Storytel - The Arabic Audiobook story

In July 2020, Storytel acquired the Arabic audiobook company, Kitab Sawti, and initiated a strategic review with the intention of merging the regional Storytel app with Kitab Sawti. That is now complete. Starting March 2020, a joint Kitab Sawti/Storytel team will offer the world’s largest audiobook library in Arabic to subscribers in the MENA region under the consumer brand, Storytel.

Swedish headquartered, Storytel is one of the world’s largest subscribed audiobook and e-book streaming services and offers listening and reading of more than 500 000 titles on a global scale. Storytel’s streaming business is conducted under the brands, Storytel and Mofibo.

Sebastian Bond, founder of Kitab Sawti and Head of Storytel MENA, pointed out that they are “constantly challenging ourselves and to improve all the dimensions of the customer experience, strengthening the bond between the audience and local authors and publishers, is part of our DNA.”

In an exclusive interview with us, Sebastian Bond shared his thoughts on what this means for his Kitab Sawti subscribers and the enhanced and expanded reach for Arabic audio books globally through Storytel’s presence in 20 countries around the world, why local Arabic publishers should take advantage and what is next for Storytel and Arabic audiobooks in the region.