Grab the popcorn! Best TV shows to binge-watch in Dubai
Are you looking for a dark, gritty thriller or a fun, relaxed sitcom to binge-watch in Dubai? No matter what kind of content entertains you, you’re sure to find your next favourite series with our list of the best shows to watch in Dubai. While many OTT platforms offer streaming services in Dubai, we have narrowed down the shows available on the most popular ones, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, OSN and Zee5.
TOP NETFLIX SHOWS TO WATCH IN DUBAI
Whether you prefer the story of humanity’s triumph over adversity or something futuristic from a faraway world, you can find what you’re looking for among the fantastic shows to watch on Netflix in Dubai. So, if you’re looking for Netflix shows to binge in the emirate, here are our top picks.
DARK
A German sci-fi thriller, DARK is a riveting combination of mysteries, secrets and family drama. When two young children disappear from a small town in Germany, the story enters a labyrinth of secrets that engulfs four families.
Twisting its way through time travel and its paradoxes, this sci-fi series unfolds a profoundly gripping and masterfully-filmed plot driven by strong characters that define the town and the lives of its residents.
The UMBRELLA ACADEMY
The Umbrella Academy is a story of a highly dysfunctional family – a billionaire industrialist and his seven adopted children. These siblings are far from ordinary, with superhuman powers that raise them to the hall of fame and then drag them into disbandment.
Gathered once again after tragedy strikes, the superhero siblings are battling divergent personalities and an imminent apocalypse to solve the mystery behind their father’s death. An amalgam of fast-paced drama, sci-fi action and suspense, the Umbrella Academy is a Netflix Original show that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats until the end.
Season 4 has been announced, so it might be binge-watching time if you haven’t watched the earlier seasons yet.
DEAD TO ME
Dead to Me is another good show to watch in Dubai. Duo Linda Cardellini and Christina Applegate offer a deeply-moving depiction of a relationship based on mutual grief. Weird meets the usual in a grief-management support group, and the result is a blossoming friendship that is relatable, poignant and even comical at times.
With its solid and brilliantly-portrayed characters, Dead to Me explores the realms of loss, grief, acceptance, and forgiveness with a touch of dark humour.
Season 3 is expected to release in the upcoming months.
BROOKLYN NINE-NINE
Some laughs, some buffoonery, but you know everything will be alright in the end. Brooklyn Nine-Nine is perfectly-brewed binge-watchable content with the right mix of character building and comic relief.
The puns are hilarious, the eccentric quirks are anything but predictable, the acting is spot on, and the storylines keep you interested all the way through. This is easily one of the best shows to binge on Netflix in Dubai.
MONEY HEIST (LA CASA DE PAPEL)
Wonder what happens when robbers named after cities, dressed in red jumpsuits and Dali masks, plan a heist at the Royal Mint of Spain? Well, you can find out in one of the best TV shows to binge-watch on Netflix – Money Heist, which is definitely worth the hype.
The popularity of the show is in large part down to its direction. The chess-like moves, the cat-and-mouse sequences between “the gang” and the police, and battles with the hostages all culminate into a pretty intriguing show that keeps you hooked until the very end. With five impressive seasons – this fantastic show has earned its spot on our list of must-see TV shows in Dubai.
THE SERPENT
Starring the ever-charming Tahar Rahim, a stunning Jenna Coleman and the supremely-talented Billy Howle, the Serpent is one of the best shows to watch in Dubai by Netflix. It is the dark and twisted story of a serial killer, thief and master of seduction, Charles Sobhraj. From the busy bazaars of Karachi to the massive plains of Afghanistan, this man’s story takes you through the mid-70s Asian hippie trail.
While the show does take some dark turns, everything is done within restraint. Directors Hans Herbots and Tom Shankland bring you to the edge of the seat with this new popular drama on Netflix Dubai.
OTHER POPULAR SHOWS TO WATCH ON NETFLIX
Experience tells us you can never have enough shows to watch! That is why we have a bunch of other good TV shows to watch on Netflix in Dubai whenever you want.
- The People v O.J. Simpson
- The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
- The Crown
- The Witcher
- Rick and Morty
- Delhi Crime
- Cursed
- Kingdom
- Sherlock
- Altered Carbon
- Unbelievable
- Better Call Saul
- Ozark
- Peaky Blinders
- Lucifer
- FRIENDS
BEST AMAZON PRIME SHOWS TO WATCH IN DUBAI
Like Netflix, Amazon Prime regularly adds new content to cater to all our binge-watching needs. Here are the best TV shows to watch on Amazon Prime in Dubai.
