London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 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
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×