View source for Pokémon in the Arab world

{{CountryInfobox|area=the Arab world 
|logo=Pokémon logo Arabic Netflix.png
|language={{wp|Arabic language|Arabic}}
|countries=the {{wp|Arab League}}
|continent={{wp|Arab world}}
|EP001=September 2000
|AG001=December 24, 2005
|DP001=Never aired
|BW001=Never aired
|XY001=Never aired
|SM001=Never aired
|JN001={{tt|February 27, 2021|25th anniversary special on e-junior TV, UAE only}}<br>{{tt|July 1, 2021|Netflix release}}
|cat=Arab world
}}
The [[Pokémon]] franchise widely reached the '''{{wp|Arab world}}''' in late 2000, with the first broadcast of ''[[EP001|بوكيمون، لقد اخترتك انت!]]'' in Arabic language on the television channel ''{{wp|Middle East Broadcasting Center|MBC}}''. It's worth noting that, to date, none of the Pokémon video games have received official {{wp|Arabic}} translations or releases from [[Nintendo]] in the region. Nevertheless, copies of the games imported from the {{wp|United States}} and {{wp|Europe}} were distributed in various places, particularly within the {{wp|Gulf Cooperation Council|GCC}} countries, as early as 1998.

Upon its initial run, the franchise was a huge commercial success in the region, but later became the subject of a major controversy regarding the [[TCG]] and the [[anime]].

The first couple of seasons of the [[anime]] were dubbed in {{wp|Syria}}, while later seasons were dubbed in {{wp|Lebanon}}.

Currently the [[anime]] is available on ''[[Netflix]]'' with new episodes of [[Pokémon Journeys: The Series]] being released.

==Localization==
[[File:Pokemon logo Arabic.png|thumb|200px|Old logo]]
The word Pokémon is written as '''{{tt|بوكيمون|Bukimun}}''' and pluralized as '''{{tt|بوكيمونات|Bukimunat}}'''. Pokémon are always referred to as either male or female, since Arabic has no neutral grammatical gender.

While almost all characters, Pokémon, and most of the locations have kept their English names in the Arabic version, some objects in the franchise received Arabic names. The {{i|Poké Ball}}, for example, has been dubbed as '''كرة البوكي''' (''Kurt Al-Poké''), the [[Poké Flute]] received the name '''مزمار البوكي''' (''Mizmar Al-Poké'') and so on. One of the Arabic names that is different from the English dub is [[Team Rocket]], which has been translated as: '''عصابة الرداء الأبيض''' ''{{tt|'isabat Ar-Redda Al-Abiadh|The white robe gang}}''. Additionally, the name of [[Pallet Town]] got translated as '''قرية شورباك''' ''{{tt|Qaryat Shoreback|The town of Shoreback}}''.

==Controversy== 
===Promoting "unislamic" values===
[[File:Pokemon_rumors_flyer.jpg|250px|thumb|A flyer warning against the Pokémon franchise, depicting Pokémon names and their supposed translation from Hebrew. These types of flyers were handed out by several fundamentalist Muslim groups in schools and mosques.]]
Similar to the [[History of Pokémon|Pokémania]] phenomenon experienced in America, the introduction of the Pokémon franchise to the {{wp|Arab world}} in 2000 resulted in an unprecedented surge in popularity, almost reaching the status of a cultural phenomenon. Quickly, stores were inundated with a variety of [[Pokémon merchandise|Pokémon products]], and the [[anime]] series rapidly found its way onto television stations in every country across the region.

Amidst this heightened interest in the Pokémon series, some parents and schoolteachers started to express concerns regarding children’s overattachment to the series while others began to criticize the franchise's commercial nature, assessing that it mostly  encourages children into spending their money on toys, trading cards, and various other related products. The franchise was then accused of promoting "unislamic values" such as {{wp|violence}}, but most importantly  {{wp|gambling}},<ref>https://gulfnews.com/uae/saudis-ban-pokemon-as-gambling-un-islamic-1.412082</ref> as well as anti-creationism ideology: ''{{wp|the theory of evolution}}'' and ''{{wp|survival of the fittest}}'' with some accusing the series of trying to promote {{wp|Atheism}} among Muslim youth, meanwhile rumors started spreading that the Pokémon names in the series were in fact {{wp|Hebrew}} words meant to insult {{wp|Islam}} and that the franchise is a part of a {{wp|Zionism|Zionist}} conspiracy. Several media outlets started reporting these stories and from there the controversy escalated, soon after Pokémon products especially the TCG started to get banned in schools while several TV stations took the anime off air as the franchise was {{wp|blacklisting|blacklisted}}.

The whole controversy gained major public attention to the point that the {{wp|Japan|Japanese}} embassy in {{wp|Saudi Arabia}} and [[Nintendo]] had to issue a statement explaining the Japanese origins of the franchise and denying any relation to any political or religious ideology.<ref>https://archive.aawsat.com/details.asp?issueno=8070&article=33242#.ZCFtNHbMKvE</ref><ref>https://www.news24.com/news24/saudi-arabia-bans-pokemon-20010326</ref>

The origin of the controversy remains unknown, but several industry insiders theorize that {{wp|Disney|a certain rival company}} who was trying to conquer the toys and merchandise market in the {{wp|Middle East}}, might have felt threatened by the popularity of the Pokémon franchise and might have had a hand in escalating the controversy and lobbying for the ban. Regardless, all of this remains speculations as there is no substantial evidence to these allegations. 

===Claims of Zionist Jewish plot===
Some outspoken, fundamentalist Muslims claimed that Pokémon is a Jewish conspiracy intended to get Muslim children to renounce their faith.<ref>[http://www.cairoscene.com/LifeStyle/10-Egyptian-Conspiracy-Theories 10 Egyptian Conspiracy Theories]</ref><ref>[http://articles.latimes.com/2001/apr/24/news/mn-54861 Arabs See Jewish Conspiracy in Pokemon - latimes]</ref><ref>[http://archive.adl.org/presrele/islme_62/3791_62.html ADL denounces claim by Muslim leaders that Pokemon game is “Jewish Conspiracy" - Press Release] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20160724034549/http://archive.adl.org/presrele/islme_62/3791_62.html archived copy])</ref><ref>[http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/saddam-hussein-tried-ban-pokemon-7732176 Saddam Hussein tried to ban POKEMON in Iraq for an utterly bizarre reason - Mirror Online]</ref> These same groups claimed that the word "Pokémon" means "I am Jewish", with the claimers and their followers generally unaware of the franchise's Japanese origin. The "Evolution vs. Creationism" conflict was also commonly brought up.<ref>[http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/691674/Saudi-Arabia-fatwa-Pokemon-GO-un-islamic-blasphemous-theory-of-natural-evolution Saudi Arabia issues fatwa against POKÉMON for being ‘un-Islamic’ and ‘blasphemous' | World | News | Express.co.uk]</ref><ref>[https://www.memri.org/tv/dubai-family-consultant-dr-khalifa-al-makhrazi-pok%C3%A9mon-go-prohibited-spreads-darwinism Dubai Family Consultant Dr. Khalifa Al-Makhrazi: Pokemon Go Is Prohibited, Spreads Darwinism | MEMRI]</ref><ref>[http://www.alifta.net/Fatawa/FatawaChapters.aspx?languagename=en&View=Page&PageID=10338&PageNo=1&BookID=7 Fatwas of the Permanent Committee]</ref>

In 2001, the {{wp|Grand Mufti}} of {{wp|Saudi Arabia}}, who is the highest religious authority in the kingdom, issued a {{wp|fatwā}} banning the Pokémon franchise. It claimed that the franchise promoted {{wp|Zionism}} by displaying a six-pointed star that resembles the {{wp|Star of David}} as well as other religious symbols such as crosses they associated with {{wp|Christianity}} and triangles they associated with {{wp|Freemasonry}} in the TCG and encouraged gambling in the games due to the inclusion of gambling elements, which is in violation of {{wp|Islam|Muslim}} doctrine.<ref>[http://www.theescapist.com/pokemon13.htm The Escapist - Archive - Saudi Bans Pokemon] ([https://archive.is/wPWh6 archived copy])</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1243307.stm BBC News | MIDDLE EAST | Saudi Arabia bans Pokemon] ([https://archive.is/9Hni1 archived copy])</ref>

High Muslim authorities in {{wp|Qatar}} and {{wp|Egypt}} then joined the ban. As this happened during the {{wp|second Intifada}}, a {{wp|Jordan}}ian newspaper printed a caricature of Israeli Prime Minister {{wp|Ariel Sharon}} sitting in a tank and laughing at an Arab man chasing a Pokémon. This is meant to convey that Arabs are distracted from their conflict with the Israelis by popular franchises, with Pokémon as an example of such "distractions."<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1258633.stm BBC News | Middle East | Qatari religious leader bans Pokemon]</ref><ref>Peterson, Mark Allen. 'Anthropology & Mass Communication: Media and Myth in the New Millennium'. 2003. Print.</ref>

Despite the initial banning, which quickly wiped away [[Pokémon merchandise]], especially the card game, from markets in Saudi Arabia, Pokémon video games quickly returned to be sold normally, but under much less demand from local consumers. Some Pokémon merchandise, such as the {{OBP|Expedition Base Set|TCG}}, reappeared in certain stores a few years later, but newer sets were never brought. Games from [[Generation III]] on seem completely unaffected by the ban.

{{bulbanews|BattleZone to hold first National Championships in United Arab Emirates}}
A ''fatwā'' was also issued in the {{wp|United Arab Emirates|U.A.E.}} emirate of {{wp|Dubai}}, however no bans officially occurred.<ref>[http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/general/dubai-scholars-declare-pokemon-unislamic-1.412648 Dubai scholars declare Pokemon unislamic - ''Gulfnews'']</ref> Although the U.A.E. takes its Islamic identity seriously like most Arab states, actions based solely on ''fatwā'' would however violate {{wp|Constitution of the United Arab Emirates|its federal constitution}}. Regardless of this, the licensed local distributor ceased importing Pokémon cards into the U.A.E. until the early 2010s, when the TCG experienced a resurgence among local players. In 2016, the U.A.E. became the first Arab country to be officially sanctioned by [[The Pokémon Company International]] to hold official [[Play! Pokémon]] events.
{{-}}

==Pokémon video games==
Before the earliest Pokémon games, Nintendo's products did not have much presence in any Arab country, as most countries faced various political and economical challenges that made them unattractive markets at the time. Throughout the 1980s, most demographics considered {{wp|Home computer|8-bit home computer}} products a preferable choice for gaming before their gradual decline. However, by the early 1990s, as particular economies in the {{wp|Gulf Cooperation Council|GCC}} countries thrived, various independent distributors based in those countries pushed to introduce gaming consoles after becoming hot and competitive commodities in Western markets, including Nintendo's products. Albeit the video game market grew in the GCC countries, for many years there was little effort for standardization among distributors and retailers, causing a discrepancy as both PAL and NTSC hardware and software were sold off the same shelves. Consequently, by the time {{g|Red and Blue}} launched the first time in 1998, units available were imported from both Europe and North America. To this day, Nintendo-published products, including Pokémon video games, remain the only gaming products to be imported from both regions into the GCC, despite other publishers focused on importing units solely from Europe.

