Editing Iftah Ya Simsim (section)

== Revival ==
In 2010, the Sesame Workshop and the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States (ABEGS), which recognized "the deep love for the program" felt throughout the Arab world,<ref name="20years">{{Cite news|url = http://www.arabnews.com/node/379691|title = 20 years on, 'Iftah Ya Simsim' coming back to educate Gulf|last = Hawari|first = Walaa|date = June 5, 2011|work = Arab News|access-date = June 30, 2014|location = Saudi Arabia}}</ref> started talks about relaunching ''Iftah Ya Simsim''.<ref name="tradearabia" /> Pre-production research and preparation took two years.<ref name="menewswire">{{cite press release|title = Saudi Minister of Education endorses Iftah Ya Simsim Educational plan at the Arab Bureau of Education Awards event.|publisher = ME News Wire|date = April 16, 2012| url = http://dubainewstoday.blogspot.com/2012/04/saudi-minister-of-education-endorses.html|access-date = June 30, 2014}}</ref><ref name="abudhabi">{{Cite news|url = http://abudhabiweek.ae/count-down-for-return-of-childrens-favourite/#sthash.fanAZxvy.qNUcm9Pg.dpbs|title = Count-down for return of children's favourite|date = July 17, 2013|work = Abu Dhabi Weekly|access-date = June 30, 2014}}</ref> The ABEGS and the Sesame Workshop signed an agreement to revive the series for Arab television, with content suitable for a new generation of children.<ref name="opensesame"/><ref name="abegs">{{cite press release |title=ABEGS organizes seminar to design Iftah Ya Simsim content framework |publisher=Zawya.com |date=May 31, 2011 |url=http://www.zawya.com/story/ABEGS_organizes_seminar_to_design_Iftah_Ya_Simsim_content_framework-ZAWYA20110531082304/ |access-date=June 30, 2014}}</ref> The show was the first educational initiative sponsored by the [[Mubadala Development Company]], the investment vehicle of the Abu Dhabi government. The production company Bidaya Media was chosen to produce the show; in 2013, the company was housed at [[Twofour54]], the United Arab Emirates version of public television.<ref name="abudhabi"/> The show was supported by organizations all over the world; Feras Al-Maddah, ''Iftah Ya Simsim's'' representative at the GCC, stated, "It is a public/private sector partnership and we will need the support of all to extend the communication channels and continue producing more educational products".<ref name="tradearabia" />

[[File:MiddleEast.png|thumb|upright|alt=Map of the Middle East.|Map of the Middle East, where the original and revived versions of ''Iftah Ya Simsim'' were broadcast]]

A seminar was held in 2011 to design the show's curriculum and educational framework. The seminar, also attended by ABEGS representatives, was sponsored by the GCC Joint Program Production Institution (GCC-JPPI) and Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), a manufacturing company based in Riyadh and one of the private corporations that sponsored the new show.<ref name="20years"/><ref name="menewswire" /><ref name="abegs"/> The participants took into consideration the educational changes that had occurred in the region in the previous 20 years, including a more diverse and complicated world and a need for more creativity to educate young children.<ref name="20years" /> The seminar focused on the education needs of children throughout the Arab world, the possible effects of the show's return, and how to provide educational resources and technology to children in the 21st century.<ref name="abegs" /> The seminar participants recommended the creation of an advisory council, consisting of education experts and media professionals, as well as expanding to new media forms other than TV, and including important Arab celebrities as guests on the show, all components that the American show used.<ref name="opensesame" />

Other curriculum topics chosen during the seminar included Arabic culture and heritage, school readiness, health and wellness, and female education.<ref name="tradearabia" /> The seminar participants decided to use MSA, like the producers had done for the original show, citing an even greater need to expose children to the Arabic language.<ref name="national" /><ref name="opensesame" /> As with the original, outreach was an important part of the new show. Even before the show aired, four characters from the original toured the region, educating young children and their families about road and car safety.<ref name="20years" /> The cast and crew took a break from filming for a few months for "constant live events" to interact with their young viewers.<ref name="sinclair">{{Cite news|url = http://www.thenational.ae/uae/education/sesame-streets-arab-casting-call|title = Sesame Street's Arab casting call|last = Sinclair|first = Kyle|date = March 26, 2014|work = The National|location = Abu Dhabi|access-date = July 2, 2014}}</ref> Books, DVDs, CDs, online material and outreach programs for children, parents, and teachers were produced.<ref name="tradearabia" /><ref name="abegs"/>

