Ramadan marks the annual blockbuster season for the Arab television industry. Each year, hundreds of hours of star-studded regional and local dramas, lifestyle and cultural shows premiere on the small screen.
And that list continues to grow as online platforms expand their content in the region.
In the past, broadcasters such as ADTV, MBC Shahid and OSN were places to watch dramas shown on associated linear channels, but they have now become home to exclusive content of their own.
This year, ADTV – the digital arm of Abu Dhabi Media's television channels – will exclusively stream an unprecedented five series including the anticipated Syrian drama Ala Safeeh Sakhin. Meanwhile, fans of the long running Bab Al Hara can only watch the drama on Starzplay.
For now, these growing incursions have not shadowed the appeal of traditional television formats. From Abu Dhabi TV and MBC to Sharjah TV and Sama Dubai, these networks continue to be the biggest home to some vibrant programming set from the huge metropolises of Cairo and Beirut to small Emirati villages from the 1960s.
With so many to pick from, spread across dozens of channels, here is a handy guide to some of the key programmes coming your way this year.
All shows listed below will be screened daily throughout Ramadan, though the broadcast times have not yet been revealed. It is recommended to visit the host channel's website for screening details.
Here are 28 of the the best dramas and entertainment programmes this Ramadan:
Blockbuster dramas
1. 'Covid-25' (MBC Shahid)
The Egyptian horror series imagines the worst-case scenario of the coronavirus, with the 15 episodes combing elements of action, suspense and horror.
In February, the show's scriptwriter Engy Alaa told Cairo Talk that the show was proving exhausting to write. "Everyone is suffering from Covid-19," she said. "And I'm suffering from Covid-25." Though she said the programme is fictitious and is not a prediction of how the virus would develop, it does have a scientific aspect to it.
2. 'Hijmah Murarda' (Emarat TV)
The anticipated action series stars Ahmed Ezz and Hend Sabri. The former plays Rifaat Al Masri, an undercover Egyptian intelligence officer who attempts to thwart the plans of foreign operatives intending to wreak havoc on Egypt's economy and society.
3. 'Ala Safeeh Sakhin' (ADTV)
The anticipated Syrian drama discusses the challenges of immigration and stars Salloum Haddad, Basem Yakhour and Amal Bou Shousha.
The show follows the Hajjar family who do not expect to return to Damascus after a failed bid to immigrate to Germany. Upon their return, they realise they can’t just pick up where they left off.
4. 'Al Ikhtiyar' (MBC Shahid)
After its acclaimed debut last Ramadan, Al Ikhtiyar returns with a new cast and another heart stopping race against time. This time around, Egyptian actor Ahmed Mekky plays a police officer involved with a terrorist group.
5. 'Al Tawoos' (Sharjah TV)
A provocative Egyptian thriller, Al Tawoos tackles sexual harassment in Egyptian society with star Jamal Soliman playing a lawyer involved in a case where the accused hails from a rich and powerful family. The series also looks at the societal harms caused by social media sites.
6. 'Kharief Al Oushaq' (OSN)
The Levant drama will surely be a talking point this Ramadan. Set between 1972 and 1992, Kharief Al Oushaq explores complex issues facing Syrian society through the eyes of couples of various religious backgrounds. We follow their quest to raise families in a Syria that is facing political and economic crises.
7. 'Did Al Kassar' (Dubai TV)
How long should you try before walking away? That's the core problem for Salma, played by Egypt's Nelly Karim, as she bears the recklessness and infidelities of her husband. The series see her evolve from a victim to a strong woman with a ruthless streak of her own.
8. 'Al Kandoush' (Sharjah TV)
This Syrian series was first announced in 2018. The drama was initially put on hold because of disagreements between the various production companies involved, however it has since come back on track.
With everyone back on the same page, viewers can revel in the stellar Syrian cast led by Ayman Zidan and Sulaf Fawakherji in a period drama that explores Damascene society in the early 20th century.
