, and popular science. Representative titles included American Chopper, Build It Bigger, Dual Survival, How It's Made, My Cat from Hell, Ultimate Survival, Wheeler Dealers: Trading Up, and Yukon Men. The lineup was designed to make internationally produced factual entertainment accessible to Arabic-speaking viewers while retaining the broad subject range associated with the Quest brand.

• 2019

  Decision to discontinue broadcastingStrategy

  Background

  Quest Arabiya announced that its regional television service would end after operating for more than three years.

  Action taken

  The channel announced on 24 April that broadcasting would cease on 1 May 2019.

  Aftermath

  Quest Arabiya stopped operating on 1 May 2019. The available reference material does not identify the reason for the closure.

  Source

1. 1Quest Arabiyaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Quest Arabiya official websitequestarabiya.com