Nintendo have long considered the GCC markets as part of the greater Asia, thus officially opting to localise NTSC-U North American (NA) products for these markets ''de jure'' by the late 1990s, albeit both PAL and NTSC<ref>Technically, today both PAL and NTSC signals are no longer used in most countries after being effectively superseded by newer DVB-T and ATSC signals respectively. However, the terms "PAL" and "NTSC" continues to be used for legacy reasons in reference to regional origins of specific game units since various older platforms are region-locked, and despite Nintendo eventually opting for fully region-free hardware starting in 2017.</ref> Nintendo products ''de facto'' continued to co-exist. {{wp|Itochu|Itochu Corporation}}'s {{wp|Dubai}} branch was originally assigned to officially distribute Nintendo's NA products within the GCC markets,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/19980205072054/http://www.nintendo.com/corp/companies/middleeast.html International Distributors: Middle East - NOA official website (1998 archive); Wayback Machine]</ref> before ending its collaboration in 2000. By the early 2000s, Active Boeki, distributor for [[Pokémon in Singapore|Southeast Asian]] countries, gradually took over NA distribution duties, albeit it took a while to release Pokémon games due to the controversy against the franchise after the 2001 ''fatwā'' was issued against it. No official bans against the games were made however in any country. Working alongside the local resellers, in 2010 Active Boeki founded Dubai-based affiliate Active Gulf to represent them alongside Nintendo and The Pokémon Company within the GCC markets. Albeit the NA [[Wii]] and [[Nintendo DS]] hardware did have localized packaging made for the U.A.E., the NA [[Nintendo 3DS]] became the first Nintendo console officially released under Active Gulf, and it launched in all GCC countries on the same day as the United States in March 2011. However, it was not until the NA launch of {{g|Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire}} became the first Pokémon games authorized by The Pokémon Company to be distributed specifically by Active Boeki for the GCC and Southeast Asian markets.

In August 2016, the {{wp|General Commission for Audiovisual Media|GCAM}} introduced the official video game age rating system for Saudi Arabia; {{g|Sun and Moon}} were the first Pokémon games released under Saudi Arabia's official age rating, although {{g|Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon}} were the first to feature the age rating hard-printed on the case cover. In January 2018, the {{wp|National Media Council (United Arab Emirates)|NMC}} introduced the official video game age rating system for the United Arab Emirates; {{g|Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!}} were the first Pokémon games released under the U.A.E.'s official age rating. In 2021, most of the NMC's functions were taken over by the Media Regulatory Office. {{g|Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl}} became the first games to be rated by the MRO.

In the 1990s, Nintendo Co., Ltd. were involved with distribution in Africa,<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/19980205070953/http://www.nintendo.com/corp/companies/japan.html</ref> although did not particularly focus on the Arab countries. In 2002, Nintendo of Europe took on executive control to supply Nintendo's PAL products for various low-key distributors within the GCC and other Arab countries in the {{wp|Levant}} region and Egypt. In the case of the latter two, the markets remain mixed for gaming in general, let alone Nintendo and Pokémon, due to on-going political and economical challenges. Regardless, NOE continues to import its products into all these countries to this day.

==Pokémon anime==
===The Arabic dub===
====Production====
[[File:Venus logo.png|100x100px||thumb|left|''Venus Center'' logo.]]
The Arabic [[dub]] of Pokémon is based on ''[[4Kids Entertainment]]'''s English dub, the [[anime]] was initially dubbed to Arabic in 2000 by Syria-based '''''{{wp|Venus Centre|Venus Center (مركز الزهرة)}}''''', and licensed in the region by '''''Km Productions'''''. But due to the controversy in 2001, ''Venus Center'' (which is known for being a very conservative company) no longer wanted to be associated with the [[Pokémon]] franchise, and ceased production after [[S02|Season 02]]. ''Km Productions'' then moved the dubbing to their own studios in Lebanon.

[[File:SUPERM_KMPRODUCTIONS.jpg|150x150px||thumb|right|''Super M Productions'' and ''KM Productions'' logos.]]
After that Lebanon-based '''''Super M Productions''''' took over dubbing the anime starting with [[EP106]], and dubbed [[S03|Season 03]] and [[S04|Season 04]] between 2001 and 2002. Production on the dub then went on hiatus for nearly 3 years and was resumed in 2005 when they dubbed [[S06|Season 06]] starting with [[EP263]], [[S05|Season 05 (Master Quest)]] ([[EP210]] to [[EP262]]) was skipped for unknown reasons.

Production on the dub was eventually canceled around 2006 due to various reasons, mostly due to ''[[4Kids Entertainment]]'' losing the dubbing rights, and the Lebanese company not coming to an agreement with [[The Pokémon Company International|the new rights holders]].<ref>confirmed by Jihan Mulla, one of the voice actors.</ref> 

Sometime later the four [[Pokémon movie]]s that were distributed by ''[[Miramax]]'' ([[M04|Celebi: The Voice of the Forest]], [[M05|Heroes: Latios & Latias]], [[M06|Jirachi: Wish Maker]] and [[M07|Destiny Deoxys]]) were also dubbed into Arabic, but featured an entirely different cast of voice actors from the series and were released straight-to-DVD.<ref>https://store.yahoo.com/yhst-55466754130796/pokeman.html</ref><ref>Not much is known about the production of this dub, [[M05]] was dubbed with an Egyptian dialect of Arabic (presumably in Egypt), while [[M07]] was dubbed using standard Arabic presumably in Lebanon.</ref>

[[File:IPH_logo.png|100x100px||thumb|left|''IPH Studios'' logo.]]
In 2019 after acquiring the distribution rights of the anime in the region, ''[[Netflix]]'' revived the Arabic dub of Pokémon, and released [[M22|Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution]], the first ''new'' Pokémon-related media dubbed into Arabic in over a decade. ''[[Netflix]]'' later released seasons [[S23|23]] to [[S25|25]], [[M23|Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle]], [[Pokémon: The Arceus Chronicles|The Arceus Chronicles]] and [[Pokémon Concierge]]. 

The new dub was produced in Lebanon by '''''Image Production House Studios''''' (partners of '''''[[Iyuno|Iyuno-SDI Group]]'''''),<ref>https://www.tiktok.com/@abdohakimofficiall/video/6921632625392209154?is_from_webapp=v1&item_id=6921632625392209154</ref><ref>https://www.tiktok.com/@ranaalrifai/video/7114369026536606977?lang=en</ref><ref>https://www.instagram.com/p/CuAf-YgssEM/?hl=en</ref> and featured some old voice actors from the ''Super M'' production reprising their roles, to preserve continuity, it was this particular reason that played a pivotal role in influencing Netflix's decision to produce the dub in Lebanon.<ref>https://dubdb.fandom.com/wiki/%D8%B1%D8%AD%D9%84%D8%A9_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%88%D9%83%D9%8A%D9%85%D9%88%D9%86:_%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%84</ref>
=====Dubbed seasons=====
{| class="expandable roundtable" | style="background: #2E83D2; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; {{roundy}}; border: 3px solid #81807A"
|- 
! style="background: #6AA9E4; {{roundytl|5px}}" | #
! style="background: #6AA9E4;"| Season
! style="background: #6AA9E4;"| Dubbing Studio
! style="background: #6AA9E4;"| Distribution 
! style="background: #6AA9E4;"| Dubbed episodes
|- style="background: #fff"
| '''Season 01'''
| ''[[S01|Pokémon: Indigo Leage]]''
| Venus Center
| KM Productions
| 52
|- style="background: #fff"
| '''Season 02'''
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center; background: #fff" | ''[[S02|Pokémon: Adventures in the Orange Islands]]''
| Venus Center
| KM Productions
| 52
|- style="background: #fff"
| rowspan=2 ; background: #fff" | '''Season 03'''
| Super M Productions
| KM Productions
| 11 (part of [[S03]])
|- style="background: #fff"
| ''[[S03|Pokémon: The Johto Journeys]]''
| Super M Productions
| KM Productions
| 41
|- style="background: #fff"
| '''Season 04'''
| ''[[S04|Pokémon: Johto League Champions]]''
| Super M Productions 
| KM Productions
| 52
|- style="background: #fff"
| '''Season 05'''
| rowspan=2 style="background: #fff" | ''[[S05|Pokémon: Master Quest]]''
| colspan=3 style="text-align:center; background: #fff" | The first 52 episodes were not dubbed
|- style="background: #fff"
| rowspan=2 background: #fff" | '''Season 06'''
| Super M Productions
| KM Productions
| The last 12 episodes only (part of [[S06]])
|- style="background: #fff"
| ''[[S06|Pokémon: Advanced]]''
| Super M Productions
| KM Productions
| 40
|- style="background: #fff"
| '''Season 07'''
| ''[[S07|Pokémon: Advanced Challenge]]''
| Super M Productions 
| KM Productions 
| 52
|- style="background: #fff"
| colspan=5 style="text-align:center; background: #fff" | '''Seasons [[S08|08]] to [[S22|22]] were not dubbed'''
|- style="background: #fff"
| '''Season 23'''
| ''[[S23|Pokémon Journeys: The Series]]''
| Image Production House Studios 
| Netflix 
| 48
|- style="background: #fff"
| '''Season 24'''
| ''[[S24|Pokémon Master Journeys: The Series]]''
| Image Production House Studios 
| Netflix 
| 42
|- style="background: #fff"
| '''Season 25'''
| ''[[S25|Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series]]''
| Image Production House Studios 
| Netflix 
| 54
|- style="background: #fff"
| '''Pokémon Horizons: The Series'''
| ''[[Pokémon Horizons: The Series (season)|Pokémon Horizons: The Series]]''
| 
| Netflix 
| 45
|}
=====Dubbed Movies=====
[[File:Miramax_international.png|200px|thumb|right|''Miramax International'' logo which appears before the opening scene of the movies.]]
[[File:Miramax Films logo.png|200px|thumb|right|''Miramax Films'' logo also appears before the opening scene.]]
{| class="expandable roundtable" | style="background: #2E83D2; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; {{roundy}}; border: 3px solid #81807A"
|- 
! style="background: #6AA9E4; {{roundytl|5px}}" | Movie
! style="background: #6AA9E4;"| Dubbing Studio
! style="background: #6AA9E4;"| Distribution 
|- style="background: #fff"
| ''[[M04|Pokémon 4Ever - Celebi: The Voice of the Forest]]''
| Unknown
| Miramax International
|- style="background: #fff"
| ''[[M05|Pokémon Heroes: Latios & Latias]]''
| Unknown
| Miramax International
|- style="background: #fff"
| ''[[M06|Pokémon: Jirachi: Wish Maker]]''
| Unknown
| Miramax International
|- style="background: #fff"
| ''[[M07|Pokémon: Destiny Deoxys]]''
| Unknown
| Miramax International
|- style="background: #fff"
| ''[[M22|Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution]]''
| Image Production House Studios 
| Netflix 
|- style="background: #fff"
| ''[[M23|Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle]]''
| Image Production House Studios 
| Netflix 
|- style="background: #fff"
| ''[[Pokémon: The Arceus Chronicles]]''
| Image Production House Studios 
| Netflix 
|}

