Four Arabic originals coming to Netflix, from Saudi Pro League documentary to Sand Castle

Netflix continues to ramp up its Arabic originals, with a string of productions due to be released in the next few months.

From a thriller reuniting Nadine Labaki with her Capernaum star Zain Al Rafeea to a documentary series that pulls the curtain back on the Saudi Pro League, here are four to add to your Netflix watchlist.

Saudi Pro League: Kickoff

Within a few short years, the Saudi Pro League has gone from a relative unknown to becoming a staple of international sports headlines. Star players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Karim Benzema have signed for clubs in the league. Curiosity has piqued as to the league’s ambitions, and yet it wasn’t always clear what was going on behind the scenes.

The documentary series Saudi Pro League: Kickoff will offer unprecedented access, both on and off the pitch. The series will chart the growth of the league, showing how the arrival of international football stars impacted the sport in the kingdom.

According to Netflix, it will be replete with “drama, passion and action”. The series will have appearances by the international players in the league, as well as local stars Salem Al Dawsari, Feras Al Buraikan, Talal Haji, and Abdulrahman Ghareeb. It will also feature interviews with managers and commentators.

Saudi Pro League: Kickoff will be released on November 21

Echoes of the Past

Set in Egypt, Echoes of the Past is a drama series steeped in suspense and duplicity. Asser Yassin stars as Yehia, a man who sets out to uncover the murder of his sister, played by Huda El Mufti. The show will unravel the dark secrets of the family as everyone soon becomes a suspect and betrayals are gradually revealed.

“Who can be trusted?” Netflix’s description teases. “The series will keep everyone guessing until the very end.”

Echoes of the Past will be released on December 6

The Sand Castle

In The Sand Castle, a family become stranded on an idyllic but eerie island. As the dark reality about the island emerges, the family try to keep these shocking secrets from their youngest member, Jana.

“As events spiral out of control and the line between reality and fiction blurs, the family is forced to confront harsh truths and difficult choices, testing their resilience and their hopes of making it back home,” the thriller’s synopsis reads.

The Sand Castle is directed by Matty Brown and is the US filmmaker’s debut feature. It features a stellar Arab cast, including Labaki and Ziad Bakri in the role of the parents. Capernaum stars Zain and Riman Al Rafeea will be playing the role of the children.

The Sand Castle will be released on January 24

The Exchange

The Exchange will return for its second season next year. The show was critically acclaimed for its depiction of the stock market in 1980s Kuwait, drawing inspiration from the true story of two women who proved themselves in the cut-throat business.

The second season will continue the story of Farida who, after divorcing her husband and seeking to provide for her daughter, joins her cousin Munira as the first women working at the Kuwaiti Stock Exchange. There, they face several challenges as they break the glass ceiling of the male-dominated financial market.

The series stars Rawan Mahdi and Mona Hussain, as well as Hussain Almahdi, Mohammed Al Mansour and Faisal Alamiri.

The Exchange is due to be released next year

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.

8. Pillar 2 implementation

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

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