THE OFFICE
If you’re looking for a TV show in Dubai that can make you laugh regardless of your mood, The Office is an absolute winner. The series never gets old, no matter how many times you watch it.
With its quirky humour and endearingly memorable characters, this show delivers on every front! Using the corporate workplace as its basic setting and bang-on office jokes will have you in fits of laughter in no time.
TREADSTONE
Let’s take a trip back to the “Bourne” realm. Remember Treadstone, the infamous black-ops programme that ticked off Jason Bourne’s brain, making him a one-man international destruction machine? This is the same Treadstone.
The series follows the lives of super assassins, like Jason Bourne, who are bound into a life of servitude to suspicious government operatives. A high-octane drama with plenty of action and remarkable attention to detail – Treadstone has everything you need to make it a must-watch show in Dubai.
THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL
Set in the late 1950s, when times were tough for women, Miriam Maisel strives to break free from the dictates of her husband and pursue her desire to become a stand-up comedian. As the show unfolds, Midge, as she is known, shows a promising talent for on-stage gigs.
Rachel Brosnahan shines as Mrs Maisel, and the rich storyline keeps the audience gripped by the humour, warmth and heart depicted by actors who play their characters flawlessly. This show has multiple Golden Globes and Emmys to its name – which speak volumes of its quality!
After fans and critics hailed the gripping Season 4, we can’t wait to see what’s in store for the final Season.
THE FAMILY MAN
We are all used to watching stories of superhuman government agents fighting crime and a young partner providing support as they save the world.
The Family Man takes us to the war zones, a dangerous backdrop where the drama unfolds. But it also remains rooted in a small flat in India, where our hero, Manoj Bajpai, struggles with work-life balance.
While one of the show’s highlights is Bajpai’s masterful acting prowess, other young stars, including Sunny Hinduja and Shreya Dhanwanthary, also make a mark. Make sure you catch up on Season One and Two before Amazon Prime rolls out Season Three.
FLEABAG
Do you find comedy in tragedy? If so, you will discover Fleabag riveting. Phoebe Waller-Bridge is an absolute star in this one. She struggles with her personal and professional life yet finds ways to keep us entertained.
Her best friend is dead, and she feels responsible for it. Her sister is emotionally distant at best. After her mother died, her father married again, against the sisters’ wishes.
While life seems like an uphill battle for Phoebe, there is no other way forward but to put one foot ahead of the other and keep going. Fleabag is a tribute to the undying spirit of living, packaged with liberal doses of cerebral humour.
PAATAL LOK
This is a riveting crime thriller based on real-life incidents revolving around the lives of five killers captured by Delhi police. Jaideep Ahalawat plays a struggling cop, Hathi Ram, going after the same system he has so far protected or neglected.
Different worlds collide as politicians, media personalities, lowly police officers and ruthless criminals come face-to-face, giving us a socio-political drama for the age. And by the sounds of it, we will have Season 2 to enjoy shortly.
CHACHA VIDHAYAK HAIN HUMARE SEASON 2
Zakir Khan needs no introduction to all of the Urdu and Hindi-speaking diaspora in Dubai. After his slice of live stand-up comedy, he has ventured into acting quite beautifully. Chacha Vidhayak Hain Humare Season 2 tells the story of a humble chap entering electoral politics. Tired of being told what to do and how to do it, he breaks the shackles and takes charge of his destiny. In his way stands the gatekeeper of old-school politics, an educated but cynical Sunny Hinduja.
For Zakir Khan fans, this has to be one of the best shows to watch in Dubai.
OTHER POPULAR SHOWS TO WATCH ON AMAZON PRIME
The All or Nothing series is incredibly fun for football fans especially. From Brazil’s National team to Arteta’s Arsenal, you get insights from the dressing rooms like never more.
Want more options? Here are some excellent shows on Amazon Prime in Dubai that you can add to your list.
- Tales from the Loop
- House
- Mirzapur
- Supernatural
- The Expanse
- Good Omens
- Breathe
- Homecoming
- The Night Manager
BEST DISNEY+ SHOWS TO WATCH IN DUBAI
A new entrant in the streaming market, Disney+ is offering some incredible shows.
GREY’S ANATOMY
This long-running series has kept the audiences hooked with its superb storytelling. Even if you haven’t seen much of it, you would know this is a medical drama based on the lives of interns. Their unique experiences help them grow and become different people personally and professionally throughout the show.
