JioHotstar Launches on STARZPLAY Across MENA, Plans Subscriptions From Dh34.99
JioHotstar has entered the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) through a partnership with STARZPLAY, bringing a multilingual library of Indian films, television shows, original series and reality programmes to South Asian audiences across the region.
The streaming service is available through a dedicated destination on the STARZPLAY app and website, expanding JioHotstar’s international presence following launches in the UK, Canada and Singapore.
The partnership combines JioHotstar’s Indian entertainment catalogue with STARZPLAY’s regional streaming platform and sports offering.
JioHotstar available through STARZPLAY subscriptions
The JioHotstar library is available through STARZPLAY’s PLUS subscription plan, priced at Dh34.99 per month.
Subscribers seeking both entertainment and sports can opt for the MAX plan at Dh49.99 per month, which combines JioHotstar’s content with STARZPLAY’s sports portfolio.
The bundled offering aims to provide households with access to Indian entertainment alongside major sporting events through a single subscription.
STARZPLAY has established a strong following among South Asian audiences through its cricket coverage. The addition of JioHotstar expands its offering beyond live sports to include films, daily television programmes, reality shows and original productions.
Indian films and original series across multiple languages
The MENA launch features content in Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Bangla and other languages, catering to the region’s diverse South Asian communities.
Malayalam titles include Prince of Mollywood, Cousins & Kalyanam, Kerala Crime Files, 1000 Babies and Roslin. Films in the catalogue include Bethlehem Kudumba Unit, Drishyam, Moonwalk and Thudarum.
Other titles include Part Timers, Kappi Squad, The Court, Pritam & Pedro and Ali Baba Aur Chaalis Bhoot.
The library will also feature acclaimed Indian originals such as Asur, Chiraiya, Special Ops and Criminal Justice, alongside films including Kesari Chapter 2, Super 30 and ARM.
New JioHotstar Originals are scheduled to premiere alongside their Indian releases, giving viewers in MENA access to new content at the same time as audiences in India.
Reality shows and Indian television join the line-up
The entertainment offering includes the return of Koffee with Karan with a new season featuring Bollywood personalities, celebrity conversations and its signature rapid-fire round.
Reality television titles include Bigg Boss in Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada and Bangla, as well as Anil Kapoor’s game show India Ka Top 1 Percent. Other programmes include Khatron Ke Khiladi and Laughter Chefs – Unlimited Entertainment.
Subscribers will also be able to watch selected JioStar television channel content at the same time as its broadcast in India.
The television line-up includes popular shows such as Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Anupamaa, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai and Sayonee.
To accommodate multilingual households, the platform will offer subtitles and dubbed content in more than 12 languages.
JioStar and STARZPLAY outline regional ambitions
Amit Malhotra, Head of International Business at JioStar, said the partnership would bring Indian and global entertainment together with sports on a single platform.
He described the MENA launch as an important step in JioStar’s international expansion, adding that Dubai and the wider Gulf region were central to its ambitions to connect audiences and communities through entertainment.
Maaz Sheikh, CEO of STARZPLAY, said the partnership was intended to simplify access to entertainment in an increasingly fragmented streaming market.
He added that the platform’s existing relationship with South Asian audiences through cricket could now extend into films, original productions and television programmes watched by households throughout the year.
Burj Khalifa marks regional launch
To celebrate JioHotstar’s arrival in MENA, the Burj Khalifa hosted a light and projection display featuring the streaming platform’s branding and its “Infinite Entertainment” theme.
The activation brought JioHotstar and STARZPLAY together on one of Dubai’s most recognisable landmarks, marking the expansion of the Indian entertainment platform into the region.
With the MENA launch following its entry into the UK, Canada and Singapore, JioHotstar is seeking to expand the international reach of Indian entertainment and provide South Asian audiences abroad with a wider selection of regional and mainstream content.
