Storytel continues to put clear blue water between itself and its biggest rival, Audible, as it launches in its eleventh territory.
And contrary to expectations it is the UAE, not Turkey, that becomes the second new Storytel nation of 2018.

Earlier this year Storytel launched in Iceland –

Storytel launches in Iceland. Italy, Bulgaria and Turkey next?


and at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair Storytel told Publishers Weekly that Turkey would be next.
That was in accord with previous TNPS assessments that Storytel had Turkey, Italy, Bulgaria and the UAE lined up for 2018 –

Storytel confirms Italy launch this summer. Turkey before then. Bulgaria and UAE to follow


Back in early December TNPS first reported that

Storytel (had) a launch in the United Arab Emirates pending,

Storytel dots the ‘i’s with an Italy launch pending, having just opened in India


so the only surprise here is the timing, given the Storytel statement to Publishers Weekly about Turkey being next.
Earlier this month Storytel confirmed to Andrew Rhomberg of Jellybooks that Storytel Italy would be live this summer –

Storytel confirms Italy launch this summer. Turkey before then. Bulgaria and UAE to follow


With Iceland and UAE live and Turkey and Italy launches confirmed as imminent, and Storytel having stated there would be five new territories this year, Bulgaria is now the clear candidate for the final announcement.

Late last year Storytel acquired D&D Factory, Bulgaria, the operation behind the Bulgarian audiobook service Audioknigi, and we know Swedish agents are selling Bulgarian audiobook rights to Storytel, so the only question is when Storytel Bulgaria will launch. (TNPS)

According to the press release Storytel UAE, operating from Dubai, is claiming to be

the first audiobook subscription service launching with a focus on both Arabic and English languages, and it will be available to users in all Arabic speaking regions.

Storytel in UAE will start with two languages; Arabic, and English. The catalogue at launch includes thousands of English audiobooks and more than 350 high-quality Arabic audiobooks. Storytel is especially happy to present bestselling titles by Ihsan Abdel Quddous and Ahmed Khaled Tawfik for the first time in audio.
Storytel is committed to increasing Arabic titles in the catalogue significantly in the coming period. The aim is to build the best and most extensive Arabic audiobook catalogue by launching at least one Arabic audiobook per day throughout 2018. On top of that, Storytel will also introduce Storytel Original series in Arabic. These are 10 episode series written especially for audio consumption.

Ebooks are not mentioned, and a quick search of the Storytel UAE site reveals none, but that is not to say there are none, or will not be some soon. There is a drop-down menu for ebook format, and I may well have simply missed them with my cursory glance.
In launching in the Arab lands Storytel UAE faces competition from Saudi Arabia based Dahd –

Dhad – the Arab world’s answer to Audible audiobooks


and from another Arab audio outfit, Kitab Sawti, which I embarrassingly have only recently been introduced to, but that pre-dates Dahd.
I hope to have a full report on Kitab Sawti very soon.
Meanwhile ITP.net confirms Storytel will be at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair from Monday.
Storytel UAE can be found here. The Storytel UAE Facebook page goes under the title Storytel Arabia.