====Edits====
* The series' slogan was changed from "[[Gotta catch 'em all!]]" to ''{{tt|!سأجمعها الأن|I will collect them now!}}'', a more accurately translated version ''{{tt|!إجمعها كلها|Catch them all!}}'' was used on merchandise and home media releases of the anime. 
* Some names were changed such as [[Professor Oak (anime)|Prof Oak]] to ''Prof Akai'', [[Pallet Town]] to ''The Village of Shoreback'' and [[Team Rocket]] to ''{{tt|The White Robe Gang|عصابة الرداء الأبيض}}''.
** In [[EP157]], The [[Team Rocket]] duo [[Butch]] and [[Cassidy]] were dubbed ''{{tt|The Black Robe Gang|عصابة الرداء الأسود}}'' as sort of rivals to the The [[Team Rocket trio]] (''The White Robe Gang''), with both "gangs" operating under the leadership of [[Giovanni (anime)|Giovanni]].
** [[Team Rocket trio|Team Rocket]]'s catch phrase "[[Team Rocket mottos|We're blasting off again!]]" was changed to ''{{tt|We messed up again|لقد أخفقنا مرة أخرى}}''.
**[[Professor Oak (anime)|Prof Oak]] and [[Pallet Town]] reverted to their original names starting from [[EP106]], while [[Team Rocket]]'s name was changed back in the ''[[Miramax]]'' and ''[[Netflix]]'' dubs.
* In [[EP006]], [[Clefable]] was referred to as ''Ariala'', which happens to be its [[Pokémon Red and Green beta|prototype name]].
* Due to the {{wp|Arabic language}} having no neutral grammatical pronouns, [[Pokémon (species)|Pokémon]] appearing in the series are often gendered randomly, most of the time as masculine with the few exceptions such as [[Snorlax_(Pokémon)#In_the_anime|Snorlax]] in [[EP041]] which was referred to as a female.
** in [[Pokemon Journeys: The Series]], [[Chloe's Eevee]] is sometimes referred to as a female and sometimes referred to as a male.
* In [[EP110]] and [[EP116]], the song [[2.B.A. Master]] was replaced by [[Pokémon Karaokémon]].
* The [[Pokemon Johto]] opening footage along with the [[Pokémon Theme|season 01 theme song]] were reused in seasons [[S04|04]] to [[S07|07]], with" the cold opening" playing after the opening theme and before the [[title card]] similar to the Japanese version.
* starting from [[EP158]], [[Who's that Pokémon?]] segment was removed and replaced with only the logo of the series appearing on the screen. <ref>https://youtu.be/ybPTcWH-Caw?feature=shared</ref> It was restored starting from [[JN001]].
** Also starting with [[EP158]],  [[title card|episodes titles]] are no longer localized, meaning the English title of the episode appears on the screen, and the Arabic title is only pronounced vocally.
* None of the songs featured in [[M04]] to [[M07]] were dubbed to {{wp|Arabic}}, instead only the instrumental versions were used.
* During seasons [[S01|01]] and [[S02|02]], some episodes' storylines were altered to align with the cultural and religious regulations of {{wp|Arab countries}}.
=====Venus Center's censorship=====
Much like ''[[4Kids Entertainment]]'''s tendency to edit some parts of the anime to make it more appropriate for the American audience, ''Venus Center'' also adopts a similar approach by modifying their works to cater to a Muslim audience. This typically involves the removal or alteration of scenes featuring any sort of display of affection or partial nudity, as well as scenes depicting any non Islamic religious symbolism like the {{wp|Christian cross}}.

[[File:Misty cross.png|200x200px|thumb|{{an|Misty}} holding a {{wp|Christian cross}} in [[EP020]], one of the many scenes that were removed in the original broadcast of the episode.]]
The prime example of this censorship is [[EP020]], where the entire plot of the episode was altered by creating new storylines to avoid elements related to the supernatural and the mention of ghosts and other aspects of Japanese mythology with several scenes being cut completely, another example is [[EP022]] where one scene was removed because it featured a character holding a card that had a six-pointed star that resembles ''the Star of David'', this resulted in these two episodes being re-dubbed when [[S01]] was added to ''[[Netflix]]'' in 2017.

Due to the conservative nature of the culture, the Arab audience deems all forms of affection and romance as inappropriate, particularly in children's programming. Consequently, [[Brock (anime)|Brock]]’s interactions with female characters such as [[Nurse Joy]] and [[Officer Jenny]] are often cut or dubbed into a normal conversation without him displaying any kind of romantic interest, because ''[[Netflix]]'' only adds the Arabic dub as a secondary audio track to the English episode, these edits are very easily noticeable, as there are several scenes where [[Brock (anime)|Brock]]'s mouth is moving but the dialogue is not dubbed instead one of the other characters is speaking. This type of censorship can also be seen in other episodes such as [[EP070]], [[EP100]] and [[EP103]].

In contrast to ''Venus Center's'' dub, ''Super M Productions''' dub remained remarkably faithful to the English version, with the dialogue being translated almost word for word, and even the voice actors were instructed to imitate the performance of the American actors when delivering their lines.

====Reception, criticism and eventual cancellation====
{{Fan speculation}}
While the [[anime]] itself received an overall positive reception during its initial broadcast, the [[dub]], however, both the Syrian and the Lebanese versions received a somewhat lukewarm reception.

Some fans expressed disappointment over ''Venus Center's'' dub claiming it was not the same quality as the studio's other works, this criticism wasn't only directed towards the often unnecessary {{wp|censorship}} but also specifically towards the mispronunciation of some of the [[Pokémon (species)|Pokémon]] names in the series as well as other foreign words like the names of different cities and towns that were visited in [[List of anime episodes|each episode]], some fans suggest that the studio purposefully "simplified" some of the [[List of Pokémon by National Pokédex number|Pokémon names]] to become easier for {{wp|Arabs|Arab}} children to pronounce, some examples of this include [[Pikachu]] who was only referred to as ''Pika'' in the first few episodes, [[Goldeen]] which became simply ''Golden'' and [[Squirtle]] who was called ''Square'', while others speculated that it was the actors who had a difficulty in pronouncing foreign words that contain letters that aren't part of the {{wp|Arabic alphabet}} like the '''letter P''' and the '''letter G''' in words like the title itself which became ''Bokemon'', [[Pallet Town]] which received a completely new name ''village of Shorebak'', some pokemon names such as [[Growlithe]] which was pronounced ''Ghroolithe'', [[Togepi]] pronounced ''Toojebi'' and [[Lapras]] which was pronounced ''Labraas''.

The Lebanese dub, on the other hand, received heavy criticism from fans, despite retaining the story's integrity and proper pronunciation. The criticism was pointed towards the casting choices, as the majority of fans felt most of the new actors didn't fit the roles that they were given and didn't capture the essence of the characters as well as the previous cast. It's most likely that this negative reception to the new dub combined with the fact that most of the [[List of original series episodes#Johto League arc|newer episodes airing]] being [[filler episodes]] (and the overall controversy related to the franchise) factored in the series' drastic drop in popularity.

Financial constraints, with the series being banned on most {{wp|List of Arabic-language television channels|TV stations}}, led the studio to prioritize other more profitable projects. Additionally, [[The Pokémon Company International]], who probably felt that there was no need to distribute the [[anime]] series in the {{wp|Middle East}} as Pokémon [[merchandise|toys and merchandise]] were either not selling very well or were outright completely banned in some countries, led to both parties not renewing the series, resulting in the Arabic dub discontinuing after [[S07|Season 07]].

===Cast and crew===
====Venus Center====
{| class="expandable roundtable" | style="margin:left; text-align:center; background: #{{colorschemelight|Kanto}}; border: 3px solid #{{colorschemedark|Kanto}}; {{roundy|10px}}"
! Actor
! Main Pokémon roles
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[File:Buthaina Shia.jpeg|120px]]<br>''Buthaina Shia (بثينة شيا)''
|
* [[Ash Ketchum]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[File:Majd Zaza.jpg|120px]]<br>''Majd Zhazha (مجد ظاظا)''
|
* [[Misty (anime)|Misty]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[File:Rafat Bazoo.jpg|120px]]<br>''Rafat Bazoo (رأفت بازو)''
| 
* [[Brock (anime)|Brock]]
* [[Giovanni (anime)|Giovanni]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[File:Zeyad Errafae'ie.jpg|120px]]<br>''Zeyad Errafae'ie (زياد الرفاعي)''
|
* [[James]] 
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[File:Fatima Saad.jpg|120px]]<br>''Fatima Saad (فاطمة سعد)''
|
* [[Jessie]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[File:Adel Abo Hassoon.jpg|120px]]<br>''Adel Abo Hassoon (عادل أبو حسون)''
| 
* [[Meowth]]
* [[Lt. Surge]] 
* [[Bruno]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[File:Marwan_farhat.jpg|120px]]<br>''Marwan Farhat (مروان فرحات)''
|
* [[Narrator]]
* [[Professor Oak (anime)|Professor Oak]]
* The [[Pokédex]]
* [[Koga]]
* [[Butch]]
* [[Blaine]] 
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[File:Amal Saad Eddin.jpg|120px]]<br>''Amal Saad Alden (آمال سعدالدين)''
|
* [[Nurse Joy]]
* [[Gary Oak]]
* [[Sabrina]] 
* [[Todd Snap]] 
|- style="background:#FFF"
| ''Fadwa Souleimane (فدوى سليمان)''
| 
* [[Officer Jenny]] 
* [[Erika]]
* [[Cassidy]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[File:Ayman Alsalek.jpg|120px]]<br>''Ayman Al-Salek (أيمن السالك)'' (uncredited)
|
* [[Tracey]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| ''Anjy Al-Yousif (أنجي اليوسف)'' (uncredited)
|
* [[Delia Ketchum]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| ''Laura Abou Assaad (لورا أبوأسعد)'' (uncredited)
|
* [[Nurse Joy]] 
|}
====Super M Productions====
{| class="expandable roundtable" | style="margin:left; text-align:center; background: #{{colorschemelight|Johto}}; border: 3px solid #{{colorschemedark|Johto}}; {{roundy|10px}}"
! Actor
! Main Pokémon roles
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[File:Jihad Al Attrash.jpeg|120px]]<br>''Jihad Al Attrash (جهاد الأطرش)''
| 
* The [[Narrator]] 
* The [[Pokédex]] 
* [[Professor Elm]] 
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[File:Mona Majzoub.jpg|120px]]<br>''Mona Majzoub''
|
* [[Ash Ketchum]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[File:Jumana Zongi.jpg|120px]]<br>''Joumana Zonji''
| 
* [[Misty (anime)|Misty]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| ''Nabil Assaf''
|
* [[Brock (anime)|Brock]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| ''Claudia Marchalian''
|
* [[Jessie]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[File:Abdo Hakim.jpg|120px]]<br>''Abdo Hakim''
| 
* [[James]]
* [[Max]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[File:Hasan_Hamdan.jpg|120px]]<br>''Hasan Hamdan''
|
* [[Meowth]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| ''Tariq Kaakati''
|
* [[Tracey]] 
* [[Butch]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[File:Iman_Bitar.jpg|120px]]<br>''Iman Bitar''
| 
* [[Officer Jenny]]
* [[May (anime)|May]]
* [[Delia Ketchum]]
* [[Casey (anime)|Casey]]
* [[Liza (Johto)|Liza]]
* [[Bugsy]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[File:Fadi Rifaii.jpg|120px]]<br>''Fadi Rifai''
| 
* The [[Narrator]] ([[EP263]]-[[AG092]])
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[File:Jihan_Malla.jpg|120px]]<br>''Jihan Malla''
| 
* [[Nurse Joy]] 
|- style="background:#FFF"
| ''Naji Shamil''
| ''Additional voices''
|- style="background:#FFF"
| ''Ismail Nanoua''
|
* [[Professor Oak (anime)|Professor Oak]]
* [[Giovanni (anime)|Giovanni]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[File:Wissam Sabbagh.jpg|120px]]<br>''Wissam Sabbagh''
| 
* [[Gary Oak]]
* [[Falkner]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[File:Jamal Hamdan.jpg|120px]]<br>''Jamal Hamdan''
|
* [[Kurt]]
|}
====Netflix====
Several cast members from ''Super M Productions'' return to their roles: ''Joumana Zonji'' as {{an|Misty}}, ''Abdo Hakim'' as [[James]], ''Hassan Hamdan'' as {{MTR}}, ''Jihan Malla'' as [[Nurse Joy]] and ''Iman Bitar'' as [[Officer Jenny]].

