Arabic TV series have gained popularity worldwide for their diverse stories, rich cultural experiences, and compelling characters. Whether you're interested in historical dramas, thrillers, or emotional stories, you can find Arabic TV shows on streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and YouTube. Here are some of our favorite Arabic TV shows, where you can watch them, and how they can help you learn Arabic.
| TV Show | Arabic Title | Director | Main Cast | Seasons | Where to Watch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fauda | فوضى | Lior Raz | Lior Raz, Hisham Suliman, Laëtitia Eïdo | 2 | Netflix |
| Shankaboot | شنكبوت | Katia Saleh | Nasri Sayegh | 5 | YouTube |
| Omar | عُمَرْ | Hatem Ali | Ghassan Massoud, Samer Ismail | 1 | MBC, YouTube |
| The Jewish Quarter | حارة اليهود | Mohamed Gamal El-Adl | Iyad Nassar, Mona Shebli | 1 | YouTube |
| Jinn | جن | Mir-Jean Bou Chaaya | Salma Mallhas, hamweh Okab, Aysha Shahaltough | 1 | Netflix |
| Fatan Amal Harby | فاتن أمل حربي | Mohamel Al-Adl | Sherif Salama, Fadia Abdel Ghany, Nelly Karim, Mohamed El Sharnouby | 1 | Netflix |
| Tahir's House | بيت طاهر | Sultan Al Abdulmohsen | Joud Alsufyani, Naema Alhumaidi, Khalid Abdoon | 1 | Netflix |
| Crashing Eid | جايبة العيد | Nora Aboushousha | Summer Shesha, Hamza Haq, Bateel Qamlo | 1 | Netflix |
| Al Hayba | الهيبة | Samer Al Barkawi | Taim Hasan, Nadine Nassib Njeim, Abdo Chahine | 4 | YouTube |
| The Exchange | ﺗَﺒَﺎﺩُﻝ | Jasem Al-Muhanna and Karim Elshenawy | Rawan Mahdi, Mona Hussain, Mohammed Almansour | 2 | Netflix |
Introducing Arabic TV
Netflix clocked a staggering 260 million subscribers at the end of 2024. Watching TV via a traditional television set is no longer in fashion. Today, almost all non-Arabic and Arabic channels are accessible via the internet thanks to national and international online TV service sites, such as BBC iPlayer and CBS.
Listening to native speakers on TV shows helps with pronunciation and comprehension.
Whether you are in the mood for a documentary, a film, some live sports, politics, lifestyle, Arabic news, or talk shows, or simply want to tune into some Hindi music channels, you don't need to set up boxes or sign up for satellite TV or cable TV like back in the good old 90's.
Most TV series are also available online through (fee-paying and free) TV streaming and video streaming platforms, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and YouTube, making them a great way to learn Arabic online. Rather than live TV, subscription holders of these sites offer viewers the chance to stream or download videos and watch on demand legally.
From the Kingdom of Jordan, UAE (United Arab Emirates), Lebanon, Palestine, and Iraq to Morocco, Egypt, and Libya, the opportunity to discover some of the best Arabic TV shows out there from home and immerse yourself in Arab culture is now at your fingertips.
All you need is a decent WiFi signal and the time to log in to your computer and find an online TV service site that broadcasts, streams, or offers downloadable episodes from your favorite Arabic TV channel!
Fauda
🎬 Director: Lior Raz
🎭 Actors: Lior Raz, Hisham Suliman, Shadi Marei, Laëtitia Eïdo
📺 Number of Seasons: 4
📌 Watch the trailer for season 2 here [SPOILERS FOR SEASON 1]
Arabic TV Title: فوضى
The title of the show, Fauda, means chaos.
Synopsis: At the height of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Doron Kavillio, a commander of the Mista’arvim unit, attempts to arrest Abu Ahmad (aka the Panther), one of the high-ranking members of the Hamas who is responsible for several attacks. Thought to have already been killed by Doron some years ago, the Panther reappears. Recently retired Doron must thus return to work and be part of a new mission to infiltrate the group.
Nominated two years ago at the International Festival of Audiovisual Programs (FIPA) in Biarritz, Fauda is a series that has received phenomenal success in Israel and Palestine.
Produced in Arabic and Hebrew, watching all series episodes on DVD or via a video streaming site is possible. The series is also available to stream on Netflix with English subtitles – watching an international TV drama has never been simpler!
These shows give a deep dive into traditions, history, and daily life.
Forget Star Trek, Scrubs, Dexter, Prison Break, Camelot, NCIS, and other American television series. Bring on Arabic TV as a fun way to learn Arabic! Out with the old and in with the new!
