JioHotstar Launches on STARZPLAY Across MENA, Bringing Expansive Indian Entertainment to the Region.
Dedicated JioHotstar destination brings films, originals, television, reality shows and multilingual content to South Asian audiences across the MENA.
DUBAI(News Desk):: JioHotstar, one of the world’s largest streaming services, has officially entered the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) market through a strategic partnership with STARZPLAY, bringing an extensive portfolio of Indian entertainment to audiences across the region.
The dedicated JioHotstar destination is now available within the STARZPLAY app and website, giving viewers across MENA access to a wide-ranging collection of Indian films, series, originals, reality programmes and television shows in multiple languages.
The launch comes just weeks after JioHotstar expanded its international presence into markets including the UK, Canada and Singapore. Its arrival in MENA marks another major step in the platform’s international expansion and its efforts to connect global South Asian audiences with Indian entertainment.
Extensive multilingual entertainment library.
The JioHotstar offering in MENA features content in Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Bangla and other Indian languages, reflecting the region’s diverse South Asian communities and their varied viewing preferences.
The Malayalam catalogue includes original productions such as Prince of Mollywood, Cousins & Kalyanam, Kerala Crime Files, 1000 Babies and Roslin. Viewers will also have access to Malayalam films including Bethlehem Kudumba Unit, Drishyam, Moonwalk and Thudarum.
The platform will further feature a selection of Hotstar specials, including Part Timers, Kappi Squad, The Court, Pritam & Pedro and Ali Baba Aur Chaalis Bhoot, with additional programming expected to expand the catalogue.
JioHotstar will also bring acclaimed originals such as Asur, Chiraiya, Special Ops and Criminal Justice, alongside blockbuster films including Kesari Chapter 2, Super 30 and ARM.
A key feature of the service will be the availability of new JioHotstar Originals alongside their release in India, allowing audiences in MENA to stay connected with major Indian entertainment releases without a significant delay.
Popular television and reality programming.
The entertainment line-up extends beyond films and scripted series, with some of India’s most popular television and reality franchises also becoming available to viewers in the region.
Koffee with Karan returns with a new season featuring major Bollywood stars, celebrity conversations and its signature rapid-fire segment.
Bigg Boss will continue to entertain audiences across multiple Indian-language editions, including Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada and Bangla.
The reality and entertainment offering also includes Anil Kapoor’s new game show India Ka Top 1 Percent, which challenges contestants on logic and reasoning, along with popular programmes such as Khatron Ke Khiladi and Laughter Chefs – Unlimited Entertainment.
Audiences will additionally be able to watch selected content from JioStar television channels at the same time as its broadcast in India.
Popular shows available through the service include Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Anupamaa, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai and Sayonee.
To support MENA’s multilingual households, the JioHotstar catalogue will include subtitles and dubbing across more than 12 languages.
Two STARZPLAY plans offer JioHotstar content.
The JioHotstar experience is being offered through STARZPLAY’s subscription plans.
The PLUS plan is priced at AED 34.99 per month and provides access to JioHotstar’s multilingual entertainment library.
The MAX plan costs AED 49.99 per month and combines the complete JioHotstar entertainment offering with STARZPLAY’s sports portfolio.
The combined package is aimed at households looking for both entertainment and sports under a single subscription. STARZPLAY has developed a strong relationship with South Asian audiences in MENA through its cricket offering, and the partnership with JioHotstar extends that relationship into films, television, original productions and daily entertainment.
The MAX package therefore brings together Indian entertainment and major sporting events, offering what the companies describe as a more complete entertainment destination for South Asian audiences across the region.
JioStar highlights international ambitions.
Commenting on the launch, Amit Malhotra, Head – International Business, JioStar, said the partnership with STARZPLAY reflects a shared ambition to create a modern entertainment destination combining sports with Indian and global content.
He said JioStar sees an opportunity to build a central hub where audiences can discover familiar stories, explore new content and enjoy a seamless entertainment experience.
Malhotra also highlighted the changing nature of global streaming, saying the future is not about forcing audiences to choose between local, regional, Indian or international content, but about bringing different forms of entertainment closer together.
He described JioHotstar’s arrival in MENA as a significant milestone in the company’s international strategy, particularly given the importance of Dubai and the wider Gulf region to its global ambitions.
According to Malhotra, the partnership with STARZPLAY is intended to strengthen connections between entertainment, culture and communities across borders.
STARZPLAY sees opportunity in South Asian audience.
Maaz Sheikh, CEO of STARZPLAY, said the partnership represents an important development in the next phase of streaming growth in MENA.
He said audiences should not have to navigate an increasingly fragmented streaming market to find the entertainment brands and content they value.
Sheikh noted that bringing JioHotstar to STARZPLAY combines the strength of India’s entertainment industry with STARZPLAY’s understanding of the MENA market and its audiences.
He also pointed to cricket as an important foundation of STARZPLAY’s relationship with South Asian audiences across the region.
According to Sheikh, JioHotstar gives STARZPLAY an opportunity to extend that relationship beyond live sports and into the everyday entertainment consumed by families, including films, television, originals and reality programming.
The company’s ambition, he said, is to make STARZPLAY a destination where different members of the family can find content relevant to their interests.
Burj Khalifa lights up for JioHotstar MENA launch.
The arrival of JioHotstar in MENA was marked by a high-profile celebration at one of Dubai’s most recognisable landmarks.
The Burj Khalifa was illuminated in a spectacular display celebrating the launch of JioHotstar and its partnership with STARZPLAY.
The landmark became a canvas for JioHotstar’s “Infinite Entertainment” concept, with a vivid display of colour and light showcasing the platform’s arrival in the region.
The visual celebration brought the brands together on the world’s tallest building and highlighted JioHotstar’s ambition to establish a major international entertainment presence.
Expanding Indian entertainment globally.
With MENA now joining the UK, Canada and Singapore, JioHotstar is continuing to expand its international footprint and create a broader global platform for Indian entertainment.
The company is positioning its international expansion around the idea of “Infinite Possibilities”, seeking to make Indian storytelling, entertainment franchises and cultural moments accessible to audiences beyond India.
The MENA launch is particularly significant because the region is home to a large and diverse South Asian population with strong connections to Indian cinema, television, cricket and popular culture.
Through its partnership with STARZPLAY, JioHotstar aims to provide these audiences with a unified destination covering entertainment across languages and formats.
From major Bollywood releases and regional films to high-profile originals, reality franchises, television dramas and sports, the new offering is designed to bring a broad spectrum of Indian entertainment together on one platform.
JioHotstar is now available on STARZPLAY across MENA, with the service accessible from 7 October 2026 through the PLUS and MAX subscription plans.
