What The UAE Streamed Most in 2021 ?

Spotify’s 2021 Wrapped results revealed

BTS is the most-streamed artist in UAE and third globally

For the third time in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Spotify is celebrating what UAE has been listening to whilst recognizing the unique aspects which define ‘new normal’ in 2021. Once again, the UAE demonstrates its openness to global music and culture, and that is not surprising given its diverse audience.

Today, Spotify is unveiling the top artists, albums, songs, and podcasts across the UAE from the creators that helped soundtrack this year.

So, what did the UAE listen to the most?

For the second year in a row, the globally beloved K-Pop group BTS is the most-streamed artist in the UAE and the third most-streamed worldwide. Canadian powerhouses Drake—who released Certified Lover Boy in September—Justin Bieber—whose 2021 album Justice featured collaborations with artists from across the globe—and The Weeknd take spots two, three and four, respectively. They are swiftly followed by singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, whose Red (Taylor’s Version) gave old and new fans alike a reason to relive the artist’s early groundbreaking work and who is the second-most streamed artist globally.

The top song of 2021 in UAE is Lil Nas X’s viral “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)”. Masked Wolf’s “Astronaut in The Ocean” comes in second. The Kid LAROIenters the ranks for the first time, with his Justin Bieber collaboration “STAY” taking third place both in the UAE and globally. The fourth spot sees Dua Lipa with “Levitating (feat. DaBaby)” and Olivia Rodrigo comes in fifth, with “good 4 u,” which also earned the title of 2021 Spotify Song of the Summer globally.

Wellness podcasts on the rise…

As the importance of wellness is increasingly recognized, the podcasting landscape surrounding the same also sees a shift with three of the top five podcasts in the UAE focused on wellness. This is in line with Spotify’s Global and Cultural Trends report that unveiled that in the UAE audio was perceived as a stress-reliever, where 69% of millennials and 58% of Gen Zs use audio to reduce their stress levels.

Head over to spotify.com/wrapped to enjoy the Wrapped experience.

To learn more about Spotify’s full 2021 Wrapped results In UAE; check below:

UAE’s Most Streamed Artists: