London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 31, 2025

Netflix: Three Arabic language shows to binge on in October

Netflix: Three Arabic language shows to binge on in October

Middle East Eye’s three recommendations include an anthology of Saudi shorts, a dramatisation of a real Lebanese peasant uprising, and a drama set in 60s Cairo

With the warmer weather on its way out and the days shortening, many of us will find ourselves indoors during the evening, looking for entertainment.

Thankfully, there is no shortage of offerings from the Arab world on streaming platforms to while away the autumn nights. Netflix, for example, has a huge library of original productions and acquisitions from the Middle East. These range from traditional soap operas to experimental fiction; high-octane action to slowly drawn-out expositional drama.

But with so much to choose from, there’s a risk we’ll spend more time browsing than actually watching. To that end, Middle East Eye gives its three picks for October.

Suggestions are based on the British version of Netflix and some shows might not be available in other regions.

Six Windows in the Desert


An anthology of six short films by Saudi filmmakers, Six Windows in the Desert tackles issues confronting the country’s youth as their rulers find themselves at the intersection of tradition and progress.

Each episode sheds light on topics such as extremism, female-male interactions, and the human psyche. Of the six, two stand out: Wasati (Moderate) by Ali Kalthami and Is Sumiyati Going to Hell? by Meshal al Jaser.

Based on real events, Wasati chronicles an assault by religious scholars on a play named Wasati bela Wastiah (A Moderate Without A Middle-Ground), produced by students at Al-Yamamah University in Riyadh in 2006. Kalthami takes a comedic slant on the scholars' campaign against the production, as they attack actors on stage, provoking widespread shock across the country and frenzied media coverage.

Wasati is a damning critique of the Saudi religious establishment


Told through the perspective of Layan, the youngest child in a Saudi family, Is Sumiyati Going to Hell? explores the relationship between the eponymous housemaid and the family who employ her.

Sumiyati struggles to deal with tough working conditions - she is locked up to prevent her escape - and the stinging racism of her employers.

Is Sumiyati Going to Hell? looks at the treatment of domestic workers in Saudi Arabia


In the defining scene, Layan echoes her mother’s religious prejudices, warning the housemaid that her failure to convert to Islam will result in her going to hell. The little girl's underlying innocence, however, becomes a means of questioning the absurdity of treating fellow human beings in such an oppressive manner.

The short is a sobering rebuke of Saudi Arabia’s kafala system, which binds the fate of domestic workers to their employers.

Peasants' Rebellion


We’re in mid-19th century Lebanon, and Maronite peasant Tanyus Shahin is leading an uprising against his feudal overlords. Peasants' Rebellion is a retelling of his struggle.

Without straying into excessive glamorisation or melodrama, the series covers Shahin’s attempts to attain dignity and social justice for his fellow peasants, taking on a Robin Hood persona as he makes the elites pay for their exploitation and cruelty.

Syrian composer Iyad Rimawi’s soundtrack perfectly captures the mood of the peasants’ valiant campaign for justice and elevates the defiant figure of Shahin.

As well as the conflict between rebels and landowners, the show also delves into the internecine power plays between different elite clans.

With 61 episodes on Netflix, this is a series likely to keep viewers busy for a while.

Cairo Class


Originally a Ramadan special, Cairo Class recounts the story of a group of Kuwaiti women who attend university in the Egyptian capital. There, they embark on a number of adventures - of the romantic and self-discovery variety.

The social drama, set in the 1960s, depicts the complexity of life for a woman studying abroad, highlighting the characters' hardships around love and overbearing families. Each member of the group embarks on their own unique adventure, with no clear protagonist.

Cairo Class depicts the complex lives of Kuwaiti women studying abroad in the 1960s


The programme also delves into the political dynamics of the region, from the 1950s to the 1960s, covering Gamal Abdel Nasser's rise in Egypt, as well as the 1967 Six Day War between Arab states, led by Egypt, and Israel.

After the country’s defeat, the show’s mood turns sombre, reflecting the pessimism that reigned in the Arab world following the loss of Sinai, the Golan Heights and the Palestinian territories of East Jerusalem, Gaza and the West Bank.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
×