Did you know that Arabic is one of the fastest-growing languages in Canada? Based on data from Statistics Canada, it indicates that Montréal has the largest concentration of Arabic speakers in Canada (220,000), followed by Toronto (121,000 residents). Several local universities also offer Arabic as part of their language courses.
For many of us interested in learning Arabic from scratch, one of the best ways to spark our passion and motivation is by watching Arabic shows. Here are 10 Arabic series across different genres and themes for you to explore!
| Arabic TV Shows (Original Title) | Type of Arabic spoken in series |
|---|---|
| Fauda | Palestinian Arabic |
| Shankaboot | Lebanese Arabic |
| Faten Amal Harby | Egyptian Arabic |
| Omar | Palestinian Arabic |
| Tahir's House | Hijazi/Gulf Arabic (Western Saudi dialect) |
| The Jewish Quarter | Egyptian Arabic |
| Crashing Eid | Hijazi/Gulf Arabic (Western Saudi dialect) |
| Al Hayba | Lebanese Arabic (with some Syrian influences) |
| The Exchange | Kuwaiti Arabic |
| Jinn | Jordanian Arabic |
Fauda
Fauda (which means chaos in Arabic) is a political thriller which offers realistic storytelling and gripping emotional depth in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, told from both perspectives — Israeli special forces and Palestinian militants.
Each episode is fast-paced and packed with tension and cliffhangers, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats.
🎬 Director: Lior Raz
🎭 Cast: Lior Raz, Hisham Suliman, Shadi Marei, Laëtitia Eïdo
📺 Total seasons: 4
🌍 English Subtitles: Available
Synopsis: At the height of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Doron Kavillio, a commander of the Mista’arvim unit, attempts to arrest Abu Ahmad (also known as the Panther), a high-ranking Hamas member responsible for numerous attacks. Previously believed to have been killed by Doron years earlier, the Panther resurfaces. Recently retired, Doron must return to duty and join a new mission to infiltrate the group.
Awards: Fauda was nominated for Best Script in the Series category at the 2016 Festival International de Programmes Audiovisuels (FIPA) in Biarritz. As this show is bilingual (Hebrew and Arabic), it won 11 awards at the Israeli Academy for Film and Television Awards, including Best Drama, Best Direction, Best Screenplay, and Best Actor for co-creator Lior Raz in 2018.
In the mood for Arabic cinema? Don't forget to check out this list of Arabic movie recommendations!
Shankaboot
Shankaboot is a type of interactive web fiction filmed in the streets of Beirut and produced in Arabic dialect (Lebanese). The project aimed to create a drama that is as realistic as possible in its depiction of the life of young Lebanese people living in the capital.
The idea of the series is to present modern-day Lebanon through the lens of fact vs fiction, to show that the younger generation in Lebanon is also shaped by the amalgamation of traditionalism and modernity while maintaining a fictitious element. The majority of actors were initially approached and selected on the streets, which renders the acting yet more authentic and gives a truly realistic insight into life in Arabia.
🎬 Director: Amin Dora
Cast: Hassan Akil, Samira Kawas, Nasry El Sayegh, Latifa Saade, Juliana Yazbeck
📺 Total seasons: 5
🌍 English subtitles: Available
Synopsis: In the heart of Beirut, as part of his job as a delivery boy, 15-year-old Souleyman is doing the rounds on his scooter named Shankaboot. During his deliveries, the young boy inadvertently becomes a spectator to several astonishing events, including bearing witness to one character, Roueida, running away from her violent husband and revelling in dreams of becoming a famous singer. His adventures turn out to be at once unexpected and humorous!
Awards: This web series was produced by the BBC in conjunction with Batoota Film. It won first prize at the Emmys (International Emmy Awards) in April 2011 in the category Digital Program – Fiction.
Faten Amal Harby
Faten Amal Harby is a thought-provoking Arabic drama that centres around marriage, women's rights, and gender inequality. The audience will find themselves rooting for the main character, Faten, portrayed by the talented Nelly Karim, as she fights for her rights after her divorce.
🎬 Director: Mohamed Gamal El Adl
🎭 Cast: Nelly Karim, Sherif Salama
📺 Total seasons: 1
🌍 English Subtitles: Available
Synopsis: This drama follows the brave journey of an Egyptian woman, Faten, who seeks a divorce from her abusive husband. The road to freedom is arduous, as she is forced to confront her former husband's tricks and manipulation to give up her custody rights and thoughts of remarriage due to Egypt's Personal Status Law.
