Best Gulf Series to Watch: Top Khaleeji Dramas from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE

Ask anyone in the Gulf about the best Gulf series and the answers come fast: Darb Al Zalaq, Tash Ma Tash, Freej. Ask a younger viewer and you will hear Rashash or Share’ Al A’sha. In this guide we have picked 17 Khaleeji series from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE, from the 1970s classics to the newest shows of 2026, with each one’s IMDb rating and the official platform where you can watch it in the UAE.

We took the years, writers, directors and cast from Arabic Wikipedia and the platforms’ own pages, checked the IMDb ratings in October 2026, and opened each show’s page on Shahid or Netflix ourselves. Where a rating rests on fewer than 200 votes, we say so, and where we could not find a confirmed official platform, we say that too. For a wider list across the Arab world, start with our guide to the best Arabic series to watch in 2026.

What makes Khaleeji drama different

Gulf drama grew up on two tracks. Kuwait led the way from the 1970s with comedies that made the dialect famous across the region, while Saudi TV found its voice in the 1990s with satire that spoke openly about daily life. In the last few years, Shahid and Netflix have pushed budgets up and seasons down, so a new Gulf series today can be 4 or 8 episodes instead of 30. Two titles on this list, Darb Al Zalaq and Khalti Qumasha, rate above 9 on IMDb, which puts them next to the shows in our ranking of the best Arabic series of all time.

We have split the list by country and era so you can go straight to what you like. If you have already worked through Levant drama, our guide to the best Syrian TV series uses the same approach.

The best Saudi series

1. Tash Ma Tash (1993-2011)

The show that taught a whole generation of Saudis to laugh at their own daily problems. Nasser Al Qasabi and Abdullah Al Sadhan lead every season, each episode tells a new story, and the sketches poke at red tape, family habits and social taboos. It started on Saudi Channel 1 in 1993, moved to MBC in 2006, and came back in Ramadan 2023 with a new part called Tash Al Awda.

Rating: 8.9 out of 10 (IMDb rating as of October 2026). Where to watch: Shahid.

2. Al Asouf (2018-2022)

If Tash Ma Tash is the laugh, Al Asouf is the memory. Written by Abdulrahman Al Wabli and directed by Al Muthanna Sobh, it follows the Al Tayyan family in Riyadh from the 1970s, with Nasser Al Qasabi in a very different role from his comedy work. It ran for three parts, in 2018, 2019 and 2022, and it is the pick for anyone who wants to see how Saudi society changed over the decades.

Rating: 6.4 out of 10 (IMDb rating as of October 2026). Where to watch: Shahid.

3. Rashash (2021)

A short crime drama based on the real story of Rashash Al Otaibi, with Yaqoub Al Farhan in the title role. MBC Studios made it as a big-budget Saudi production and released it on Shahid VIP in July 2021, one episode a week. Its 8 episodes go by fast, and it holds one of the highest IMDb ratings among recent Saudi series.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10 (IMDb rating as of October 2026). Where to watch: Shahid.

4. Masameer County (2021 and 2023)

An animated comedy for adults, created by Abdulaziz Almuzaini and Malik Nejer, that looks at a changing Saudi Arabia through the odd residents of a fictional county. The first season came to Netflix in July 2021 and the second in 2023. The humour is sharp and very local, so it is best enjoyed by viewers who know Saudi life well. It is not for children.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10 (IMDb rating as of October 2026). Where to watch: Netflix.

Kuwaiti classics everyone still quotes

5. Darb Al Zalaq (1977)

The best-known Kuwaiti comedy of all time, written by Abdulameer Al Turki and directed by Hamdi Farid in 13 episodes. Brothers Hussein and Saad bin Aqool, played by Abdulhussain Abdulredha and Saad Al Faraj, get rich overnight when the government buys their home, and then lose it chasing one bad idea after another. Khalid Al Nafisi, Ali Al Mufidi and Abdulaziz Al Nimsh complete one of the strongest casts in Gulf TV, and the lines are still quoted today.

Rating: 9.2 out of 10 (IMDb rating as of October 2026). Where to watch: Shahid.

