JioHotstar is expanding beyond India through a partnership with STARZPLAY, bringing Indian films, television shows, originals and reality programmes to audiences across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The service is available through STARZPLAY’s PLUS plan at AED 34.99 per month, while a higher-priced MAX plan combines JioHotstar entertainment with STARZPLAY’s sports offering.
JioStar announced the partnership on 6 October 2026, with the service becoming available in the region on 7 October, according to regional reporting. Rather than launching a standalone JioHotstar app in MENA, the company is using STARZPLAY’s existing streaming platform and regional reach to distribute its content.
The move follows JioHotstar’s international launches in the UK, Canada and Singapore. It also gives the Indian streaming platform access to a region with a substantial South Asian audience, including viewers interested in Hindi and regional-language entertainment.
JioHotstar subscription prices in MENA
JioHotstar content is available as a dedicated destination within the STARZPLAY app and website. The two subscription options offer different combinations of entertainment and sports.
| STARZPLAY plan | Monthly price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| PLUS | AED 34.99 | JioHotstar entertainment library |
| MAX | AED 49.99 | JioHotstar entertainment and STARZPLAY’s sports portfolio |
The PLUS plan is the lower-priced option for viewers primarily interested in Indian entertainment. The MAX plan costs AED 15 more per month and combines the JioHotstar catalogue with STARZPLAY’s sports offering, including cricket and other sporting events.
The plans are priced in UAE dirhams. Availability, payment options and applicable terms may vary by market, so customers should check the subscription details displayed in STARZPLAY for their country before signing up.
Indian films, originals and TV shows across languages
The MENA catalogue includes JioHotstar Originals, television content from JioStar channels, films and reality franchises. JioStar said new JioHotstar Originals would be made available in the region alongside their Indian releases, with audio tracks available in up to 10 languages for the offering.
The library covers Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Bangla and other Indian languages. The company is placing particular emphasis on Malayalam programming, reflecting the sizeable Malayali audience across parts of the Gulf region.
Reported titles include Malayalam series such as Kerala Crime Files, 1000 Babies and Roslin, alongside films including Thudarum and Drishyam. The exact catalogue can change over time, and viewers should check STARZPLAY for availability of individual titles in their country.
The partnership also includes major reality franchises such as Bigg Boss, which is running across six languages, and Koffee with Karan. This gives the service a mix of daily television, films, original productions and reality programming rather than relying only on a library of older movies.
Why JioHotstar is using STARZPLAY to enter MENA
STARZPLAY already operates across the Middle East and North Africa and has an established audience for entertainment and live sports. Partnering with an existing platform gives JioHotstar a route into the region without needing to build a separate consumer service and distribution network from scratch.
The arrangement also connects JioHotstar’s entertainment catalogue with STARZPLAY’s regional sports offering. For South Asian viewers who follow cricket as well as Indian television and films, the MAX plan combines both categories under one subscription, although the content included depends on the plan and regional rights.
JioStar’s international business head Amit Malhotra said the MENA launch was an important step in building JioHotstar into a global streaming platform. STARZPLAY chief executive Maaz Sheikh described the partnership as a way to bring Indian storytelling into a broader entertainment offering for regional audiences.
The companies have not publicly disclosed the financial terms of the partnership. The announcement also does not establish how much revenue JioStar expects to generate from MENA or how many subscribers it expects to add through STARZPLAY.
What the expansion means for JioStar
The launch gives JioStar another international distribution channel for its entertainment properties. It can reach audiences who want Indian content without requiring them to replace their existing streaming app or subscribe to a separate standalone service.
The partnership’s performance will depend on the size and engagement of the audience, the appeal of the catalogue, local subscription pricing and the value viewers see in the PLUS and MAX plans. The regional launch also provides a way to test demand for Indian-language content in a market where viewers may prefer a combination of local, international and South Asian programming.
For viewers, the immediate change is straightforward: JioHotstar’s entertainment offering is now available through STARZPLAY in MENA, with the PLUS plan priced at AED 34.99 per month. Those who also want STARZPLAY’s sports portfolio can consider MAX at AED 49.99 per month, after checking the current plan details and content availability in their country.