{| class="expandable roundtable" | style="margin:left; text-align:center; background: #{{colorschemelight|Galar}}; border: 3px solid #{{colorschemedark|Galar}}; {{roundy|10px}}"
! Actor
! Main Pokémon roles
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[File:Rana Al Rifaii.jpg|120px]]<br>''Rana Al Rifai''
|
* [[Ash Ketchum]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[File:Lama Maraachli.jpg|120px]]<br>''Lama Maraachli''
| 
* [[Goh]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[File:Ghadir Bazzi.jpg|120px]]<br>''Ghadir Bazzi''
|
* [[Chloe]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[File:Asmahan_Bitar.jpg|120px]]<br>''Asmahan Bitar''
| 
* [[Jessie]]
* [[Cynthia]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[File:Abdo Hakim.jpg|120px]]<br>''Abdo Hakim''
| 
* [[James]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[File:Hasan_Hamdan.jpg|120px]]<br>''Hasan Hamdan''
|
*  [[Meowth]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[File:Raymond Francis.jpg|120px]]<br>''Raymond Francis''
|
* The [[Narrator]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[File:Sam Ghusen.jpg|120px]]<br>''Sam Ghusen''
|
* [[Mewtwo]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[File:Ibrahim Madi Actor.jpg|120px]]<br> ''Ibrahim Madi''
|
* [[Giovanni (anime)|Giovanni]]
* [[Ash]]'s [[Rotom Phone]]
* [[Professor Amaranth]]
* [[Wikstrom]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[File:Jumana Zongi.jpg|120px]]<br>''Joumana Zonji''
| [[Misty (anime)|Misty]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[File:Gilles Youssif.jpg|120px]]<br> ''Gilles Youssif''
|
*  [[Brock (anime)|Brock]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[File:Fadi Rifaii.jpg|120px]]<br>''Fadi Rifai''
|
* [[Professor Cerise]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[File:Leila Shammas.jpg|120px]]<br>''Leila Shammas''
| 
* [[Chrysa]] 
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[File:Ghassan Haddad.jpg|120px]]<br>''Ghassan Haddad''
|
* [[Ren]]
* [[Quillon]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[File:Raleen Dagher.jpg|120px]]<br>''Raleen Dagher''
|
*  [[Goh]]'s [[Rotom Phone]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[File:Hassan Hamdan.jpg|120px]]<br>''Hassan Hamdan''
| 
* [[Leon (anime)|Leon]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[File:Nada Nasr.jpg|120px]]<br>''Nada Nasr''
|
* [[Sonia]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[File:Jihan_Malla.jpg|120px]]<br>''Jihan Malla''
|
* [[Nurse Joy]] 
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[File:Iman_Bitar.jpg|120px]]<br>''Iman Bitar''
| 
* [[Officer Jenny]]
* [[Dawn (anime)|Dawn]]
* [[Iris (anime)|Iris]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[File:Saad Hamdan.jpg|120px]]<br>''Saad Hamdan''
|
* [[Professor Oak (anime)|Professor Oak]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[File:Fadi Abboud.jpg|120px]]<br>''Fadi Abboud''
|
* [[Gary Oak]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[File:Souhair Naser El Deen.jpg|120px]]<br>''Souhair Naser El Deen''
| 
* [[Delia Ketchum]]
* [[Danika]]
* [[Horace]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[File:Rania Mroueh.jpg|120px]]<br>''Rania Mroueh''
|
*  [[Koko]] in [[M23]]
|
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[File:Ali Saad Actor.jpg|120px]]<br>''Ali Saad''
| 
* [[Dada]] in [[M23]]
|- style="background:#FFF"
| [[File:Mahdi Fakhreddin.jpg|120px]]<br>''Mahdi Fakhreddin''
|
* [[Dr. Zed]] in [[M23]]
|}
====Crew====
{| class="expandable roundtable" | style="background: #2E83D2; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; {{roundy}}; border: 3px solid #81807A"
|- 
! style="background: #6AA9E4; {{roundytl|5px}}" | 
! style="background: #6AA9E4;"| Venus Center
! style="background: #6AA9E4;"| Super M Productions
! style="background: #6AA9E4;"| Image Production House studios
|- style="background: #fff"
| Translation
|
|
| Marie Thérèse Ghaya
|- style="background: #fff"
| Preparation
| Hanna Yusuf
|
|
|- style="background: #fff"
| Revision
| Shafeeq Bitar
|
| 
|- style="background: #fff"
| Proofreading
| Dr. Hamoud Younis
|
|
|- style="background: #fff"
| Sound Engineer
| Nadeem Souleimane
|
|
|- style="background: #fff"
| Mixing
| Louis Abu Asali
| rowspan=2 style="background: #fff" | Jamal Mokalled
| Mary Saghman
|- style="background: #fff"
| Montage
| Hassan Ateka<br>Mustafa Qalaaji 
|
|- style="background: #fff"
| Engineering Supervision
| Ramez Torjoman
| 
|
|- style="background: #fff"
| Computer
| Muhammad Mazen Ramadan<br>Fahed Najem 
| Jalal Masoud
|
|- style="background: #fff"
| Theme Song Lyrics
| Rasha Rizk
| 
|
|- style="background: #fff"
| Theme Song Performance
| Rasha Rizk<br>Tarek Alarabi Tourgane<br>Bassam Al-Hassouni
| 
|
|- style="background: #fff"
| Administrative coordination
| Imad Al-Sheikh Khalid
| 
|
|- style="background: #fff"
| Financial Tracking
| Muhammad Hassan Muhanna<br>Abdulqader Nabhan
| 
|
|- style="background: #fff"
| Production manager
| Redwan Hejazy
| 
| Ahmad Al-Sabbagh
|- style="background: #fff"
| Dub director 
|
|
| Rana Barakat<br>Alaa Bitar<br>Ghadir Bazzi<br>Samir Fahd
|- style="background: #fff"
| Assistant Director
| Mayada Auda
| 
|
|- style="background: #fff"
| Executive
| 
| Mohsen Awada
|
|- style="background: #fff"
| Artistic supervision
| Maamoon Al-Rifai
| Walid Merie
| 
|- style="background: #fff"
| General supervision
| Mannaa Hijazi
| Mufid Merie
| The Pokémon Company International
|}
====Cast members====
{| class="wikitable"
|+
|-
! style="background: #6AA9E4; {{roundytl|5px}}" | Characters !!! style="background: #6AA9E4 | <big>Venus Center</big><br>[[File:Flag of Syria.png|35px]]<br><sub>([[EP001]]-[[EP105]])</sub> !! style="background: #6AA9E4 | <big>Super M Productions</big><br>[[File:Lebanon Flag.png|35px]]<br><sub>([[EP106]]-[[EP209]], [[EP263]]-[[AG092]])<sub> !! style="background: #6AA9E4 | <big>Miramax</big><br>[[File:Flag of Egypt.png|35px]]<br><sub>([[M04]]-[[M07]])</sub> !! style="background: #6AA9E4 |  <big>Netflix</big><br>[[File:Lebanon Flag.png|35px]]<br><sub>([[EP020]];[[EP022]] redub<br>[[M22]]-[[M23]], [[JN001]]-[[JN147]] and [[Pokémon: The Arceus Chronicles|The Arceus Chronicles]])</sub>
|-
| [[File:Narrator anime.png|100px]]<br>[[Narrator|The Narrator]] || '''{{wp|Marwan Farhat}}''' ('''مروان فرحات''') || '''{{wp|Jihad Al-Atrash|Jihad Al Attrash}}''' ('''جهاد الأطرش''')<sub>([[EP106]]-[[EP209]])</sub><br>'''{{wp|Fadi Rifai}}''' ('''فادي الرفاعي''')<sub>([[EP263]]-[[AG092]])</sub> || '''{{wp|Pierre Dagher}}''' ('''بيير داغر''') || '''Raymond Francis''' ('''ريمون فرنسيس''')
|-
| [[File:Ash showcasing his Key Stone.png|100px]]<br>[[Ash Ketchum]] || '''{{wp|Bouthayna Shaya|Buthaina Shaya}}''' ('''بثينة شيا''') || '''Mona Majzoub''' ('''منى مجذوب''')<sub>([[EP106]]-[[EP209]])</sub><br>'''Unknown voice actress'''<sub>([[EP263]]-[[AG092]])</sub> || '''Unknown voice actor''' || '''Rana Al Rifai''' ('''رنا الرفاعي''')
|-
| [[File:Misty AG.png|100px]]<br>{{an|Misty}} || '''Majd Zhazha''' ('''مجد ظاظا''') || '''Joumana Zonji''' ('''جمانة الزنجي''')<sub>([[EP106]]-[[EP209]])</sub> ||  || '''Joumana Zonji''' ('''جمانة الزنجي''')
|-
| [[File:Donuts.png|100px]]<br>{{an|Brock}} || '''{{wp|Rafat Bazoo}}''' ('''رأفت بازو''') || '''Nabil Assaf''' ('''نبيل عساف''') || '''Unknown voice actor''' || '''Hicham Abou Sleiman''' ('''هشام أبو سليمان''')<small>([[M22]])</small><br>'''Gilles Youssif''' ('''جيل يوسف''')<small>([[JNS02]]-[[JN147]])</small>
|-
| [[File:Tracey debut.png|100px]]<br>[[Tracey Sketchit]] || '''{{wp|Ayman Al-Salek}}''' ('''أيمن السالك''') || '''Tariq Kaakati''' ('''طارق كعكاتي''') ||  || 
|-
| [[File:May and Bulbasaur.png|100px]]<br>{{an|May}} ||  || '''Iman Bitar''' ('''إيمان بيطار''') || '''Unknown voice actress''' ||
|-
| [[File:Max farewell.png|100px]]<br>{{an|Max}} ||  || '''{{wp|Abdo Hakim}}''' ('''عبدو حكيم''') || '''Unknown voice actor''' || 
|-
| [[File:Dawn Xtransceiver.png|100px]]<br>{{an|Dawn}} ||  ||  ||  || '''Iman Bitar''' ('''إيمان بيطار''')
|-
| [[File:Goh and Grookey.png|100px]]<br>[[Goh]] ||  ||  ||  || '''Lama Maraachli''' ('''لمى مرعشلي''')
|-
| [[File:Chloe Rotom Phone.png|100px]]<br>[[Chloe]] ||  ||  ||  || '''Ghadir Bazzi''' ('''غدير بزي''')
|-
| [[File:Jessie and Wurmple.png|100px]]<br>[[Jessie]] || '''{{wp|Fatima Saad}}''' ('''فاطمة سعد''') || '''Claudia Marchalian''' ('''كلوديا مرشليان''')<sub>([[EP106]]-[[EP157]])</sub> || '''Unknown voice actress''' || '''{{wp|Asmahan Bitar}}''' ('''أسمهان بيطار''')
|-
| [[File:EP010 James error.png|100px]]<br>[[James]] || '''{{wp|Zeyad Errafae'ie}}''' ('''زياد الرفاعي''') || '''{{wp|Abdo Hakim}}''' ('''عبدو حكيم''') || '''Unknown voice actor''' || '''{{wp|Abdo Hakim}}''' ('''عبدو حكيم''')
|-
| [[File:Meowth Team Rocket.png|100px]]<br>{{MTR}} || '''{{wp|Adel Abo Hassoon}}''' ('''عادل أبو حسون''') || '''{{wp|Hasan Hamdan}}''' ('''حسن حمدان''')<sub>([[EP106]]-[[EP209]])</sub> || '''Unknown voice actor''' || '''{{wp|Hasan Hamdan}}''' ('''حسن حمدان''')
|-
| [[File:Nurse Joy JN.png|100px]]<br>[[Nurse Joy]] || '''{{wp|Amal Saad Eddin|Amal Saad Alden}}''' ('''امال سعد الدين''')<hr>'''Laura Abou Assaad''' ('''لورا أبو أسعد''')<sub>([[EP097]]-[[EP102]])</sub> || '''{{wp|Jihan Malla}}''' ('''جيهان ملا''') ||  || '''{{wp|Jihan Malla}}''' ('''جيهان ملا''')
|-
| [[File:Officer Jenny JN.png|100px]]<br>[[Officer Jenny]] || '''{{wp|Fadwa Souleimane}}''' ('''فدوى سليمان''') || '''Iman Bitar''' ('''إيمان بيطار''') || '''Unknown voice actress''' || '''Iman Bitar''' ('''إيمان بيطار''')
|-
| [[File:Professor Oak JN anime.png|100px]]<br>{{an|Professor Oak}}{{tt|*|known as ''Professor Akai'' in seasons 01 and 02}} || '''{{wp|Marwan Farhat}}''' ('''مروان فرحات''') || '''{{wp|Ismail Nanoua}}''' ('''إسماعيل نعنوع''') ||  || '''Saad Hamdan''' ('''سعد حمدان''')
|-
| [[File:Gary Oak OS.png|100px]]<br>[[Gary Oak]] || '''{{wp|Amal Saad Eddin|Amal Saad Alden}}''' ('''امال سعد الدين''') || '''Wissam Sabbagh''' ('''وسام صباغ''') ||  || '''Fadi Abboud''' ('''فادي عبود''')
|-
| [[File:Delia JN anime.png|100px]]<br>[[Delia Ketchum]] || '''{{wp|Anjy Al-Yousif}}''' ('''أنجي اليوسف''') || '''Iman Bitar''' ('''إيمان بيطار''') ||  || '''Souhair Naser El Deen''' ('''سهير ناصر الدين''')
|-
| [[File:Ritchie.png|100px]]<br>[[Ritchie]] || '''{{wp|Fadwa Souleimane}}''' ('''فدوى سليمان''') ||  ||  || 
|-
| [[File:Todd Snap.png|100px]]<br>[[Todd Snap]] || '''{{wp|Amal Saad Eddin|Amal Saad Alden}}''' ('''امال سعد الدين''') ||  ||  || 
|-
| [[File:Giovanni anime.png|100px]]<br>{{an|Giovanni}} || '''{{wp|Rafat Bazoo}}''' ('''رأفت بازو''') || '''{{wp|Ismail Nanoua}}''' ('''إسماعيل نعنوع''') ||  || '''Ibrahim Madi''' ('''إبراهيم ماضي''')
|-
| [[File:Butch.png|100px]]<br>[[Butch]] || '''{{wp|Marwan Farhat}}''' ('''مروان فرحات''') || '''Tariq Kaakati''' ('''طارق كعكاتي''') ||  || 
|-
| [[File:Cassidy.png|100px]]<br>[[Cassidy]] || '''{{wp|Fadwa Souleimane}}''' ('''فدوى سليمان''') || '''{{wp|Diana Ibrahim}}''' ('''ديانا إبراهيم''') ||  || '''Silhouette Houdaeib''' ('''سيلوات حديب''')
|-
| [[File:Mewtwo Journeys.png|100px]]<br>{{OBP|Mewtwo|M01}} ||  ||  ||  || '''Sam Ghusen''' ('''سام غصن''')
|-
| [[File:Professor Cerise anime.png|100px]]<br>[[Professor Cerise]] ||  ||  ||  || '''{{wp|Fadi Rifai}}''' ('''فادي الرفاعي''')
|-
| [[File:Chrysa.png|100px]]<br>[[Chrysa]] ||  ||  ||  || '''Leila Shammas''' ('''ليلى شماس''')
|-
| [[File:Ren.png|100px]]<br>[[Ren]] ||  ||  ||  || '''Ghassan Haddad''' ('''غسان حداد''')
|-
| [[File:Leon Charizard pose anime.png|100px]]<br>{{an|Leon}} ||  ||  ||  || '''Hassan Hamdan''' ('''حسان حمدان''')
|-
| [[File:Bea anime.png|100px]]<br>[[Bea]] ||  ||  ||  || '''Silhouette Houdaeib''' ('''سيلوات حديب''')
|-
| [[File:Raihan anime.png|100px]]<br>[[Raihan]] ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| [[File:Lance Dynamax Band.png|100px]]<br>{{an|Lance}} ||  ||  ||  || '''Imad Feghaly''' ('''عماد فغالي''')
|-
| [[File:Steven Stone JN.png|100px]]<br>{{an|Steven Stone}} ||  ||  ||  || '''Shadi Shammas''' ('''شادي شمص''')
|-
| [[File:Cynthia JNS01.png|100px]]<br>{{an|Cynthia}} ||  ||  ||  || '''{{wp|Asmahan Bitar}}''' ('''أسمهان بيطار''')
|-
| [[File:Iris Rotom Phone.png|100px]]<br>{{an|Iris}} ||  ||  ||  || '''Iman Bitar''' ('''إيمان بيطار''')
|-
| [[File:Diantha anime.png|100px]]<br>[[Diantha]] ||  ||  ||  || '''Dalia Khalifeh''' ('''داليا خليفة''')
|-
| [[File:Alain Mega Ring.png|100px]]<br>[[Alain]] ||  ||  ||  || '''Fadi Abboud''' ('''فادي عبود''')
|-
| [[File:Horace.png|100px]]<br>[[Horace]] ||  ||  ||  || '''Souhair Naser El Deen''' ('''سهير ناصر الدين''')
|-
| [[File:Danika Quillon.png|100px]]<br>[[Danika]] ||  ||  ||  || '''Souhair Naser El Deen''' ('''سهير ناصر الدين''')
|-
| [[File:Danika Quillon.png|100px]]<br>[[Quillon]] ||  ||  ||  || '''Ghassan Haddad''' ('''غسان حداد''')
|}