Potential transformation agent: This series has prompted many discussions and evaluations on the legal institution in Egypt, especially the challenges faced by modern-day women who are going through divorce and custody battles.
Omar
The series sparked well-known and widespread controversy due to the representation of Omar, Abu Bakr, Othman and Ali ibn Abi Talib, the four classical Muslim caliphs.
According to Muslim practice, one is not supposed to represent the figures, as many forms of Islam would deem such an action blasphemous. However, the series still became a resounding success in the Arab world. Fans of Islamic history should not miss this.
🎬 Director: Hatem Ali, Chadi Abo
🎭 Cast: Samer Ismail, Ghassan Massoud, Ghanem Zrelli
📺 Total seasons: 1
🌍 English Subtitles: Available
Synopsis: Throughout its 31 episodes, the season recounts the life of Omar ibn al-Khattab al-Faruq, the second Muslim caliph, and his relationships with other key caliphs, such as Abu Bakr and Ali ibn Abi Talib. Filmed in just 300 days, the entire story unfolds within a single season.
From 10 different countries
Tahir's House
Set in Jeddah, the second largest city of Saudi Arabia, with a strong history and culture, the series focuses on a multigenerational family who navigates between tradition and modernity in their everyday life and respective careers.
If you're looking for a Saudi comedy series to unwind with over the weekend, you should check out Tahir's House.
🎬 Director: Sultan Al Abdulmohsen
🎭 Cast: Joud Alsufyani, Naema Alhumaidi, Khalid Abdoon
📺 Total seasons: 1
🌍 English Subtitles: Available
Synopsis: The series explores the dynamics of the Tahir family through the perspectives of various characters as they attempt to save their failing family fish shop.
There's the clueless but well-meaning son, Yousef; his animated grandmother, Lutfiya; his Korea-obsessed younger sister, Azizah; and others who, despite their differences, come together to help the family. They argue, they reconcile — but most importantly, they connect and support one another out of familial love.
The Jewish Quarter
The series centres on the main character, Laila. Rather unusually for Egyptian dramas, Egyptian Jews are depicted first and foremost as Egyptians rather than as Zionists. This is arguably one of the first Egyptian TV series where Jews are respectfully represented.
If you are longing to see beautiful glimpses of Egypt, Cairo, and the Nile, then be sure to have the show open and waiting in your browser, ready to be streamed!
🎬 Directed By: Mohamed Gamal El-Adl
🎭 Cast: Iyad Nassar, Mona Shebli
📺 Total seasons: 1
🌍 English Translation: Available
Synopsis: This Arabic soap drama portrays one of the most popular love story tropes — forbidden love between a daughter of a Jewish merchant (Laila), and a Muslim army officer (Ali), set during Cairo’s Jewish Quarter in 1948. Drawing parallels to the actual disintegration of the once multicultural Egyptian community of that time, Laila and Ali's relationship also meets its tragic end.
Awards: In 2016, this series won the Best TV Series award at the 14th Gulf Radio and Television Festival in Bahrain.
Crashing Eid
Complex family relationships and generational differences in views on love and marriage seem to be central themes in many Saudi Arabian series these days. Crashing Eid offers a refreshing take on modern Middle Eastern social narratives, particularly through the lens of three generations of women: Mona, the traditional mother; Razan, the daughter caught between tradition and modern values; and Lamar, the ultra-contemporary granddaughter.
🎬 Directed By: Nora Aboushousha
🎭 Cast: Summer Shesha, Hamza Haq, Bateel Qamlo
📺 Total seasons: 1 (4 episodes)
🌍 English Translation: Available
Synopsis: Crashing Eid centres on the journey of Razan, a divorced Saudi woman who struggles to be honest with her family in Saudi Arabia about her desire to marry her British-Pakistani boyfriend, Sameer. Since her divorce, Razan has been raising her daughter, Lamar, in London, and her relationship with her mother has grown strained over the years. The plot thickens when Sameer makes a surprise visit to Saudi Arabia during Ramadan to ask for her family's blessing, triggering a cascade of unresolved conflicts, misunderstandings, and long-hidden truths.
Al Hayba
Al Hayba is an Arabic show which is extremely provocative when it comes to portraying the complexity of human nature and geopolitical boundaries. The story navigates the black, white, and grey areas of family dynamics and power struggles — a matter of survival or revival.