9. 'Harb Al Ahliya' (Dubai TV)
With a dynamite cast including Youssra and Bassel Khaiat, the Egyptian thriller is all about fraught family dynamics. Abandoned as a child, a savvy businesswoman (Jamila Awad) unexpectedly meets her mother and their subsequent relationship is nothing less than rocky.
10. 'Kul Ma Niftiriq' (ADTV)
A series that switches between past and present as viewers explore the torrid relationship between Nour Al Fayed and husband Hussam Makhlouf. The Egyptian series stars Reham Hajjaj, Ayten Amer, Amro Abdul Jaleel and Mohammad Al Sharnouby.
11. 'Mousa' (MBC Shahid)
The eagerly-awaited Mohamed Ramadan drama Mousa is reported to be 30 episodes long. The show is set in the mid-1950s and follows the journey of a man from Upper Egypt, who strives to care for his younger brothers after the death of their father.
The series stars Raya Wa Sekina actress Somaya El Khashab, Al A'ar actress Heba Magdy and screen favourite Riyad Al Kholi, among others.
12. 'Bab Al Hara' (Starzplay)
Exclusive to the platform, the latest season of the hugely popular Syrian drama is set in the 1930s and looks at the everyday life of families living in the old city neighbourhoods of Damascus during the period of French rule.
Premiere Gulf productions
13. 'Mamnou’ Al Tajawol' (MBC Shahid)
Saudi Arabian master satirist Nasser Al Qasabi returns in a timely series exploring how the kingdom's society has been affected by Covid-19. In addition to his trademark dry humour, Al Qasabi says the series aims to inspire and illustrate the resilience of the human spirit.
14. 'Bayt Al Thoul' (OSN)
This bittersweet Gulf drama features one of the last television appearances of Mishari Al Balam. The Kuwaiti actor died in February after contracting Covid-19.
At the time of his death, the show was still in production and Kuwaiti actor Abdullah Al Talihi confirmed scenes had to be rewritten to accommodate Al Balem’s absence.
"The screenwriter will have a major role in changing the scenario," he told TV channel ATV Kuwait. "In some scenes, Mishari's voice will be heard through phone calls instead of his appearance. This has to be done in a clever way so as not to affect the story, especially since Al Balam was the focus of the series' later events."
Bayt Al Thoul centres around two sisters, whose opposing values and personalities cause conflict and scandal within the family.
15. 'Al Rouh Wa Al Rayya' (OSN)
This is the latest release by Kuwaiti company Magic Lens, which is also behind Ramadan drama Bayt Buyt for Abu Dhabi TV.
Starring Heba El Dorry and Yacoub Abdallah, Al Rouh Wa Al Rayya provides a poignant look at a family tragedy. When matriarch Suad suddenly dies, her eldest daughter takes up responsibility by looking after her four siblings and a grieving father.
16. 'Matar Saif' (Sharjah TV)
In this Gulf drama, Kuwaiti star Saad Al Faraj plays the role of a patriarch of a financially struggling Kuwaiti family. Tackling different family dynamics, including those between parents and children as well as siblings, Matar Saif has the right amount of melodrama and heart to make this perfect Ramadan drama viewing.
17. 'Al Namoos' (OSN)
Similar to 2020's well-received Ramadan drama Mohamed Ali Road, Kuwaiti screenwriter Moe Anwar conjures up another ambitious drama spanning pre and post-oil boom Kuwait.
The ensemble murder unleashes drama, led by Mohammed Al Mansour and Haifaa Adel, and follows the free-wheeling life of Rashid Al Mather and his torrent of pent-up secrets and painful memories.
18. 'Wa Anna Ahebak Ba'ad' (Sama Dubai)
The Kuwaiti comedy shows that it's not always "happily ever after" once the wedding is over, in fact, some can argue that is when the troubles begin. From family squabbles to getting to really know your true life partner, Wa Anna Ahebak Ba'ad, translated to "I love you too", is a quirky look into relationships in the Gulf.
Local Gems
19. 'Shaabiat Al Cartoon' (Sama Dubai)
Dubbed the UAE's version of The Simpsons, the popular animated series returns for its 15th season with its blend of humour and cutting social commentary.
