Al-Manzama: How the Turkish Intelligence Series Became a Middle East Streaming Phenomenon
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Khalid Al Mansoor
- . February 2, 2026
- . Update: February 2, 2026 8:03 pm
Al-Manzama series rapidly became one of the biggest streaming hits in the Middle East when it aired on a state-owned television channel in Turkey, TRT1. Being the first series that is based on actual documentation of the Turkish intelligence agency, the Al-Manzama series won the hearts of viewers through its production value, realistic espionage, and its quick-paced narration. The show has been hugely popular, as evidenced by the fact that it took up the social media trends in Turkey immediately after its debut, and it featured in the global lists. Its local significance, Arabic language, and the plots with an Oriental geopolitical background attracted Arab audiences in particular, which provided the Al-Manzama series with enormous popularity in other countries.
Within the World of Al-Manzama
The Al-Manzama series, supported by a massive budget, gives the audience a follow-up of an undercover squad of seven high-end intelligence agents who feign their demise to perform unsafe country tasks. The show was shot in 72 carefully planned locales in Ankara, and it showcases the newest intelligence equipment like drones, altering identity, and undercover missions. The episodes are presented as action thrillers. Even though the Al-Manzama series was acclaimed for its realism and acting, the use of an Emirati identity in a plot that involves terrorism was rather controversial and sparked discussion among the Arab audience, not to mention that it only contributed to more publicity for the Al-Manzama series.