6. Khalti Qumasha (1983)

Written by Tariq Othman and directed by Hamdi Farid, this 15-episode comedy aired on Kuwait TV in 1983. Hayat Al Fahad plays Qumasha, a mother who wants to control everything in the house, to the point of planting cameras in her married sons’ rooms, with Souad Abdullah and Ghanem Al Saleh beside her. It is light, quick and still works as family viewing.

Rating: 9.1 out of 10 (IMDb rating as of October 2026). Where to watch: Shahid.

Modern Kuwaiti drama

7. Saq Al Bamboo (2016)

Based on Saud Alsanousi’s novel The Bamboo Stalk and directed by Mohammad Al Qaffas over 30 episodes, it premiered at the start of Ramadan 2016. It follows Isa, the son of a Kuwaiti man and a Filipino housemaid, as he looks for his place in his father’s family. Souad Abdullah and Abdulmohsen Al Nemr lead the cast. It is a bold subject for Gulf TV, and readers of the novel will want to compare the two.

Rating: 5.5 out of 10 (IMDb rating as of October 2026; based on a small number of votes). Where to watch: Shahid.

8. Om Haroon (2020)

Hayat Al Fahad leads this 30-episode drama from Ramadan 2020, written by Ali Shams and Mohammed Shams and directed by Mohammed Gamal Al Adl. Set in Kuwait in the 1940s, it follows a Jewish woman known as Om Haroon and the ties between Muslim, Christian and Jewish neighbours in her town. It was filmed in the UAE, aired on MBC1 and drew a lot of debate when it came out.

Rating: 6.4 out of 10 (IMDb rating as of October 2026). Where to watch: Shahid.

9. The Exchange (2023 and 2025)

Two women, played by Rawan Mahdi and Mona Hussain, try to make their way on the Kuwaiti stock exchange in the 1980s, in a world run by men. The first season came to Netflix in February 2023 and a second followed in 2025. Its short seasons and polished look make it an easy start for anyone new to Kuwaiti drama.

Rating: 6.6 out of 10 (IMDb rating as of October 2026). Where to watch: Netflix.

10. The Cage (2022)

A marriage counsellor tries to talk his clients out of divorce, while his own life is far from perfect. Khaled Ameen, Hussain Almahdi and Rawan Mahdi lead this 8-episode Netflix series from 2022. It is light and short, and a good fit for a weekend.

Rating: 6.4 out of 10 (IMDb rating as of October 2026). Where to watch: Netflix.

Emirati series

11. Freej (2006-2024)

The show that put Emirati animation on the map. Created and directed by Mohammed Saeed Harib, it follows four elderly women, Um Saeed, Um Saloom, Um Allawi and Um Khammas, in an old Dubai neighbourhood as they deal with a city changing around them. It first aired in Ramadan 2006 on Dubai TV and Sama Dubai, and returned in Ramadan 2024 for a sixth season after a long break. Its love of local life sits well next to our guide to traditional Emirati food.

Rating: 8.1 out of 10 (IMDb rating as of October 2026; based on a small number of votes). Where to watch: Shahid.

12. Justice: Qalb Al Adala (2017)

An Emirati legal drama from Image Nation Abu Dhabi, directed by Ahmed Khaled. Fatima Al Taei plays a young lawyer who refuses to join her father’s firm and sets out on her own in Abu Dhabi’s courts, alongside Mansoor Al Feeli. It premiered on OSN in 2017 and later reached Netflix, but it is no longer listed there.

Rating: 5.7 out of 10 (IMDb rating as of October 2026; based on a small number of votes). Where to watch: Not currently available on a confirmed official platform.

The newest Gulf series in 2026

13. Share’ Al A’sha (2025 and 2026)

Based on Badriah Al Bishr’s novel and directed by Ahmet Katıksız, it takes you to a Riyadh street in the late 1970s through the lives and loves of its young women. Elham Ali, Khaled Saqer and Lama Abdulwahab lead the cast. The first season aired in Ramadan 2025 on MBC1, the second premiered on 18 February 2026, and it won Best Gulf Series at the Joy Awards 2026. If you like a love story at the heart of a drama, see our list of the best romantic Arabic drama series.

