Video streaming services on the web have definitely revolutionized our nights in and have fed our binge-watching needs – hello NETFLIX! Netflix, although created in 1997, has truly become a household name in the region as of a couple years ago when they launched Netflix MENA. However, the quality and depth of movies you can find on NETFLIX varies a lot based on the country you are in. With their very sophisticated proxy blockers, it is nearly impossible to bypass the system and access all the great movies we still had access to a couple of years ago. But not to worry – there are some cool alternatives and really great competitors that are doing an excellent job, check out 5 of my favorite alternatives to Netflix available in the region:
STARZ ARABIA was founded in 2015 in Dubai. With more than 700,000 subscribers, drawn to a constantly growing dedicated Arabic section (and Arabic subtitles for most Hollywood movies) and also a very decent selection of blockbusters for adults and for kids, it has recently expanded its features by adding the option to view shows offline. “Three years ago, we saw an opportunity to make premium Hollywood entertainment affordable for the masses”, says Maaz Sheikh, STARZ PLAY’s CEO. Service fee: Free 30-day trial and then 35 AED / month.
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Available in more than 100 countries, Amazon Prime Video is probably the most famous alternative out there. If you are already an Amazon Prime member and enjoy the other associated benefits (free shipping, exclusive sale access, streaming of music, reading, photo storage etc.) this turns out to be a pretty good deal, as the video streaming service is encompassed in the yearly Amazon Prime fee of $119 or monthly $12.99 (approx. 37 aed). The movies don’t come and go as often as on Netflix, but it is filled with Hollywood & Bollywood classics, making it your best option to discover new movies or re-watch some old time classics! When it comes to original shows, Amazon is also entering this space with some celebrity-filled “Prime Original” series: Homecoming (with Julia Roberts!), King Lear (with Anthony Hopkins) McMafia, Goliath, Jack Ryan and more…
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OSN first entered the video streaming industry with OSN Play back in 2012; OSN Play offers subscribers thousands of on-demand videos as well as access to select live-streaming channels from OSN. However, if you do not have a subscription to OSN TV, you can still enjoy OSN’s great content with the OSN WAVO service; For $9.99 (approx 36 aed) per month and no further commitment, you can enjoy OSN’s most famous movies, shows, sports and live TV channels.
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If you were in the region in 2013, it is very unlikely that you missed the ICFLIX launch with its hundreds of billboards across the UAE. The Icflix platform is particularly strong on Arabic content, and really stands out thanks to its in-house Arabic productions, including feature films and series. You can enjoy the platform for free for 30 days and continue for $8.39 (approx 31 aed) per month.
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Who better than MBC to bring you the widest collection of Arabic content? Watch or replay on demand, MBC’s own shows: The Voice Ahla Sawt, Arabs Got Talent, Arab Idol as well as dubbed or subtitled foreign movies and shows, from Korean dramas to Hollywood classics for only $4.75 (approx 17.5 aed) per month.
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