Tamim Fares, regional Director of Disney+, speaking at a press event at the Dubai Opera on Tuesday ahead of the streaming service's launch in the Middle East and North Africa. Reuters
Tamim Fares, regional Director of Disney+, speaking at a press event at the Dubai Opera on Tuesday ahead of the streaming service's launch in the Middle East and North Africa. Reuters
Tamim Fares, regional Director of Disney+, speaking at a press event at the Dubai Opera on Tuesday ahead of the streaming service's launch in the Middle East and North Africa. Reuters
Tamim Fares, regional Director of Disney+, speaking at a press event at the Dubai Opera on Tuesday ahead of the streaming service's launch in the Middle East and North Africa. Reuters

Can't access Disney+ on iOS or Android in the Mena region? Here's how to fix it


Razmig Bedirian
  • English
  • Arabic

Disney+ has offered a workaround to Mena users who are experiencing issues accessing the streaming service because of regional settings.

The streaming platform, which has launched in 65 global markets to date, became available in more than a dozen countries in the region on Wednesday, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Algeria, Lebanon, Libya, Palestine and Oman.

Some Mena users have reported that they are having trouble launching the Disney+ app on their Android and iOS devices. Photo: The National
Some Mena users have reported that they are having trouble launching the Disney+ app on their Android and iOS devices. Photo: The National

However, some users have reported that they are having trouble launching the app on their Android and iOS devices.

This is particularly common with those who have their App Store or Google Play account location settings selected to a country outside of Mena.

After downloading the app, affected users are met with a page that informs them “Disney+ is unavailable in your location".

The message has frustrated users keen to thumb through the platform’s catalogue, which includes some 1,200 films and TV shows from Disney, encompassing titles from Pixar, Marvel, National Geographic, Star Wars and more.

So, what’s going on?

Disney+ says the streaming platform was tailor-made for the Mena region.

The content has been specifically curated for regional audiences, with subtitles in Arabic available for most programmes. Dubbing is also being developed for most fan favourites in both modern standard Arabic and Egyptian Arabic.

However, since the platform is catered to the region, it is a different version of the app than the one that is downloaded by accounts set outside Mena.

“Disney+ has been localised specifically for the Mena region, to ensure an enhanced user experience that’s bespoke to the Middle Eastern community,” a Disney+ Mena representative told The National.

“This includes providing local language options, local content selections, a seamless user-interface experience, and back-end functionality to better cater to our unique markets. This localised approach also gives us the flexibility to update our app in line with our local market needs.”

Hoping to streamline login and signup processes, regional accounts are also pegged to mobile numbers as opposed to emails.

The localised Disney+ app asks for mobile numbers during log in, sending a four-digit code as a one-time password. The app downloaded from stores set outside the region, however, will ask for an email login.

What is the solution?

One simple fix is to change the location of your Google Play or App Store account. Android users can access the setting through the General Account preferences on the Google Play app. But this can get dicey.

According to the Google Play help page: “You must wait 12 months after initially creating a payments profile before you can change your Play country. You can only change your Play country once per year. If you change your country, you won’t be able to change it back for one year.”

Also, you’re likely to lose access to some of your already downloaded apps, movies, TV shows and books.

It’s not much easier for iOS users.

Changing the location of your Apple ID account means having to cancel your subscriptions before switching over. Sure, you can sign right back up but there’s no telling how much of your content you’ll retain.

There is, however, a better solution.

Disney+ Mena suggests creating a new account with regional settings to download the app then switching back to your original account.

“If subscribers with a foreign app store prefer to not change their region, there are other options, too,” the Disney+ representative said.

“This includes creating a new iCloud account using the Mena-based country they are in, then downloading the Disney+ app. After this, they can go back to their original iCloud account without losing any payment data or other subscriptions.”

The workaround, however, doesn’t apply to some Android TVs, such as TCL, where even regional accounts cannot download the regional version of the Disney+ app.

