The streaming battle for the Middle East and North Africa just got a major new player. JioHotstar, one of the world’s largest streaming platforms, has officially landed in the region through a partnership with STARZPLAY — bringing a vast library of Indian entertainment and live sports to millions of viewers under one roof.
DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, October 9, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — JioHotstar, one of the world’s largest streaming services, has announced its arrival in the Middle East and North Africa through a strategic partnership with STARZPLAY. The move comes just weeks after the platform expanded into the UK, Canada and Singapore, and now targets a region that is home to one of the globe’s most substantial South Asian diaspora communities. A dedicated JioHotstar destination within the STARZPLAY app and website will offer one of the most comprehensive content libraries in the region, spotlighting the biggest moments from Indian entertainment.
The JioHotstar MENA launch debuts with an extensive lineup spanning Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Bangla and more, tailored to the viewing habits of South Asian audiences across the region. The multilingual collection features Malayalam originals including Prince of Mollywood, Cousins & Kalyanam, Kerala Crime Files, 1000 Babies and Roslin, as well as films such as Bethlehem Kudumba Unit, Drishyam, Moonwalk, and Thudarum. Additional Hotstar specials like Part Timers, Kappi Squad, The Court, Pritam & Pedro, and Ali Baba Aur Chaalis Bhoot round out the offering, with new JioHotstar Originals premiering alongside their India release dates.
Fans of celebrity talk shows will find Koffee with Karan returning with a fresh season featuring some of Bollywood’s biggest names, candid conversations and the show’s signature rapid-fire round. Reality TV enthusiasts can tune into Bigg Boss in Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada and Bangla, while Anil Kapoor’s new game show India Ka Top 1 Percent challenges contestants’ logic and reasoning. Additional reality titles include Khatron Ke Khiladi and Laughter Chefs – Unlimited Entertainment. Viewers will also gain access to JioStar TV channel content broadcast simultaneously with India, including popular serials such as Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Anupama, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai and Sayonee. Subtitles and dubs in over 12 languages are included to serve MENA’s multilingual households.
The JioHotstar experience is available through STARZPLAY’s PLUS plan at AED 34.99 per month, granting access to the full multilingual library. The MAX plan, priced at AED 49.99 per month, bundles the complete JioHotstar entertainment offering with STARZPLAY’s sports portfolio, merging daily entertainment and major sporting events into a single household subscription. STARZPLAY has established a strong bond with South Asian audiences through its cricket coverage in the region, and the MAX plan now pairs that sports catalogue with JioHotstar’s daily entertainment, Originals, reality franchises and films — creating a more comprehensive destination for South Asian viewers across MENA.
Amit Malhotra, Head of International Business at JioStar, said, “Our partnership with STARZPLAY brings together a shared ambition to redefine what a modern entertainment platform can be. Through this partnership, we are creating a premier destination where audiences can discover the best in sports, Indian and global entertainment. We see an opportunity to build a central hub where audiences can enjoy the stories they love, discover new content and experience seamless entertainment. Our belief at JioStar has always been that the future of streaming isn’t about forcing a choice between local, regional, Indian or global content—it is about bringing the world closer together. JioHotstar’s arrival in the Middle East and North Africa is a significant step in that direction. Dubai and the wider Gulf sit at the heart of our international ambitions and together with Starzplay we are reimagining how cross border entertainment connects audiences, culture and communities.”
Maaz Sheikh, CEO of STARZPLAY, commented, “The next phase of streaming growth in MENA will be shaped by platforms that bring the right brands together and make the viewing experience more valuable. Audiences should not have to navigate an increasingly fragmented market to find the entertainment that matters to them. Bringing JioHotstar to STARZPLAY is a strategic investment in that future, combining the strength of India’s storytelling with our understanding of this region and the audiences we serve.”
Sheikh added, “Cricket has given STARZPLAY a strong and lasting relationship with South Asian audiences across the region. JioHotstar allows us to extend that relationship beyond the match and into the entertainment households return to every day. Our ambition is to make STARZPLAY the destination where every member of the family finds something they value.”
To commemorate the launch, the Burj Khalifa — one of the world’s most recognizable landmarks — was transformed into a canvas for a grand celebration. JioHotstar’s signature Infinite Entertainment motif illuminated the tallest building on Earth in a vivid display of colour and light, visible across Dubai’s skyline. The projection brought both JioHotstar and STARZPLAY together on the landmark, marking the arrival of JioHotstar’s expansive entertainment universe in the region.
With MENA joining the UK, Canada and Singapore, JioHotstar is expanding its global footprint for Indian entertainment, taking the country’s storytelling heritage and cultural moments to audiences worldwide. The expansion, rooted in its vision of Infinite Possibilities, responds to growing demand among global South Asian audiences for a unified entertainment destination, reshaping how premium content is discovered and consumed.
Starting 7th October, viewers can head to STARZPLAY and enter the big bang of entertainment with JioHotstar.
About STARZPLAY
STARZPLAY (www.starzplay.com) is the leading subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service across the Middle East, North Africa, and Pakistan, delivering a premium mix of Hollywood blockbusters, exclusive original productions, Arabic series, popular Turkish dramas, live sports, and family-friendly programming.
With strategic partnerships including major global studios such as Warner Bros., Disney, Paramount, Sony, Lionsgate, AMC, BBC, Falcon Films, and Image Nation Studios—its primary production partner for STARZPLAY Originals—the platform offers an extensive library tailored specifically to regional tastes. STARZPLAY also provides top-tier Turkish content through collaborations with MADD TV, TRT, and ATV, and showcases elite live sports coverage including Italian Serie A, Dutch Eredivisie, UFC, cricket, rugby, boxing, golf, and basketball.
With 2.3 million subscribers and more than 18 million app downloads, STARZPLAY is continually reshaping the digital entertainment landscape. The platform delivers high-quality streaming in HD and 4K on smart TVs, gaming consoles, and IPTV services, complemented by user-friendly iOS and Android apps supporting offline viewing. Leveraging advanced AI-driven recommendations and interactive offerings—including Fantasy Sports gaming, STARZ ON (ad-supported free streaming), and STARZPLAY Store (premium content rentals and purchases)—STARZPLAY ensures a personalized entertainment experience for every viewer.
Headquartered in Abu Dhabi with additional offices in the UAE and Pakistan, STARZPLAY is backed by renowned international and regional investors led by evision (part of e& Group), along with ADQ, Lionsgate, GE, and SEQ — further solidifying its market leadership across the MENA region and beyond.
Instagram: @starzplayarabia | X: @STARZPlayArabia | LinkedIn: STARZPLAY
About JioHotstar
JioHotstar is a global streaming platform and, with 500 million monthly active users and a library of more than 300,000 hours of programming, one of the largest streaming services in the world. Content is available in 19 languages, spanning movies, originals, live sports, live events, anime, kids’ entertainment and TV shows from more than 100 channels in the JioStar network. JioHotstar reaches audiences across India and international markets, including the UK, Canada, Singapore and MENA, and is available across Android, iOS, connected-TV and web platforms.
Why it matters: This partnership signals a shift in how streaming platforms are consolidating content to serve diaspora communities. By bundling Indian entertainment with live sports, JioHotstar and STARZPLAY are positioning themselves as a one-stop hub for South Asian households in MENA — a model that could redefine cross-border streaming alliances.
Kamal Rizqallah
Solarabic