Now in its 18th season, the show was created by Shonda Rhimes and starred many famous names. This entertaining drama shows how medical professionals balance their personal lives with their professional demands.
THE MANDALORIAN
Set five years after the fall of the Galactic Empire in Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, this intriguing show has all the best elements of a true-blue space epic. Introducing the mystic race made famous by Boba Fett in the Original Trilogy, this show explores the unique relationship between a lone gunslinger Djinn Djarin, a Mandalorian, and the Child member of Jedi Master Yoda’s species.
A masterfully-directed show two seasons out, The Mandalorian has plenty of fast-paced action and drama. But the unique bond between the Mandalorian and the Child anchors the narrative and has captured fans’ hearts.
OTHER POPULAR SHOWS TO WATCH ON DISNEY+
Here are some other popular shows you can watch on Disney+.
- The Simpsons
- The World According To Jeff Goldblum
- The Walking Dead
- Only Murders in the Building
- The Kardashians
- The Walking Dead
- Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted
BEST ZEE5 SHOWS TO WATCH IN DUBAI
Zee5 is a relatively new entrant among the OTT platforms in Dubai. But it has some fantastic Urdu, and Hindi-language TV shows you can binge-watch in Dubai. Here is a list of some of the most popular ones.
NAXALBARI
The exhilarating series looks at the Naxal movement in India through various lenses and examines how different policies have made an impact. The show asks the important question: How far can one go to seek justice and change the world?
The brilliant direction, powerful acting, insightful storytelling and well-executed action-packed sequences make this show a must-watch.
RANGBAAZ PHIRSE
Starring some powerhouse performers like Jimmy Sheirgill, Gul Panag and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Rangbaaz Phirse takes viewers on a journey of injustice and criminality. It sheds light on the life of a man who rules by fear. The coalition between the powerful elite is something Rangbaaz Phirse aims to expose.
CHURAILS
Brought to you by the director of Cake, Churails is a story of rebellion and angst. Women from all walks come together to fight patriarchy in this fast-paced drama. What starts as a bit of a hit and a giggle turns into something deeply sinister as the girls fail to realise the magnitude of their discoveries. From drama to action and then some mystery, Churails cuts across different genres to show us all a mirror into society as we know it today.
EK JHOOTI LOVE STORY
Ek Jhooti Love Story explores society’s insecurities in a fun, quirky way. It examines why people try to escape reality rather than find comfort in who they are. This journey of self-development and awareness has its ups and downs, but it’s a love story in the end.
BEST OSN SHOWS TO WATCH IN DUBAI
OSN offers a range of content. You can find some real hidden classics on this streaming platform. Next up are the top shows you can watch in Dubai on OSN.
GAME OF THRONES
Would it be wrong to label this as one of the most popular series in the history of television? Perhaps not. From monstrous dragons to tense negotiations, this show, primarily based on the bestselling book series by George R.R. Martin, has it all. While few haven’t seen it, rewatching the series is never a bad idea! You may be able to spot critical details and hidden clues that you missed on your first watch!
HOUSE OF THE DRAGON
The wait is finally over. Season 1 of “House of Dragon”, the story of the Targaryen civil war, which the original GOT series referenced, is here. So far, we see the politicking, manipulation and weight of that ugly yet desirable to all throne.
By how things are going, it looks like we will finally see what happens when both sides have dragons. That should be fun, right? Messy but still fun!
FAQS
ARE THERE ANY OTHER OTT PLATFORMS I COULD TRY?
Besides the four OTT platforms mentioned above, there are also some good shows to watch on smaller platforms. You can check out other streaming services in the UAE and sign up for more TV show options.
WHAT ARE SOME OTHER ENTERTAINMENT AVENUES?
Podcasts in Dubai are another popular source of information and entertainment in the city. From business and lifestyle to culture and philosophy, these podcasts cover various topics to indulge your mind and interests. Radio stations in Dubai are also popular options for residents to catch the latest beats and discover what’s new in the city. Audiophiles can also check out the best places to buy vinyl records in Dubai.
HOW CAN I WATCH THE HOUSE OF DRAGONS IN THE UAE?
You can watch the House of Dragons in the UAE on OSN.
There you have a list of popular shows to watch in Dubai on Netflix, Amazon Prime, OSN and Zee5. Some of these shows never get old, particularly Brooklyn Nine-Nine and The Office. Even if you’ve seen these shows, it might be time to give them a second run. Happy watching!