===History of the broadcast===
{| style="background: #2E83D2; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; {{roundy}}; border: 3px solid #81807A"
|- 
! style="background: #6AA9E4; {{roundytl|5px}}" | Season
! style="background: #6AA9E4;"| Original broadcaster
! style="background: #6AA9E4;"| Time slot
! style="background: #6AA9E4;"| Debut episode
! style="background: #6AA9E4;"| Final episode
! style="background: #6AA9E4;"| Episodes
! style="background: #6AA9E4;"| Reruns/Syndication
|- style="background: #fff"
| ''[[S01|Pokémon: Indigo League]]''
| MBC
| Daily at 12pm GMT
| [[File:EP001.png|135px]]<br>[[EP001|!بوكيمون، لقد اخترتك انت]]<br>2000
| [[File:EP057.png|135px]]<br>[[EP057|مركز تدريب البوكيمونات]]<br>2000
|52
| Qatar TV<br>Television Algérienne<br>2M<br>ART Teenz<br>ART Ein<br>Several other TV stations
|- style="background: #fff"
| ''[[S02|Pokémon: Adventures in the Orange Islands]]''
| MBC
| Daily at 12pm GMT
| [[File:EP052.png|135px]]<br>[[EP052|نجمة مهرجان التسوق]]<br>2000/2001
| [[File:EP105.png|135px]]<br>[[EP105|تجمد تشاريزارد]]<br>2000/2001
|52
| Several TV stations
|- style="background: #fff"
| ''[[S03|Pokémon: The Johto Journeys]]''
| ART Teenz
| Daily at 5pm KSA time/ 2pm GMT
| [[File:EP106.png|135px]]<br>[[EP106|حرب البوكيمون المائية]]<br>2001
| [[File:EP157.png|135px]]<br>[[EP157|البحث عن الشهرة]]<br>2001/2002
| 52
| Several TV stations
|- style="background: #fff"
| ''[[S04|Pokémon: Johto League Champions]]''
| ART Teenz
| Daily at 5pm KSA time/ 2pm GMT
| [[File:EP158.png|135px]]<br>[[EP158|فرصة ذهبية]]<br>January 1, 2003
| [[File:EP209.png|135px]]<br>[[EP209|البوكيمون ماتشوك]]<br>2003
| 52
| New TV<br>Al Andalus TV<br>2M<br>ART Ein
|- style="background: #fff"
| ''[[S05|Pokémon: Master Quest]]''
| None
| None
| Unaired
| Unaired
| None
| None
|- style="background: #fff"
| ''[[S06|Pokémon: Advanced]]''
| New TV<br>ART Teenz
| Daily at 6:30am Lebanon time{{tt|*|New TV}}<br>Daily at 10pm KSA time/ 7pm GMT{{tt|*|ART Teenz}}
| [[File:EP263.png|135px]]<br>[[EP263|الانون المجهول]]<br>December 10, 2005{{tt|*|New TV}}<br>September 24, 2006{{tt|*|ART Teenz}}
| [[File:AG040.png|135px]]<br>[[AG040]]<br>2006
| 52
| New TV (2006)<br>ART Teenz (2006-2007)<br>2M{{tt|*|Terrestrial broadcast only.}} (2010)
|- style="background: #fff"
| ''[[S07|Pokémon: Advanced Challenge]]''
| New TV
| Daily at 6:30am Lebanon time
| [[File:AG041.png|135px]]<br>[[AG041]]
| [[File:AG092.png|135px]]<br>[[AG092]]
| 52
| None
|- style="background: #fff"
| ''[[S23|رحلة البوكيمون: المسلسل]]''
| e-Junior TV<br>Netflix
| Thursday to Saturday 4:35pm UAE time (e-Junior)
| [[File:JN001.png|135px]]<br>[[JN001|!دخول بيكاتشو]]<br>July 1, 2021{{tt|*|Netflix}}
| [[File:JN048.png|135px]]<br>[[JN048|!النجاة بأعجوبة]]<br>July 1, 2021{{tt|*|Netflix}}
| 48
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center; background: #fff" | An unauthorized broadcast on several satellite channels
|- style="background: #fff"
| ''[[S24|رحلة سيد البوكيمون: المسلسل]]''
| Netflix
|
| [[File:JN049.png|135px]]<br>[[JN049|!أن نتدرب أو لا نتدرب]]<br>September 2, 2022
| [[File:JN090.png|135px]]<br>[[JN090|‏مواجهة عند بوابات وورب!‏]]<br>September 2, 2022
| 42
|- style="background: #fff"
| ''[[S25|‎رحلة البوكيمون القصوى: المسلسل]]''
| Netflix
|
| [[File:JN091.png|135px]]<br>[[JN091|!القطار الشبح]]<br>November 24, 2023
| [[File:JN136.png|135px]]<br>[[JN136|!إنها بداية شيء مهم]]<br>November 24, 2023
| 42
|
|- style="background: #fff"
| ''[[Pokémon_Journeys:_The_Series#Dub_seasons|‎بوكيمون: أن تكون سيد بوكيمون]]''
| Netflix
|
| [[File:JN137.png|135px]]<br>[[JN137|!مناطق المغامرات القديمة]]<br>November 24, 2023
| [[File:JNS05.png|135px]]<br>[[JNS05|!السماء الزرقاء البعيدة]]<br>November 24, 2023
| 12
|
|- style="background: #fff"
| ''[[Pokémon Horizons: The Series (season)|‎آفاق البوكيمون: المسلسل]]''
| Netflix
|
| [[File:HZ001.png|135px]]<br>[[HZ001|HZ001]]<br>TBA
| TBA
| 45
|
|}