🎬 Directed By: Samer Al Barkawi
🎭 Cast: Taim Hasan, Nadine Nassib Njeim, Abdo Chahine
📺 Total seasons: 5
🌍 English Translation: Available
Synopsis: Jabal Sheikh Al-Jabal is a well-known leader within his clan, overseeing a series of arms-smuggling operations across the Lebanon–Syria border. While his position seems comfortable and secure, everything begins to change with the sudden arrival of Alia, the widow of his estranged brother, along with her young son. She returns after more than 15 years in Canada to inform Jabal of his brother’s death, setting off a chain of unexpected events.
The Exchange
The Exchange is a must-watch for anyone who enjoys empowering stories of women succeeding in male-dominated industries. It has also received rave reviews for being a visual feast, with set designs and fashion choices that vividly reflect the 1980s setting in Kuwait.
🎬 Directed by: Jasem Al-Muhanna, Karim Elshenawy
🎭 Casts: Rawan Mahdi, Mona Hussain, Mohammed Almansour
📺 Total seasons: 2
🌍 English Translation: Available
Synopsis: Set in the 1980s, it follows two compelling female leads, Farida and Munira, who use their wit, determination, and resilience to make a name for themselves in the Kuwait Stock Exchange. The dialogues exchanged between the characters will make you think about personal ambition, workplace tension amidst the cultural humour of the Kuwait society of that time, which is still relatable today.
Wouldn't it be great to take Arabic lessons so you could understand these shows without subtitles?
Jinn
Jinn is Netflix's first Arabic-language original series, marking a significant step in Middle Eastern representation on global streaming platforms.
🎬 Directed By: Mir-Jean Bou Chaaya, Amin Matalqa
🎭 Casts: Salma Malhas, Sultan Alkhail, Hamzeh Okab
📺 Total seasons: 1
🌍 English Translation: Available
Synopsis: A group of adolescents in the ancient city of Petra in the Kingdom of Jordan are to discover a supernatural creature from the Semitic myth, Jinn. This is a slightly mysterious mythical creature that takes human form. The balance of the human world is to be turned on its head by the discovery.
The level of authenticity that Netflix is attempting to achieve with this drama is definitely what attracted me most to the project.
Mir-Jean Bou Chaaya
Where to Watch Your Favourite Arabic Shows
Whether you are in the mood for a documentary, a film, a bit of live sports, politics, lifestyle, Arabic news, talk shows or simply want to tune into some Arabic music channels, you don't need to set up boxes or sign up for satellite TV or cable TV like back in the good old 90's. Watching TV via a traditional television set is no longer in fashion. Today, almost all non-Arabic and Arabic channels are accessible via the Internet, thanks to national and international online TV service sites, such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer and CBS. This is simply ideal for worldwide fans of Islamic soap operas who need to get their drama fix by accessing Arabic TV channels in high definition at any time of day.
The majority of TV series are also available online through (fee-paying and free) TV streaming and video streaming platforms, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and YouTube.
Rather than live TV, subscription holders of these sites offer viewers the chance to legally stream or download videos and watch on demand.
According to data released by Statista, approximately 19 million Canadians were accessing content on Netflix in 2022. This number is expected to grow to 19.9 million by 2025.
From the Kingdom of Jordan, UAE (United Arab Emirates), Lebanon, Palestine and Iraq to Morocco, Egypt and Libya, the opportunity to discover some of the best Arabic TV shows out there from home and immerse yourself in Arab culture is now at your fingertips.
All you need is a decent WiFi signal and the time to log in to your computer and find an online TV service site that broadcasts, streams or offers downloadable episodes from your favourite Arabic TV channel!
Immerse Yourself in Arabic Through Arabic Shows and Private Tutoring
Watching top Arabic TV shows gives you the chance to learn Arabic and reinforces areas you may have learnt in language classes (Arabic grammar, Arabic literature, conjugations, phonetics, Arabic words, Arabic vocabulary, Arabic writing, etc.).
To further improve your Arabic language skills, why not consider taking Arabic courses near Vancouver or Toronto or sign up for a language exchange in an Arabic-speaking country to converse with the locals in Arabic and become a fluent Arabic speaker? You could even try swotting up on some Arabic songs to further improve your language skills! Learning Arabic can be fun and engaging!
At Superprof, you can learn the Arabic alphabet and speak Arabic confidently through personalised guidance from an experienced and qualified native Arabic tutor. Feel free to browse through a wide selection of Arabic tutors near you and review their core information (qualifications, experience, online reviews of past students) before booking your first Arabic lesson, whether it's face-to-face lessons or online lessons!
Alongside these amazing Arabic show recommendations and private tutoring with Superprof, you are all set to become a bilingual English-Arabic speaker!
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