Shankaboot
🎬 Director: Katia Saleh (producer)
🎭 Actors: Nasri Sayegh
📺 Number of Seasons: 5
📌 Watch on YouTube
Arabic TV Title: شنكبوت
Synopsis: In the heart of Beirut, as part of his job as a delivery boy, 15-year-old Souleyman is doing the rounds on his scooter named Shankaboot. During his deliveries, the young boy inadvertently becomes a spectator to several astonishing events, including witnessing one character, Roueida, running away from her violent husband and reveling in dreams of becoming a famous singer. His adventures turn out to be at once unexpected and humorous!
Shankaboot is a type of interactive web-fiction filmed in the streets of Beirut and produced in Arabic dialect (Lebanese). The project aimed to create a drama that is as realistic as possible in its depiction of the life of young Lebanese people living in the capital (shaped by the amalgamation of traditionalism and modernity), but that also has a fictitious element. Most actors were initially approached and selected on the streets, rendering the acting yet more authentic and giving a truly realistic insight into life in Arabia.
This web series was produced by the BBC in conjunction with Batoota Film. It won first prize at the Emmys (International Emmy Awards) in April 2011 in the Digital Program – Fiction category.
Learn the Arabic alphabet and to speak Arabic, this series will help you to get well on your way to becoming a bilingual English-Arabic speaker! You can also try improving your Arabic by familiarizing yourself with Arabian cinema and watching various Arabic films.
Omar
🎬 Director: Hatem Ali
🎭 Actors: Ghassan Massoud, Samer Ismail
📺 Number of Seasons: 1
📌 Watch the trailer
Arabic TV Title: عُمَرْ
The representation of Omar in the TV series has proved controversial in many Arab countries.
Synopsis: Throughout the episodes, the season recounts the life of Omar ibn al-Khattab al-Faruq, the second Muslim caliph. Compromised of 31 episodes, the entire story the series deals with occurs in just one season.
30,000 actors and technicians from 10 different countries were involved in producing the series.
The series sparked well-known and widespread controversy due to the representation of Omar, Abou Bakr, Othman, and Ali ibn Abi Talib, the four classical Muslim caliphs. According to Muslim practice, one is not supposed to represent the figures as many forms of Islam would deem such an action blasphemous. However, the series still became a resounding success in the Arab world.
The Jewish Quarter
🎬 Director: Mohamed Gamal El-Adl
🎭 Actors: Iyad Nassar, Mona Shebli
📺 Number of Seasons: 1
📌 Watch the series on YouTube
Arabic TV Title: حارة اليهود
Synopsis: Laila learns that her brother has decided to move to Israel. This is an absolute betrayal for the young Jewish girl, who perceives Zionism to be a betrayal of Egyptians.
The series centers on the main character, Laila. Rather unusually for Egyptian dramas, Egyptian Jews are depicted first and foremost as Egyptians rather than as Zionists. This is arguably one of the first Egyptian TV series where Jews are respectfully represented.
From historical dramas to thrilling mysteries, Arabic TV offers something for everyone.
However, the series deliberately brushes the role played by the military (concerning the expulsion of Egyptian Jews in 1953 as Nasser gained increasing power) under the table.
If you are longing to see beautiful glimpses of Egypt, Cairo, and the Nile, then be sure to have the show open and waiting in your browser, ready to be streamed!
Jinn
🎬 Director: Mir-Jean Bou Chaaya
🎭 Actors: Salma Mallhas, Hamzeh Okab, Aysha Shahaltough
📺 Number of Seasons: 1
📌 Watch the trailer here
Arabic TV Title: جن
Synopsis: A group of adolescents in the ancient city of Petra in the Kingdom of Jordan are to discover a supernatural creature from the Semitic myth, Jinn. This is a slightly mysterious mythical creature that takes human form. The balance of the human world is to be turned on its head by the discovery.
The TV show is the first series in Arabic produced by Netflix.
The level of authenticity that Netflix is attempting to achieve with this drama is definitely what attracted me most to the project.
Mir - Jean Bou Chaaya, Jinn director
Faten Amal Harby
🎬 Director: Mohamed Al-Adl
🎭 Actors: Sherif Salama, Fadia Abdel Ghany, Nelly Karim, and Mohamed El Sharnouby
📺 Number of Seasons: 1
📌 Watch the trailer
Arabic TV Title: فاتن أمل حربي
Faten Amal Harby is a thought-provoking Arabic drama that centers around marriage, women's rights, and gender inequality. The audience will find themselves rooting for the main character, Faten, portrayed by the talented Nelly Karim, as she fights for her rights after her divorce.
Synopsis: This drama follows the brave journey of an Egyptian woman, Faten, who seeks a divorce from her abusive husband. The road to freedom is arduous, as she is forced to confront her former husband's tricks and manipulation to give up her custody rights and thoughts of remarriage due to Egypt's Personal Status Law.
Potential transformation agent: This series has prompted many discussions and evaluations on the legal institution in Egypt, especially the challenges faced by modern-day women who are going through divorce and custody battles.
