Not every Arabic series runs to 30 episodes. The six Arabic mini-series below run six to eight episodes a season, so you can finish one over a weekend. All of them are on Netflix.
The list builds on Scoop Empire’s six Arab mini-series picks from June 2025, and we checked each title again on Netflix’s Middle East pages in October 2026. If you want short series from anywhere in the world, see our general guide to the best mini-series to watch. This one sticks to Arabic titles only. For longer dramas from the last Ramadan season, see our list of Ramadan 2026 Arabic series you can still stream.
Arabic mini-series at a glance
On a small screen, swipe the table sideways to see every column.
| Series | Country | Episodes | Genre | Where to stream |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AlRawabi School for Girls | Jordan | 2 seasons, 6 episodes each | Teen drama | Netflix |
| Finding Ola | Egypt | 2 seasons, 6 episodes each | Comedy drama | Netflix |
| Franklin | Lebanon | 6 | Thriller | Netflix |
| Echoes of the Past | Egypt | 8 | Thriller | Netflix |
| The Cage | Kuwait | 8 | Romantic comedy | Netflix |
| Love, Life & Everything in Between | Pan-Arab | 8 | Anthology | Netflix |
Thrillers for a tense weekend
Echoes of the Past
Asser Yassin plays Yehia, who is accused of murdering his sister and sets out to find the real killer and get even. Mahmoud Hemida, Shereen Reda and Rakeen Saad co-star. The Egyptian thriller came out in 2024, has eight episodes and is on Netflix. If it leaves you wanting more from Egypt, our guide to the best Egyptian series to watch is a good choice.
Franklin
Set in Beirut, Franklin follows a counterfeiter and single father who has to work with his ex to make the perfect $100 bill, all to save his terminally ill daughter. Mohamad Al Ahmad and Daniella Rahme lead the cast. The Lebanese series came out in 2025, runs six episodes and streams on Netflix. With six episodes in total, it is the shortest title here by episode count.
Drama and comedy
AlRawabi School for Girls
Bullied students at an elite girls’ school in Jordan plan a series of risky moves against the girls who torment them. Each of the two seasons has six episodes, so you can treat one season as a weekend and come back for the second later. Tara Abboud and Sarah Yousef are among the cast. It is on Netflix, and it also appears in our list of the best Arabic series on Netflix.
Finding Ola
Hend Sabry returns as Ola in this follow-up to Ayza Atgawez. After a life-changing event, Ola starts over while raising two children and trying to make ends meet. Two seasons of six episodes each are on Netflix. For more stories about love and starting again, see our guide to the best romantic Arabic drama series.
The Cage
A marriage counsellor tries to talk his clients out of divorce while his own love life gets complicated. Khaled Ameen leads this Kuwaiti comedy from 2022, which has eight episodes and is on Netflix.
Love, Life & Everything in Between
Eight short stories by Arab directors make up this 2022 anthology, each one about love and relationships, with a touch of dark comedy. Ahmed Ezz and Asser Yassin are among the cast. Because every episode stands alone, you can watch them in any order. It is on Netflix.
Where to watch Arabic mini-series in the UAE
All six are available on Netflix. We checked them on Netflix’s Middle East pages, but catalogues can change, so search for the title in your UAE account first. If you also have Shahid, our pick of the best Shahid VIP series has longer Arabic dramas for after the weekend.
Which one to start with
- One weekend, one story: Franklin, at six episodes.
- For a thriller: Echoes of the Past.
- For something lighter: The Cage or Finding Ola.
- For short sittings: Love, Life & Everything in Between.
- For a teen drama with a sharp edge: AlRawabi School for Girls.
When you are ready for something longer, our lists of the best Arabic series to watch, the highest-rated Arabic series on IMDb and the best Arabic series of all time cover full-length dramas.
For more film and TV recommendations, browse the Movies section.