* [[S01|Season 01]] premiered on ''{{wp|Middle East Broadcasting Center|MBC}}'' in September 2000, and then was broadcast in syndication starting from November 27, 2000. At first only the first 12 episodes had been dubbed, so these episodes would re air on ''mbc'' over and over again for weeks before finally new episodes started airing with an updated [[List_of_Arabic_Pokémon_themes#Second_Version|theme song]].
* Seasons [[S01|01]] and [[S02|02]] aired between 2000 and 2001.
* [[S03|Season 03]] premiered sometime later in late 2001.<ref>https://youtu.be/Alon0moiAls?feature=shared</ref>
* [[S04|Season 04]] premiered on ''{{wp|ART Teenz}}'' on January 1, 2003, a year after [[S03|Season 03]] had concluded its run. This coincided with the channel becoming permanently free-to-air. 
* [[S06|Season 06]] premiered on ''{{wp|Al Jadeed|New TV}}'' on December 10, 2005,<ref>http://www.mexat.com/vb/showthread.php?t=27436&page=63</ref> and later aired on ''{{wp|ART Teenz}}'' starting from September 24, 2006 as part of the channel's special {{wp|Ramadan}} programming.<ref>http://www.mexat.com/vb/showthread.php?t=151439&page=9</ref>
* [[S23|Season 23]] aired on ''{{wp|e-Junior|e-Junior}}'' in February 2021 before being released on ''[[Netflix]]'' later that summer.<ref>https://www.facebook.com/groups/PokemonUAE/posts/3221003271335102/</ref>

[[File:Mbc_logo.jpg|120x120px||thumb|left|''{{wp|Middle East Broadcasting Center|MBC}}'' logo.]]
The anime initially aired exclusively on '''''{{wp|Middle East Broadcasting Center|MBC (Middle East Broadcasting Center)}}''''', an independent free-to-air pan-Arab channel broadcasting via satellite.<ref>https://youtu.be/3NQWlq1p7Mo?feature=shared</ref> But due to its immense popularity it spread rapidly to other channels, mainly local government-owned stations in different countries such as {{wp|Egypt}}, {{wp|Syria}}, {{wp|Qatar}}, {{wp|Algeria}}, {{wp|Morocco}} among others.  As it is customary for Arab Television channels to air new and exclusive programming during {{wp|Ramadan}}, many of these stations like ''{{wp|Qatar Television|Qatar TV}}'' started broadcasting the series from November 27, 2000 (the first day of Ramadan that year) right after [[S01]] had concluded its run on ''{{wp|Middle East Broadcasting Center|MBC}}''.
  
Then in 2001 due to the controversy and the boycott many TV stations dropped the series from air to avoid backlash. Both ''{{wp|Middle East Broadcasting Center|MBC}}'' and  ''{{wp|Spacetoon}}'' terminated their contracts with ''KM productions'' and the rights were picked up by a Saudi Private network, '''''{{wp|Arab Radio and Television Network|The Arab Radio and Television Network (شبكة راديو وتلفزيون العرب)}}'''''.

[[File:ARTeenz logo.jpg|150x150px|thumb|right|''{{wp|ART Teenz}}'' logo.]]
Starting with [[S03|Season 03]] the anime now aired mainly on '''''{{wp|ART Teenz}}''''', a children's channel and part of the '''''{{wp|Arab Radio and Television Network|ART Network}}''''', and on '''''{{wp|Al Jadeed|New TV (تلفزيون الجديد)}}''''', an independent Lebanese TV channel that targets mostly a Christian Arab audience. With syndicated reruns being aired occasionally on few other channels such as ''ART Ein (إيه آر تي عين)'', ''Al Andalus TV'' (an Arabic-speaking privately-owned satellite channel broadcasting from Spain) and the government-owned channels in {{wp|ERTT|Tunisia}}, {{wp|Public Establishment of Television|Algeria}} and {{wp|2M (TV channel)|Morocco}}, meaning no official ban was issued in those countries.<ref>These 3 francophone countries had previously aired the Pokémon anime in French before it was dubbed into Arabic. It's worth noting that these countries experienced comparatively lower impact from the controversy compared to their fellow Arab nations.</ref>

[[File:newtv_logo.jpg|250x250px|thumb|left|''{{wp|Al Jadeed|New TV}}'' logo.]]
''{{wp|Al Jadeed|New TV}}'' started airing the series In 2004, reruns of [[Original series|the first 04 seasons]] would air every morning at 6:30am (Lebanon time) so that kids would watch it before they go to school. And by December 2005, [[S06|Season 06]] started airing exclusively on the channel,<ref>http://www.mexat.com/vb/showthread.php?t=27436&page=66</ref><ref>https://youtu.be/1OM7zWq8xCQ?feature=shared</ref> but because of the inconvenient time slot this broadcast of the season didn't attract much attention and went almost unnoticed. [[S06|Season 06]] would later air on ''{{wp|ART Teenz}}'' the following Ramadan to a much wider audience reception. Sometime later [[S07|Season 07]] premiered on ''{{wp|Al Jadeed|New TV}}'', this makes ''New TV'' the only channel to have aired the Arabic dub of [[S07|Season 07]].

''{{wp|ART Teenz}}'' kept airing reruns of [[S03]] to [[S06]] daily from 2002 until 2007, and by 2006 the channel was airing [[anime|Pokémon]] twice a day with [[S04]] airing at 7:30pm KSA/4:30pm GMT and [[S06]] airing at 10pm KSA/7pm GMT. While its sister channel ''{{wp|Arab Radio and Television Network|ART Ein}}'', a general entertainment channel aired reruns of [[S01]] to [[S04]]. Both channels were shut down in 2008.

[[File:MBC3_Logo.png|100x100px||thumb|right|''{{wp|MBC 3}}'' logo.]]
'''''{{wp|MBC 3}}''''' another prominent children' s channel in the region and also part of the ''{{wp|Middle East Broadcasting Center|MBC}}'' network would sometimes broadcast different [[Pokémon movie]]s ([[M02]] to [[M07]]) in the English dub with Arabic subtitles, with the most recent one being {{DetPikMov}} in 2022. Despite of frequently broadcasting the [[Pokémon movie]]s (as well as the other works distributed by ''KM Productions'' like the {{wp|Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters|Yu-Gi-Oh!}} series) it's unclear why this channel has never aired the [[anime|Pokémon anime series]].
{| class="expandable roundtable" | style="background: #2E83D2; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; {{roundy}}; border: 3px solid #81807A"
|- 
! style="background: #6AA9E4; {{roundytl|5px}}" | Movie
! style="background: #6AA9E4;"| Broadcast date
|- style="background: #fff"
| [[M02|Pokémon the Movie 2000: The Power of One]]
| December 3, 2009
|- style="background: #fff"
| [[M03|Pokémon 3: The Movie - Spell of the Unown: Entei]]
| August 22, 2006
|- style="background: #fff"
| [[M04|Pokémon 4Ever - Celebi: The Voice of the Forest]]
| February 23, 2007
|- style="background: #fff"
| [[M05|Pokémon Heroes: Latios & Latias]]
| February 13, 2008
|- style="background: #fff"
| [[M06|Pokémon: Jirachi: Wish Maker]]
| May 14, 2010
|- style="background: #fff"
| [[M07|Pokémon: Destiny Deoxys]]
| June 30, 2010
|- style="background: #fff"
| {{DetPikMov}}
| July 16, 2022
|}