In late 2013, fifteen writers and producers from Bidaya Media attended training about its education methodology and production techniques from the staff of the American show in New York.<ref name="sinclair" /> The ''Saudi Gazette'' reported that ''Iftah Ya Simsim'' was in pre-production in March 2014, and that the first phase of auditions took place in April 2014,<ref name="casting">{{Cite news|url = http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20140331200319|title = Iftah Ya Simsim calls for casting|last = Yahya|first = Samar|date = March 31, 2014|work = Saudi Gazette|access-date = July 1, 2014|location = Saudi Arabia|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140714202418/http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20140331200319|archive-date = July 14, 2014}}</ref> after, according to Al-Sharhan, a year of designing the show, "with input from child development experts, educators and cultural consultants".<ref name="sinclair" /> A casting call for a competitive search of performers specializing in puppeteering, voice, singing, and movement was sent to universities, theaters, and cultural centers in Abu Dhabi, where it was filmed, and through social media.<ref name="casting" /><ref name="straight">{{Cite news|url = http://www.albawaba.com/entertainment/natheer-khawaldeh-sesame-street-586422|title = Straight from the Muppet's mouth: Jordanian artist Natheer Khawaldeh talks Gargur and "Iftah Ya Simsim"|last = Khalifeh|first = Arwad|date = June 26, 2014|work = Albawawa Entertainment|access-date = June 30, 2014}}</ref> They cast Arabic-speaking performers, although no prior acting experience was required.<ref name="sinclair" /> Dina al Saleh, a puppeteer from ''[[Alam Simsim]]'', the Egyptian co-production, screened the first group of candidates,<ref name="straight" /> and then the final cast of seven puppeteers were chosen after ten days of workshops<ref name="sinclair" /> with [[Martin P. Robinson|Marty Robinson]] and other Sesame Workshop puppeteers from New York.<ref name="straight" /> According to an editorial in ''The National'', the new version of the show was significant because it encouraged [[Emirati people|Emiratis]] and other Arabs to become more involved in filmmaking and, more importantly, it focused on "locally relevant Arabic-language content that will seek to educate present and future generations".<ref name="national" />

===Relaunch===
After a 25-year hiatus, the show was relaunched in September 2015, appearing on nine regional stations with Abu Dhabi Al Emarat TV and Sharjah TV among them.  At the time of the re-launch the show was expected to reach 45 million viewers. The production was a collaboration between the Abu Dhabi Education Council, [[twofour54]], the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States and Bedia Media. Along with live shows at schools, the show interacted with fans by means of Facebook, a YouTube channel, and Instagram accounts. The show announced its focus on regional traditions, culture, values, customs, and manners with the characters speaking in classical Arabic.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thenational.ae/uae/iftah-ya-simsim-launches-after-25-year-hiatus|title=Iftah Ya Simsim launches after 25-year hiatus|author=Thamer Al Subaihi|date=September 1, 2015|publisher=The National UAE}}</ref>

The reboot saw the return of many characters from the 1979 original, like No'man the camel and the bird muppet Melsoon, and the appearance of new muppets: "Shams, a quick witted 6-year-old girl who is full of energy and loves to express herself". Six puppeteers were involved with season one: Abdullah Kassem, Asma Alshamsi, Natheer Khawaldeh, Maher Mozawak, Noura Sadaka, and Michel Jabali. Actors appearing on the show with the muppets included Abdulla Rafa (in the role of Rashid) and Fatma Al Taei (as Amal). The educational content of the show is directed by the Educational Advisory Committee and the representatives of the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States (ABEGS).

In 2017, the show launched a special, 12-minute version of the show for the month of Ramadan. Thirty episodes were produced and regularly feature ''Super Grover 2.0'', ''Elmo's Game Show'', ''Cookie's Crumby Pictures'', and segments from the ''Dream, Save, Do'' campaign, as well as interviews with children.

In February 2017 Bidaya Media started production on season two of the relaunch of Iftah Ya Simsim, Noura Sadaka and Natheer Khawaldeh didn't come back for the new season. In addition, two new Muppets were introduced to the cast, Ka'aki (Cookie Monster) and Elmo. Puppeteer and Voice actor Ammar Sabban was hired to replace Natheer Khawaldeh as Gargour and was also chosen to play Ka'aki, and Abdullah Rafa also joined the puppeteer team to play Elmo.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sesameworkshop.org/press-releases/iftah-ya-simsim-unveils-full-cast-kick-off-studio-production-phase-abu-dhabi/|title=Iftah Ya Simsim unveils full cast to kick off its in-studio production phase in Abu Dhabi|date=February 2015|publisher=Sesame Workshop}}</ref> 

The third and final season premiered in May 2019 with 52 episodes. The show was succeeded by [[Ahlan Simsim]] in 2020.

=== Ahlan Simsim ===
{{Main|Ahlan Simsim (co-production)}}
'''''Ahlan Simsim''''' (translating to "Welcome Sesame") is an Arabic co-production of ''[[Sesame Street]]'' that premiered on February 2, 2020, on [[MBC 3]].

The series features three original Muppet characters to the series: Basma, Jad, and Ma'zooza. In addition to human cast members, the series also includes localized versions of [[Grover|Gargur]] (Grover), [[Cookie Monster|Kaaki]] (Cookie Monster), and [[Elmo]] from Iftah Ya Simsim. 

The series is funded by a grant from the [[MacArthur Foundation]] and is produced in collaboration with the [[International Rescue Committee]]. The first season is designed to teach how to identify and manage emotions. Syrians, Lebanese, Jordanians, and Iraqis are in the target audience.