Kharabeesh
Arabic-language digital media company founded in Jordan in 2008 that produces animation, comedy and creator content for YouTube and social platforms. It raised a $5 million round led by Wamda Capital in 2016.
Industry: Digital media and entertainment | Location: Jordan | Founded: 2008 | Total Funding: USD 6M
About Kharabeesh
Kharabeesh is an Arabic-language digital media company based in Jordan. Its website describes it as a platform and multi-channel network that produces and curates content with creators in comedy, animation, kids and family, social, technology and gaming, beauty and travel. It says it began as an art house collective making animations for the Arab world and has programmed digital entertainment for Arab youth since 2008.
Wamda reported in 2017 that Kharabeesh started in 2008 when co-founder Wael Attili wanted a content channel to reach Arab youth, as a banner for five creative agencies. The five co-founders named in the article are Attili, Wafa Nabulsi, Firas Otaibi, Mohammed Asfour and Shaher Otaibi, and Asfour was chief executive. In 2014 Kharabeesh became the first YouTube multi-channel network in the Middle East and North Africa to receive YouTube accreditation, according to Entrepreneur Middle East. Its YouTube channels include Kharabeesh Cartoons, Kharabeesh Comedy and Kharabeesh Street.
According to Wamda in 2015, revenue came from YouTube, partnerships, advertising within content, mobile apps and subscriptions, and services to companies. The company named Samsung, Pepsi, Axiom Telecom, Zain Jordan, Zain Saudi Arabia, Jawwal in Palestine and the United Nations as partners or clients. That article also said it had opened offices in Tunisia and Egypt, later closed them, and was by then based in Dubai. Its website now reports 138 channels, 44 million subscribers and 13 billion lifetime views without giving a date.
Wamda described an angel round of 1 million dollars in 2011 and another of 1.65 million dollars in 2013. Entrepreneur Middle East dated the second round to 2014. In August 2016 Kharabeesh raised a 5 million dollar round led by Wamda Capital, with Endeavor Catalyst and DASH Ventures participating, to expand in Dubai, Jeddah and Riyadh and develop its technology. It was Endeavor Catalyst's first investment in Jordan.
TechScoop listed Kharabeesh in June 2026 among Jordanian companies that benefited from Endeavor's network. The most recent dated coverage found about the company's own operations is from 2017.
Leadership
- Mohammed Asfour, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer
- Wael Attili, Co-founder and Vice President of Content
- Firas Otaibi, Co-founder
- Wafa Nabulsi, Co-founder
- Shaher Otaibi, Co-founder