{| class="roundy" style="background: #2E83D2; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; border: 3px solid #81807A"
! rowspan="2" style="background: #6AA9E4; {{roundytl|5px}}" | Country
! colspan="2" style="background: #6AA9E4; {{roundytr|5px}}" | Channels aired
|- style="background: #6AA9E4"
! Pan region via satellite 
! Local stations
|- 
| style="background: #fff;" | Algeria
| rowspan=17 style="text-align:center; background: #fff" | {{wp|Middle East Broadcasting Center|MBC}} <small>([[S01]] to [[S02]] first run)</small><br>{{wp|ART Teenz}} <small>([[S03]] to [[S04]] first run, [[S01]] to [[S02]], [[S06]] syndicated reruns )</small><br>{{wp|Al Jadeed|New TV}} <small>([[S06]] to [[S07]] first run, [[S01]] to [[S04]] syndicated reruns)</small>
| style="background: #fff" | {{wp|Public Establishment of Television|Television Algérienne}} ([[S01]] to [[S03]])<br>{{wp|Echorouk TV}} ([[S23]] unofficial) 
|- style="background: #fff"
| Bahrain
| {{wp|Spacetoon}} as a seven-hour block on {{wp|Bahrain Radio and Television Corporation|Bahrain TV}} ([[S01]])
|- style="background: #fff"
| Egypt
| Egyptian Second Channel ([[S01]] to [[S02]])
|- style="background: #fff"
| Iraq
| {{wp|Al Iraqiya}} ([[S01]])<br>Shabab TV
|- style="background: #fff"
| Jordan
| {{wp|Jordan Radio and Television Corporation|Al-Urdunniyya}} ([[S01]] to [[S03]])
|- style="background: #fff"
| Kuwait
| {{wp|Kuwait Television}} ([[S01]] to [[S02]])
|- style="background: #fff"
| Lebanon
| INN ([[S01]])<br>{{wp|Al Jadeed|New TV}} ([[S01]] to [[S07]])<br>{{wp|MTV (Lebanon)|MTV Lebanon}}
|- style="background: #fff"
| Libya
| 
|- style="background: #fff"
| Morocco, Western Sahara
| {{wp|2M (TV channel)|2M}}{{tt|*|Terrestrial broadcast only.}} ([[S01]] to [[S06]] Arabic dub, [[S01]] to [[S10]] French dub)
|- style="background: #fff"
| Oman
| {{wp|Sultanate of Oman Television|Oman TV}} ([[S01]] to [[S02]])
|- style="background: #fff"
| Qatar
| {{wp|Qatar Television}} ([[S01]] to [[S02]])
|- style="background: #fff"
| Saudi Arabia	
| {{wp|Middle East Broadcasting Center|MBC}} ([[S01]] to [[S02]])<br>{{wp|ART Teenz}} ([[S01]] to [[S06]])<br>{{wp|Arab Radio and Television Network|ART Ein}} ([[S01]] to [[S04]])
|- style="background: #fff"
| Sudan
| 
|- style="background: #fff"
| Syria
| {{wp|Channel 1 (Syrian TV channel)}} ([[S01]] to [[S02]])
|- style="background: #fff"
| Tunisia
| {{wp|El Watania 1|Tunis 7}} ([[S01]] to [[S03]])
|- style="background: #fff"
| United Arab Emirates	
| Emarat TV<br>Channel 33<br>{{wp|Dubai TV}} ([[S01]] to [[S02]])<br>Ajman TV<br>{{wp|e-Junior|e-Junior}} ([[S23]]  Dual audio: Arabic and English, [[S24]] to [[S25]] English dub only)
|- 
| style="background: #fff; {{roundybl|5px}}" | Yemen
| style="background: #fff; {{roundybr|5px}}" | {{wp|Yemen TV}} ([[S01]] to [[S02]])
|}
 
[[File:2M logo.png|150x150px|thumb|right|''{{wp|2M (TV channel)|2M}}'' logo.]]
Moroccan channel ''{{wp|2M (TV channel)|2M}}'' is notable for being the most recent TV channel to have officially aired the Arabic dub of the Pokémon anime when it aired [[S06]] in 2010. This channel also aired the [[Pokémon in France#Pokémon anime|Pokémon anime in French]]. The channel has two separate feeds: one available nationwide via terrestrial television, and a satellite feed under the branding ''2M Monde''. The [[anime|Pokémon anime]] only airs on the terrestrial feed because the network only buys its broadcasting rights for within {{wp|Morocco}}.

[[File:Disney XD Logo.png|150x150px|thumb|left|''{{wp|Disney Channel (European, Middle Eastern, and African TV channel)#Disney XD (closed)|Disney XD MENA}}'' started airing [[Pokémon the Series: XY]] in February 2015]]
Since the late 2000s, none of the Arabic-language TV stations in any country are airing or rerunning the Arabic dub of the Pokémon anime, most likely due to broadcasting rights expiring and complicated copyrights issues between ''[[ShoPro]]'' and ''KM Productions''. Although the English version of the anime did air on a few premium channels such as '''''{{wp|Disney Channel (European, Middle Eastern, and African TV channel)#Disney XD (closed)|Disney XD}}''''' and most recently the UAE based channel '''''{{wp|e-Junior|e-Junior}}''''', this broadcast of the anime series is not well-known though, most likely due to, if not for the language barrier, then to the relatively low participation of the expensive subscription TV model in the region overall. Regardless, ''Disney XD'''s airing of the anime is not officially recognized for the MENA region specifically.

In 2021, following the Arabic dubbing and subsequent release of [[Pokémon Journeys: The Series]] on ''[[Netflix]]'', an unauthorized transmission of the series occurred on several Arabic satellite channels, most prominently on several Algerian networks such as '''''{{wp|Echorouk TV}}''''' due to the nation's lack of interest in reinforcing broadcasting and copyright regulations. Despite being an illegal broadcast, it garnered a considerable viewership, as it's the first instance in more than a decade that the series made its presence on a prominent Arabic-language television network.

===[[List of Arabic Pokémon themes|Songs]]===
[[File:Rasha_Rizk.jpeg|200x200px|thumb|''Rasha Rizk'' in 2022]]
The [[Pokémon Theme|Season 01 opening]] was written and recorded by '''''{{wp|Rasha Rizk}}''' ('''رشا رزق''')'', with additional vocal support of '''''{{wp|Tarek Alarabi Tourgane}}''' ('''طارق العربي طرقان''')'' and  '''''Bassam Al-Hassouni''' ('''بسام الحسوني''')''. The first version of the theme song which uses the lyric ('''على خير الصنيع''') was used for the first 12 episodes ("[[EP001|Pokémon - I Choose You!]]" to "[[EP012|Here Comes the Squirtle Squad]]"), and then replaced by a "more grammatically correct" second version with the lyric ('''سلاحي المنيع''') for the remaining episodes ("[[EP013|Mystery at the Lighthouse]]" to "[[EP105|Charizard Chills]]"). Both versions of the song were performed by ''Rasha Rizk'' which she confirmed herself in a Q&A.<ref>https://www.instagram.com/p/B2bucEEgWbN, there were rumors that the 2nd version of the song was performed by Sonia Bitar.</ref>

[[Pikachu's Jukebox]] songs were also written and recorded by ''Rasha Rizk''. 

When the dub was moved to Lebanon, new versions of Pikachu's Jukebox were recorded for the remaining episodes of the Orange Islands arc by the new cast of voice actors, except for the song [[2.B.A. Master]] which was replaced by Pokémon Karaokémon in the episodes "[[EP110|The Stun Spore Detour]]" and "[[EP116|The Rivalry Revival]]" for unknown reasons, [[Pokémon Karaokémon]] songs were also recorded.

An Arabic version of [[Pokémon Johto]] was also recorded and used for the initial broadcast of [[S03|Season 03]], but then it was replaced by the [[Pokémon Theme|Season 01 theme]] during reruns and on the DVD release, probably due to the original theme song being more popular. This combination of the [[Pokémon Theme]] and the footage of [[Pokémon Johto]] was reused for all the subsequent seasons dubbed by ''Super M Productions''. 

The opening themes for seasons [[S04|04]] to [[S07|07]] were never dubbed, instead they used the [[Pokémon Theme|Season 01 theme song]] along with the footage of [[Pokémon Johto]]. The opening footage for those seasons was replaced due to their opening themes being 45 seconds instead of 01 min, making them incompatible with  the [[Pokémon Theme|season 01 theme song]].
====Trivia====
* In an interview with ''Rasha Rizk'' and ''Tarek Alarabi Tourgane'' in 2020, she revealed that the process of writing the Arabic version of the [[Pokémon Theme]] was very difficult, as ''[[4Kids Entertainment]]'' specifically requested for the song to be translated verbatim which was challenging since the {{wp|English}} and {{wp|Arabic language}} are not grammatically compatible. She also mentioned that ''[[4Kids Entertainment]]'' wanted a young male vocalist to perform the song similar to [[Jason Paige]], as several ''Venus Center'' employees recorded different {{wp|Demo (music)|demos}} for the song, the studio eventually decided to just use ''Rasha Rizk'''s version.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Apcn0zTRd0g</ref>
===Home media and digital release===
:''See also: [[List of Arabic Pokémon home video releases]]''
====Physical Media====
[[File:Flash Video Film S03 VHS.jpg|180x180px|thumb|[[S03|Season 03]] VHS covers as released by ''Flash Video Film'' in Egypt.]]
* [[S01|Season 01]] was released on VHS in different countries in the region, by various local home media distributors such as: '''''MEGASTAR''''' in {{wp|Saudi Arabia}}, '''''IVC: International Video Co. (شركة الفديو الدولي)''''' in {{wp|Kuwait}},'''''Flash Video Film''''' in {{wp|Egypt}} and '''''Video Master''''' in {{wp|Bahrain}}.
* ''Flash Video Film'' later released [[S03|Season 03]] on VHS.
* UAE-based distributor '''''Al Wadi''''' released [[S01|Season 01]] and [[S03|Season 03]] on DVD.
** This release follows the television definition and contains all 52 episodes from [[EP106]] to [[EP157]].
* Arabic-Subtitled versions of [[M01]] and [[M02]] were released on VHS by the Egypt-based '''''E.H.E''''' and the Dubai-based '''''HOBO Collection'''''.
[[File:Pokemon_M04_Arabic_DVDcover.jpg|250x250px|thumb|DVD cover for the Arabic release of [[M04]].]]
* [[M04]] to [[M07]] were also released on DVD by '''''Miramax International''''' featuring an Arabic and an English audio, although the exact release dates are currently unknown.
* Seasons [[S04|04]] to [[S07|07]] didn't receive any form of home media release, and they are currently completely unobtainable. Complicating matters further, because of legal issues preventing any chance of re-airing or commercial distribution to alternative television networks. ''KM Productions'' facing the inability to profit from these seasons, made the unfortunate decision to recycle the tapes and re-purposing them to store other projects thus scrapping the Pokémon episodes and losing them completely.<ref>Confirmed by Mufid Merie, a producer and the manager of KM Productions.</ref> With no recordings of the episodes to be found on the internet since they haven't been re-aired in over a decade, the Arabic [[dub]] of these seasons is now considered by many fans to be a {{wp|Lost media}}. It's unclear whether or not ''{{wp|Al Jadeed}}'' (formerly known as ''New TV''), ''{{wp|2M (TV channel)|2M}}'' and the ''{{wp|Arab Radio and Television Network|ART Network}}'' still have copies in their archives, but since both ''Al Jadeed TV'' and ''2M TV'' stopped airing children's programs years ago while ''ART Teenz'' was defunct in 2008, it's most likely that they disposed of their copies as well. Out of 312 episodes dubbed to Arabic approximately 156 episodes (from [[EP158]] to [[AG092]]) are now potentially completely lost, and only a couple of short videos have made their way to the internet.<ref>https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1bujg</ref> 
** [[S02|Season 02]] also seems to have never been officially released on home media, and it was for many years considered lost as well. However in 2011 fan-recorded episodes were illicitly uploaded to the internet, and presently these unauthorized recordings constitute the sole means by which the Arabic dub of [[S02|Season 02]] can be viewed.
** Due to low DVD sales, the ''[[Miramax]]'' dubbed movies have also become quite rare and difficult to obtain.
====Digital====
In 2019 ''[[Netflix]]'' acquired the distribution rights for the franchise in the region and released:

