With the success of Middle Eastern series like Finding Ola, Paranormal, and Al Rawabi School for Girls, we are at the peak of the golden age of Arabic TV series. In recent years, we have seen more series continuing to showcase brilliant directing, incredible cinematography and talent with diverse narratives, which are all readily available on various streaming platforms. Check out these new Arabic series releasing in 2023 to watch more authentic stories from Arab storytellers.
The Exchange
If the theme of strong, intelligent women breaking into the big boy’s club in style interests you, then the Netflix Original series The Exchange should be on your watch list. The storyline, which takes place during the 1980s in Kuwait, is based on the true account of Farida and Munira’s trailblazing breakthrough into the stock market. Created by Nadia Ahmad, Anne Sobel and Adam Sobe, The Exchange casts an array of Kuwaiti talent such as Rawan Mahdi, Mona Hussain, Mohammed Al Mansour, Faisal Alamiri and Hussain Almahdi.
The Exchange will stream on Netflix on February 8th.
Scattered Barriers
Netflix’s Omani series is set against the backdrop of the COVID19 pandemic, following the story of Nasser, an Omani taxi driver, and his family navigating the pandemic. The heartfelt drama dives into the impact that the pandemic had on human behaviours as it imposed new realities on societies, and the collective trauma it left. The mini-series stars Amina Abdel Rasoul, Ibrahim Al Zadjali, Essam Al Zadjali, Balqis Al Balushi, Raed Al Ameri, Emirati actress Salama Al Mazrouei, and 12 individuals with disabilities from 11 countries.
Scattered Barriers is streaming now on Netflix.
Al Thaman
Everyone secretly likes the cheesy cliché enemies-to-lovers trope once in a while, and AlThaman is our pick. Loosely based on the Middle Eastern folk tale of Arabian Nights, Al Thaman is adapted from the 2006 Turkish series ‘Binbir Gece.’ Staring Bassel Khaiat, and Razane Jammal, the show will is available to watch on streaming platforms Shahid VIP and MBC 1.
Al Thaman is streaming now on Shahid.
London Class (2023)
The London Class is the third installment of MBC’s popular series Dofa’at Alqahera and Dof’at Beirut. Like the previous series, it’s a coming-of-age genre depicting the diverse stories of a group of students travelling to London. Currently in the production phase, the series is expected to release in the latter half of 2023. Directed by Mohamed Bakir, the series stars Wesam Hanna, Nahed El Sebai, Layla Abdullah, Luluwa Al Mulla, Nasser Al Dosary, and Rawan Mahdi.
London Class will stream on Shahid.
