For viewers in the UAE, many smaller streaming services now sit alongside the big players, offering a more focused way to enjoy favourite genres.
Mubi targets film lovers who want to explore work by auteur directors and lesser‑known but acclaimed filmmakers. Its library includes African titles that have screened at the Cannes Film Festival over the past five decades, retrospectives on late US filmmaker David Lynch – including the surreal series Twin Peaks – and the work of cinematographer Sean Price Williams. Selections also cover landmark films from the 1950s and 1990s, such as Polish director Krzysztof Kieślowski’s Three Colours trilogy. Subscriptions start at Dh29.99 per month.
Anime fans can turn to Crunchyroll, which serves as a useful entry point into Japanese animation. The catalogue features classic and popular series like One Piece, Solo Levelling, Jujutsu Kaisen, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Attack on Titan and The Apothecary Diaries, many with English subtitles or dubbing. Subscriptions are available from Dh21.99 per month.
Rakuten Viki shines a light on Asian drama beyond the well‑known K‑drama. While Korean series such as Lovely Runner, Dear X and Train to Busan draw many viewers, the platform also offers Chinese drama Love Between Lines and Thai series like My Tutor, My Love. The service highlights thriving television industries across China, Japan, Taiwan and Thailand. Subscriptions begin at Dh17.99 per month.
Alchemiya, launched in 2015 and once dubbed the “Muslim Netflix”, curates films and documentaries inspired by Islam and the wider Muslim world. Its Global Muslim Cinema collection includes Jordanian drama Captain Abu Raed, Moroccan coming‑of‑age film Majid, China’s A First Farewell and Argentina’s Road to La Paz. Documentary titles such as Journey to Makkah: In the Footsteps of Ibn Battuta, programmes about Hajj, Cairo in One Breath and historical dramas about Ahmad ibn Hanbal and Harun Al Rashid also appear. Subscriptions are Dh22 per month when signed up directly through Alchemiya.
These genre‑specific platforms give UAE audiences a chance to dive deeper into the content they love, turning the remote into a gateway for discovery.
Frequently asked questions
What is Mubi and how much does it cost for viewers in the UAE?
Mubi is a curated art‑house streaming service that showcases auteur and lesser‑known films, including African titles screened at Cannes; in the UAE a subscription starts at Dh29.99 per month.
Which streaming platform in the UAE offers popular anime such as One Piece and Demon Slayer?
Crunchyroll is the UAE streaming service dedicated to Japanese animation, featuring series like One Piece, Jujutsu Kaisen, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Attack on Titan, many with English subtitles or dubbing.
Where can I watch Asian dramas beyond Korean K‑dramas in the UAE?
Rakuten Viki provides a broad catalogue of Asian dramas, including Chinese series like Love Between Lines, Thai shows such as My Tutor, My Love, as well as Korean dramas, highlighting television industries across China, Japan, Taiwan and Thailand.
What kind of films and documentaries does Alchemiya stream for the Muslim‑world audience?
Alchemiya curates a ‘Global Muslim Cinema’ collection featuring films such as Jordan’s Captain Abu Raed, Morocco’s Majid, and documentaries on Hajj, Cairo, and historical figures like Ahmad ibn Hanbal and Harun Al Rashid.
How much does a Crunchyroll subscription cost for UAE users?
In the UAE, Crunchyroll subscriptions are available starting at Dh21.99 per month, giving access to its extensive anime catalogue with subtitles or dubbing options.