Tahir's House
🎬 Director: Sultan Al Abdulmohsen
🎭 Cast: Joud Alsufyani, Naema Alhumaidi, Khalid Abdoon
📺 Number of Seasons: 1
📌 Watch the trailer
Arabic TV Title: بيت طاهر
Synopsis: The series explores the dynamics of the Tahir family through the perspectives of various characters as they attempt to save their failing family fish shop.
There's the clueless but well-meaning son, Yousef; his animated grandmother, Lutfiya; his Korea-obsessed younger sister, Azizah; and others who, despite their differences, come together to help the family. They argue, they reconcile — but most importantly, they connect and support one another out of familial love.
Crashing Eid
🎬 Director: Nora Aboushousha
🎭 Actors: Summer Shesha, Hamza Haq, Bateel Qamlo
📺 Number of Seasons: 1
Arabic Title: جايبة العيد
Synopsis: Crashing Eid centres on the journey of Razan, a divorced Saudi woman who struggles to be honest with her family in Saudi Arabia about her desire to marry her British-Pakistani boyfriend, Sameer. Since her divorce, Razan has been raising her daughter, Lamar, in London, and her relationship with her mother has grown strained over the years. The plot thickens when Sameer makes a surprise visit to Saudi Arabia during Ramadan to ask for her family's blessing, triggering a cascade of unresolved conflicts, misunderstandings, and long-hidden truths.
Al Hayba
🎬 Director: Samer Al Barkawi
🎭 Cast: Taim Hasan, Nadine Nassib Njeim, Abdo Chahine
📺 Number of Seasons: 4
Arabic Title: الهيبة
Synopsis: Jabal Sheikh Al-Jabal is a well-known leader within his clan, overseeing a series of arms-smuggling operations across the Lebanon–Syria border. While his position seems comfortable and secure, everything begins to change with the sudden arrival of Alia, the widow of his estranged brother, along with her young son. She returns after more than 15 years in Canada to inform Jabal of his brother’s death, setting off a chain of unexpected events.
The Exchange
🎬 Director: Jasem Al-Muhanna and Karim Elshenawy
🎭 Cast: Rawan Mahdi, Mona Hussain, Mohammed Almansour
📺 Number of Seasons: 2
The Exchange is a must-watch for anyone who enjoys empowering stories of women succeeding in male-dominated industries. It has also received rave reviews for being a visual feast, with set designs and fashion choices that vividly reflect the 1980s setting in Kuwait.
Arabic Title: ﺗَﺒَﺎﺩُﻝ
Synopsis: Set in the 1980s, it follows two compelling female leads, Farida and Munira, who use their wit, determination, and resilience to make a name for themselves in the Kuwait Stock Exchange. The dialogues exchanged between the characters will make you think about personal ambition, workplace tension amidst the cultural humor of the Kuwait society of that time, which is still relatable today.
Why Arabic TV Shows Are Perfect for Language Learning
Arabic TV shows with English subtitles are a natural way to improve your Arabic language skills, especially if you're just getting started.
Unlike your usual language lessons, TV series allow you to experience the Arabic language in context, hearing words and phrases used in conversations.
Whether you're a beginner or at an advanced level, entertainment is an excellent way to learn Arabic. With many TV shows having free access to episodes with subtitles in multiple languages, including French, Spanish, German, Italian, and even Japanese, it's easier for almost anybody to learn Arabic.
Whether you're interested in Syrian dramas, Egyptian thrillers, or Turkish-Arabic love stories, watching Arabic TV series offer a way to connect with the culture and traditions of the Arab world. There are even special television series released during Ramadan, which provide a great way to immerse yourself in Arabic and learn about family values and traditions.
You can also enjoy structured learning. Some teachers or tutors may even offer you downloadable PDF lessons to learn while watching Arabic content, whether a short episode or an entire movie.
Learn Arabic with a Superprof
Anyone serious about learning Arabic can succeed by working with a private tutor through Superprof. Watching Arabic TV series with English subtitles is just one of the ways you can immerse yourself in the Arabic language. However, nothing compares to the personalized learning experience a tutor can offer by tailoring lesson content and activities to your level and goals.
Superprof offers both online and in-person tutors specializing in Arabic for all levels. You can also learn more about Arabic culture, including Ramadan, understand the context of Arabic movies, or study for an Arabic exam. A tutor will provide instant feedback, correct your mistakes, and help you with grammar, pronunciation, and conversation skills in Arabic.
Many Superprof tutors offer the first lesson for free, which allows you to find the right tutor before committing. Perhaps your goal is to get to the point where you can watch Arabic series without subtitles, converse with Arabic-speaking family members, or learn Arabic for business.
At Superprof, you can quickly find Arabic tutors and start your private lessons as soon as today!
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