{| style="background: #2E83D2; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; {{roundy}}; border: 3px solid #81807A"
|- 
! style="background: #6AA9E4; {{roundytl|5px}}" | Arabic Title
! style="background: #6AA9E4;"| Artwork
! style="background: #6AA9E4;"| Release date
|- style="background: #fff" 
| ''[[M22|<big>بوكيمون: ميوتو يضرب مجددًا - التطور</big>]]''
| [[File:M22_arabic.jpg|250px]]
|  February 27, 2020
|- style="background: #fff" 
| ''[[S23|<big>رحلة البوكيمون: المسلسل</big>]]''
| [[File:Pokemon_Journeys_Arabic.jpeg|250px]]
|  July 1, 2021
|- style="background: #fff" 
| ''[[M23|<big>بوكيمون الفيلم: أسرار الأدغال</big>]]''
| [[File:M23_arabic.jpg|250px]]
|  October 8, 2021
|- style="background: #fff" 
| ''[[S24|‎<big>رحلة سيد البوكيمون: المسلسل</big>]]''
| [[File:S24_arabic.jpg|250px]]
|  September 2, 2022
|- style="background: #fff" 
| ''[[Pokémon: The Arceus Chronicles|<big>بوكيمون: سجلات آركياس</big>]]''
| [[File:The Arceus Chronicles_arabic.jpg|250px]]
|  September 23, 2022
|- style="background: #fff" 
| ''[[S25|‎<big>رحلة البوكيمون القصوى: المسلسل</big>]]''
| [[File:S25 Arabic.jpeg|250px]]
| rowspan=2 style="background: #fff" | November 24, 2023
|- style="background: #fff"
| ''[[Pokémon_Journeys:_The_Series#Dub_seasons|‎<big>بوكيمون: أن تكون سيد بوكيمون</big>]]''
| [[File:To Be a Pokémon Master Arabic.jpeg|250px]]
|- style="background: #fff" 
| ''[[Pokémon Concierge|<big>المدبرة والبوكيمون</big>]]''
| [[File:Pokémon Concierge Arabic.jpg|250px]]
|  December 28, 2023
|- style="background: #fff" 
| ''[[Pokémon Horizons: The Series (season)|‎<big>آفاق البوكيمون: المسلسل</big>]]''
| [[File:Pokemon Horizons Arabic.jpeg|250px]]
|  Currently in production.
|}

The first season titled [[S01|''دوري إنديغو (Indigo League)'']] is also currently available on Netflix retaining the original Arabic dubbing done by ''Venus Center'', except for the episodes "[[EP020|The Ghost of Maiden's Peak]]" and "[[EP022|Abra and the Psychic Showdown]]" which were re-dubbed since they were heavily censored in the original Syrian dub.
===[[Pokémon movies]]===
Throughout the years, the first few Pokémon movies were released in some capacity in Arab countries, usually on special events or around holidays like {{wp|Eid Al-Fitr}}. All of the movies that were distributed in American theaters by ''Warner Bros'', were also released in theaters in certain Arab countries by ''{{wp|Warner Bros. Pictures}}'' Middle East agent ''Shooting Stars LLC'' (also known as ''Joseph Chacra & Sons'' in Lebanon).
*{{DetPikMov}} was released theatrically on May 9, 2019.<ref>https://uae.voxcinemas.com/movies/pokemon-detective-pikachu</ref>
====Movies availability====
{| class="roundtable" style="margin:auto; background:#2E83D2; border:3px solid #81807A"
! style="background:#6AA9E4" | Network/service
! style="background:#6AA9E4" | Area serviced
! style="background:#6AA9E4" | Movies
|-
| style="text-align:center" | [[File:Netflix logo.png|100px]]<br>'''[[Netflix]]'''

| style="text-align:center" | All {{wp|Arab countries}} except {{wp|Syria}}
|'''Currently:'''<br>[[M22|بوكيمون: ميوتو يضرب مجددًا - التطور]](February 27, 2020 - Present)<br>[[M23|بوكيمون الفيلم: أسرار الأدغال]](October 8, 2021 - Present)<hr>'''Formerly:'''<br>[[M20|!فيلم بوكيمون: إخترتك أنت]] (January 1, 2019 - April 1, 2022)<br>[[M21|!فيلم بوكيمون: معاً أقوى]] (January 1, 2020 - April 1, 2022)
|-
| style="text-align:center" | [[File:eJunior logo.png|100px]]<br>'''{{wp|e-Junior|e-Junior}}'''

| style="text-align:center" |{{wp|UAE}}
| 
* [[M01]] (November 27, 2022 - Present)
* [[M08]] (September 2, 2023 - Present)
* [[M10]] (February 15, 2020 - Present)
* [[M11]] (April 7, 2021 - Present)
* [[M12]] (May 26, 2020 - Present)
* [[M14]] (February 19, 2019 - Present)
* [[M16]] (November 11, 2018 - Present)
* [[M18]] (February 10, 2020 - Present)
* [[M20]] (November 10, 2022 - Present)
* [[M21]] (November 17, 2022 - Present)
|-
| style="text-align:center" | [[File:beIN movies logo.png|100px]]<br>'''{{wp|beIN}}'''

| style="text-align:center" | Worldwide primarily {{wp|Qatar}}
| 
* [[M04]] (2016 - 2023)
* [[M05]] (2016 - 2023)
* [[M06]] (2016 - 2023)
* [[M07]] (2016 - 2023)
* {{DetPikMov}} (March 12, 2021)
|}

==[[Pokémon merchandise]]==
After the Pokémon anime started airing in the Arabic language, it became one of the most popular anime series in the Arab world. Therefore, the demand for Pokémon-related merchandise among Arab children was high. Thus, several video game retailers began to sell a wide variety of Pokémon merchandise as they were best sold. Additionally, many restaurants offered promotional toys with their meals, such as [[2000 Burger King promotional Pokémon toys|Burger King in 2000]]. Due to the controversy in 2001, however, a lot of the merchandise was withdrawn from the main retail shops. After the controversy subsided, many game stores started selling Pokémon goods again without incident.

As of the 2010s, various distributors imported certain official Pokémon merchandise from either Europe or North America, such as {{wp|Toys "R" Us}} outlets selling [[Poké Doll (plush)|Poké Dolls]] and other kinds of toys. Many high-end bookstore chains, especially those that rely heavily on imported materials, may sell an assorted variety of books and magazines. For example, a {{wp|Books Kinokuniya|Kinokuniya}} outlet situated in {{wp|The Dubai Mall}} (the sole Kinokuniya outlet in the entire region), which is known to sell large volumes of varied stock, has been retailing children's magazines, video game guides, game books, film novelizations, as well as most of the [[Pokémon manga]] series, available in both English and Japanese, with the latter being distributed exclusively via this store.

In early 2013, [http://www.active-gulf.com/ Active Gulf], Nintendo's officially licensed distributor in the Middle East, have collaborated with their retail partners to locally sell authentic packs for the [[Pokémon Battle Disc Game]].<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/NintendoMiddleEast/photos/a.257069684360761.61017.160105550723842/466399456761115/ Active Gulf announcing on their official Facebook page about the availability of the Pokémon Battle Disc Game]</ref>

Many smaller toy and variety stores found in the {{wp|grey market}} may often sell unlicensed and counterfeit products, with many of them imported from China. It is also possible to find pirated trading card packs, but in much smaller volumes than when initially released, as in prior to the 2001 controversies. Overall, the current legal status of the official trading card game itself remains vague in any case.

==Events==
===''Conan in The Land of Pokémon''===
[[File:Conan in the land of Pokemon poster.png|200x200px|thumb|right|A poster promoting the play]]
''Conan in The Land of Pokémon'' was a  Kuwaiti Musical stage-play crossover between [[anime|Pokémon]] and {{wp|Detective Conan}}, created by {{wp|Spacetoon}}, likely to expand both franchises, both being the most popular on the channel. The play features stage actors portraying characters from both series and lip syncing to a voice over done by the Arabic dub voice actors, the voice over was recorded in {{wp|Venus Center}} studios in {{wp|Syria}}. The play is produced by ''Al Salam'' theater and opened in Kuwait on December 23, 2000 playing for the 2 days of {{wp|Eid Al-Fitr}}.

* Written by: Alaa Aljaber
* Directed by: Jaber Muhammedi
* Artistic supervision: Abdel Aziz El Moslem
* The cast of actors features: Hourya Arafat, Soliman Al Marzooq, Mohammad Al Shoaiby, Ahmed Bassem, Fahd Bassem, Mahmoud Boushahri, Mahmoud Boushahri, Dana Abdullah, Yasser Abdel Karim.<ref>https://elcinema.com/en/work/2011639/cast</ref>

The plot of the play is about Team Rocket impersonating Ash to poison nature and water, and Conan has to investigate this.

A 56 min cut of the play was released on VHS by ''IVC: International Video Co.'' in Kuwait and was also broadcast on the Kuwaiti national television channel.

===''Pokémon Live!''===
Despite ending its run in January 2001 in the United States, ''[[Pokémon Live!]]'' was invited to perform on an open stage in {{wp|Al Mamzar|Al Mamzar Park}}, Dubai, U.A.E. in the duration of the whole month of March that same year, coinciding with the annual {{wp|Dubai Shopping Festival}}.<ref>[http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/general/young-and-old-enjoy-pokemon-1.411320 Young and old enjoy Pokemon - ''Gulfnews'']</ref> Whilst the musical was mostly identical to its performance elsewhere, the female actors had a slight change to their wardrobe which covered their exposed abdomens and thighs, likely to abide with Dubai's public dress code. Since the musical featured the same cast from its American run, it was performed solely in English. The musical, albeit received very positively by its audience, ended its run just days before the 2001 controversies began in the region overall.

===''Pokémon: Symphonic Evolutions''===
{{bulbanews|Pokémon: Symphonic Evolutions to be performed in United Arab Emirates}}
On March 31, 2017, [[Pokémon: Symphonic Evolutions]] was performed at the {{wp|Corniche (Abu Dhabi)|Corniche}} in {{wp|Abu Dhabi}}, United Arab Emirates as part of the Mother of the Nation Festival. It is the first Symphonic Evolutions concert to be performed in the Arab world.
{{-}}

==Related articles==
* [[List of Arabic Pokémon themes]]

==References==
<references/>

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{{Pokémon around the world}}

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{{Project Globe notice}}

[[de:Pokémon in der arabischen Welt]]