Google has released its annual compilation of the top trending searches for 2023 in the Middle East and North Africa, spotlighting queries that surged in search volume compared to 2022.

Covering news, platforms, events, movies, TV series, tournaments, and personalities, the trends emphasize Egypt's prominence in the regional search landscape.

In Egypt, the most searched news topics included the war in Palestine, claiming the top spot, followed by concerns about the devaluation of the Egyptian Pound and reflections on this year's earthquake.

Egyptian footballer Emam Ashour secured the first position on the Personalities list, with Jory Bakr and Bassem Youssef following suit, particularly after Youssef's interview with Piers Morgan.

The news list in Saudi Arabia was led by searches on the war in Palestine, along with queries about the devaluation of the Pakistani Rupee and Buerger's disease. Local platforms like Absher, Jadarat, and Etimad also garnered significant interest.

Personalities in Saudi Arabia were also dominated by footballers, with Aleksandar Mitrović and Karim Benzema leading the pack. The match between AlHilal SFC and Real Madrid CF topped the list of football tournaments.

In the UAE, cricket matches took center stage, with the Cricket World Cup match between India and Sri Lanka securing the top spot in the tournament searches. Local and regional events made their mark, with Gitex 2023, COP28, and UFC 294 earning spots on the list.

Google Search in the UAE reflected a keen interest in news related to Palestine, as well as events like the earthquakes in Turkey, Syria, and Morocco earlier in the year.