Shaabiat, a word that means "rural neighbourhood" in Arabic, follows the lives of a group of families and individuals living in a small Dubai neighbourhood. Each episode focuses on different people and their quirky troubles.
20. 'Hamed Hilou' (Sama Dubai)
After last year's hit Kashe' Nashe, Emirati comedy duo Abdullah Zeid and Gomaa Ali return for another zany sitcom set in an Emirati village of the 1960s. While the humour is sweet natured, the series illustrates the pioneering spirit of previous generations that powered the UAE's development.
21. 'Ally Nahbulhum' (Emarat TV)
Ally Nahbulhum is the latest addition to the growing body of Emirati sitcoms based in local villages. Funnyman Jumma Ali joins a cast including Ahmed Al Jasmi in a series exploring the quirks of living in a tight-knit Emirati community.
22. 'Aladdin' (Abu Dhabi TV)
Comedian Abdul Naser Darwish leads a strong cast, including fellow Emirati Sultan Al Faraj, as the titular character – a man in his fifties raising two daughters in Dubai’s City Walk.
Culture and lifestyle
23. 'Yalla Neta'asha' (OSN)
Fresh from the success of its debut season in 2020, the Arabic version of popular British reality food show Come Dine with Me returns with another serving of delectable dishes and colourful banter.
24. 'Al Shara' (Emarat TV)
Presented by Hessa Al Falasi, the cultural game show questions members of the public and celebrities on Emirati traditions, poetry, influential figures and customs.
25. 'Shoudo Al Huroof' (Sharjah TV)
Flick through the pages of the UAE's cultural history as Sharjah Institute for Heritage director Abdulaziz Al Musallam dissects the works of some of the country's most esteemed poets, to look at how their works have made visionary comments about local society today.
26. 'Al Mandoos' (Sama Dubai)
A mix of talk show and competition, Al Mandoos has viewers calling in to share their reflections on the UAE and Ramadan while quizzed about the country's heritage for prizes.
27. 'Ramadan, Dhalik Al Zaman' (Wousta TV from Al Dhaid)
The title means "Ramadan, that time" and this programme asks seasoned Sharjah residents to reflect back on what life during the holy month was like back in the 1970s and 1980s.
28. 'Duroob' (Emarat TV)
From Indonesian villages to the urban sprawl of the Uzbekistan capital Tashkent, for years, Emirati traveller Ali Al Salloum has taken Ramadan viewers on journeys seeking out new cultures to show our common humanity.
While this year’s offering won’t be too different than previous seasons, it will be interesting to see how the new countries shown have coped with the pandemic.
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The specs
Price: From Dh529,000
Engine: 5-litre V8
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Power: 520hp
Torque: 625Nm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.8L/100km
The years Ramadan fell in May
RESULT
Esperance de Tunis 1 Guadalajara 1
(Esperance won 6-5 on penalties)
Esperance: Belaili 38’
Guadalajara: Sandoval 5’
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
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
States of Passion by Nihad Sirees,
Pushkin Press
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
THE%20SPECS
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Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
French Touch
Carla Bruni
(Verve)
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
UAE%20SQUAD
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T20 World Cup Qualifier, Muscat
UAE FIXTURES
Friday February 18: v Ireland
Saturday February 19: v Germany
Monday February 21: v Philippines
Tuesday February 22: semi-finals
Thursday February 24: final
Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
Penguin Press
Super Rugby play-offs
Quarter-finals
- Hurricanes 35, ACT 16
- Crusaders 17, Highlanders 0
- Lions 23, Sharks 21
- Chiefs 17, Stormers 11
Semi-finals
Saturday, July 29
- Crusaders v Chiefs, 12.35pm (UAE)
- Lions v Hurricanes, 4.30pm
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
Profile of Tarabut Gateway
Founder: Abdulla Almoayed
Based: UAE
Founded: 2017
Number of employees: 35
Sector: FinTech
Raised: $13 million
Backers: Berlin-based venture capital company Target Global, Kingsway, CE Ventures, Entrée Capital, Zamil Investment Group, Global Ventures, Almoayed Technologies and Mad’a Investment.
