{
  "id": 898157,
  "title": "Beyond Netflix: 10 genre-specific streaming platforms to try in the UAE",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/beyond-netflix-10-genre-specific-streaming-platforms-to-try-in-the-uae",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-14T18:04:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/film-tv/2026/08/14/beyond-netflix-10-genre-specific-streaming-platforms-to-try-in-the-uae/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The desire to find the perfect streaming platform can be a frustrating and time-consuming task. The vast array of options available, coupled with frequent trailers and unsolicited recommendations, can make it challenging to discover a show that truly meets one's preferences. However, a growing number of niche platforms are emerging, offering specialized content catering to specific genres and interests. In the United Arab Emirates, these smaller services provide a more focused alternative to the dominant streaming giants, making the remote control feel more exciting than a nerve-wracking ordeal.\n\nThis article explores ten genre-specific streaming platforms that are worth trying in the UAE. These services cater to a wide range of tastes, from art house cinema and documentaries to game shows and horror films. Each platform offers a unique selection of titles, ensuring that viewers can dive deeper into their favorite genres and discover new ones they may have never considered before.\n\n1. Mubi: For art house and world cinema enthusiasts, Mubi offers a curated selection of films from acclaimed and lesser-known directors. The platform features works from various cultures, including African films screened at the Cannes Film Festival and retrospectives on influential filmmakers like David Lynch. Subscriptions are available for Dh29.99 per month.\n\n2. Crunchyroll: Anime fans will find Crunchyroll to be an invaluable resource. The platform offers a vast library of popular and lesser-known titles, including series like One Piece, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. Many titles are available with English subtitles or dubbing. Subscriptions start at Dh21.99 per month.\n\n3. Rakuten Viki: This platform is ideal for those interested in Korean and Asian dramas. In addition to K-dramas like Lovely Runner and Train to Busan, Viki showcases a diverse range of Asian television productions, including Chinese dramas and Thai series. Subscriptions are Dh17.99 per month.\n\n4. Alchemiya: Launched in 2015, Alchemiya was dubbed \"Muslim Netflix\" but has since maintained a solid catalogue of films and documentaries inspired by Islam and the wider Muslim world. Subscriptions are Dh22 per month.\n\n5. Curiosity Stream: While the browsing interface may be a bit cumbersome, this platform offers a wealth of documentaries covering a wide range of topics. From Pompeii and the North Pole to barbecuing and dinosaurs, there is ample material for the curious-minded viewer. Subscriptions are Dh22 per month.\n\n6. History Hit: Originating from the popular History Hit podcast, this streaming service focuses on well-researched documentaries covering various historical topics. Subjects include The Odyssey, the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Roman Empire, and World War II, often featuring on-location visits by historians and archaeologists. Subscriptions are Dh29.99 per month.\n\n7. Qello Concerts by Stingray: For those who enjoy concert films, Qello Concerts offers a vast collection of performances from artists spanning more than 50 years of popular music. The platform also features a substantial documentary catalogue, covering genres from pop to mambo. Subscriptions start at Dh44 per month.\n\n8. National Theatre at Home: Since the closure of theaters due to the Covid pandemic, the British National Theatre has launched National Theatre at Home. This platform offers over 100 filmed productions, including classics like A Streetcar Named Desire and contemporary works like Rosamund Pike in Inter Alia. Subscriptions are Dh49.99 per month.\n\n9. Dropout: This streaming service dedicates itself to improvisational comedy and game shows. It presents a unique selection of content that is sure to entertain and surprise viewers.",
  "summary": "We've all been there, sitting on the couch and spending far too long trying to find the right title among the ocean of choices on streaming services. It can be exhausting and often fruitless, with competing genres and unsolicited trailers kicking in just as you are trying to concentrate. That helps explain the growing number of smaller platforms coming to the fore with clear genre offerings. The…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "Beyond Netflix: 10 genre-specific streaming platforms to try in the UAE",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/beyond-netflix-10-genre-specific-streaming-platforms-to-try-in-the-uae-899410",
        "published": "2026-08-14T18:04:17.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}