Reaching out through the Disney+ Mena helpline, an agent suggests in these situations it is best to reach out to the TV manufacturer to help change the location settings.

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'Gold'

Director:Anthony Hayes

Stars:Zaf Efron, Anthony Hayes

Rating:3/5

How Sputnik V works
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The specs: 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio

Price, base: Dh198,300
Engine: 2.0L in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 280hp @ 5,250rpm
Torque: 400Nm @ 2,250rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7L / 100km

Common OCD symptoms and how they manifest

Checking: the obsession or thoughts focus on some harm coming from things not being as they should, which usually centre around the theme of safety. For example, the obsession is “the building will burn down”, therefore the compulsion is checking that the oven is switched off.

Contamination: the obsession is focused on the presence of germs, dirt or harmful bacteria and how this will impact the person and/or their loved ones. For example, the obsession is “the floor is dirty; me and my family will get sick and die”, the compulsion is repetitive cleaning.

Orderliness: the obsession is a fear of sitting with uncomfortable feelings, or to prevent harm coming to oneself or others. Objectively there appears to be no logical link between the obsession and compulsion. For example,” I won’t feel right if the jars aren’t lined up” or “harm will come to my family if I don’t line up all the jars”, so the compulsion is therefore lining up the jars.

Intrusive thoughts: the intrusive thought is usually highly distressing and repetitive. Common examples may include thoughts of perpetrating violence towards others, harming others, or questions over one’s character or deeds, usually in conflict with the person’s true values. An example would be: “I think I might hurt my family”, which in turn leads to the compulsion of avoiding social gatherings.

Hoarding: the intrusive thought is the overvaluing of objects or possessions, while the compulsion is stashing or hoarding these items and refusing to let them go. For example, “this newspaper may come in useful one day”, therefore, the compulsion is hoarding newspapers instead of discarding them the next day.

Source: Dr Robert Chandler, clinical psychologist at Lighthouse Arabia

Manchester United's summer dealings

In

Victor Lindelof (Benfica) £30.7 million

Romelu Lukaku (Everton)  £75 million

Nemanja Matic (Chelsea)  £40 million

 

Out

Zlatan Ibrahimovic Released

Wayne Rooney (Everton) Free transfer

Adnan Januzaj (Real Sociedad) £9.8 million

 

 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

 

 

In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff

Skewed figures

In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458. 

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AT%20A%20GLANCE
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Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

Results:

6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 (PA) | Group 1 US$75,000 (Dirt) | 2,200 metres

Winner: Goshawke, Fernando Jara (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer)

7.05pm: UAE 1000 Guineas (TB) | Listed $250,000 (D) | 1,600m

Winner: Silva, Oisin Murphy, Pia Brendt

7.40pm: Meydan Classic Trial (TB) | Conditions $100,000 (Turf) | 1,400m

Winner: Golden Jaguar, Connor Beasley, Ahmad bin Harmash

8.15pm: Al Shindagha Sprint (TB) | Group 3 $200,000 (D) | 1,200m

Winner: Drafted, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson

8.50pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (D) | 1,600m

Winner: Capezzano, Mickael Barzalona, Sandeep Jadhav

9.25pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (T) | 2,000m

Winner: Oasis Charm, William Buick, Charlie Appleby

10pm: Handicap (TB) | $135,000 (T) | 1,600m

Winner: Escalator, Christopher Hayes, Charlie Fellowes

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

About Okadoc

Date started: Okadoc, 2018

Founder/CEO: Fodhil Benturquia

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Healthcare

Size: (employees/revenue) 40 staff; undisclosed revenues recording “double-digit” monthly growth

Funding stage: Series B fundraising round to conclude in February

Investors: Undisclosed

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Desert Warrior

Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley

Director: Rupert Wyatt

Rating: 3/5

HAJJAN
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Updated: June 13, 2022, 10:38 AM