Rating: 5.4 out of 10 (IMDb rating as of October 2026). Where to watch: Shahid.

14. Yawmiyyat Rajol Motazawwej (Ramadan 2026)

A Saudi family comedy in 30 episodes, written by Nawaf Al Muhanna and directed by Abdulrahman Al Salman. Abdullah starts married life in his old bedroom in his parents’ house, and the trouble starts there. Ibrahim Al Hajjaj, Faisal Al Dokhi and Fatima Al Sharif lead the cast. For more from the season, our guide to Ramadan 2026 Arabic series collects what you can still watch.

Rating: 6.9 out of 10 (IMDb rating as of October 2026; based on a small number of votes). Where to watch: Shahid.

15. Kasra (Ramadan 2026)

A Kuwaiti family drama in 30 episodes, written by Mohammed Al Nashmi and directed by Issa Thiab. Three married brothers live under their parents’ roof while debts pile up, and every decision becomes a family affair. Dawood Hussein, Maram Al Balushi and Shooq Al Hadi lead the cast.

Rating: not rated on IMDb yet. Where to watch: Shahid.

16. AlKhallat+: The Series (2026)

From Telfaz11, the team behind the 2022 film of the same name, this Saudi anthology has 4 separate episodes and came to Netflix on 2 April 2026. Mohammed Aldokhei and Malik Nejer are among the cast. Each episode stands on its own, so you can watch them in any order.

Rating: 6.4 out of 10 (IMDb rating as of October 2026). Where to watch: Netflix.

17. Obsess (2026)

The newest title on the list, out on Netflix today, 30 October 2026. This Kuwaiti psychological horror series runs 4 episodes, directed by Said El Marouk and written by Eyad Saleh. Yaqoub Al Farhan, the star of Rashash, plays Talal, who comes home after his father’s death and has to face secrets from his past. Haya Abdel Salam and Layla Abdallah co-star.

Rating: not rated on IMDb yet. Where to watch: Netflix.

Best Gulf series table: ratings and where to watch

Here are the best Gulf series from this guide in one place, with IMDb ratings as of October 2026 and the confirmed official platform in the UAE:

Where to watch Gulf series in the UAE

Shahid is home to 11 of the 17 shows on this list, from Darb Al Zalaq and Tash Ma Tash to Share’ Al A’sha and Kasra. To see what else is worth watching there, read our guide to the best Shahid VIP series. Netflix has the other 5: Masameer County, The Exchange, The Cage, AlKhallat+ and Obsess. We cover more of its Arabic catalogue in the best Arabic series on Netflix.

Before you subscribe, compare streaming prices in the UAE, or check our comparison of the best streaming services in the UAE. As for Justice: Qalb Al Adala, it is not currently available on a confirmed official platform, so we have not linked to it.

If you are short on time, try short Arabic mini-series that you can finish in a weekend. And for fans of Egyptian drama, we have a separate guide to the best Egyptian series.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best Gulf series of all time?

Based on IMDb ratings as of October 2026, the Kuwaiti comedy Darb Al Zalaq tops this list at 9.2, followed by Khalti Qumasha at 9.1 and Tash Ma Tash at 8.9. Tash Ma Tash has by far the most votes of the three.

What are the best Saudi series?

From this list: Tash Ma Tash for comedy, Al Asouf for social drama, Rashash for crime and Masameer County for adult animation. For something new, try Share’ Al A’sha or Yawmiyyat Rajol Motazawwej from Ramadan 2026.

What are the best old Kuwaiti series?

Darb Al Zalaq from 1977 and Khalti Qumasha from 1983 are the two classics most viewers start with, and both are on Shahid.

Where can I watch Gulf series in the UAE?

Shahid has 11 of the 17 shows on this list and Netflix has 5. We could not find Justice: Qalb Al Adala on a confirmed official platform.

What are the newest Gulf series?

The newest is Obsess, a Kuwaiti horror series out on Netflix on 30 October 2026. Before it came AlKhallat+ in April 2026 on Netflix, and the Ramadan 2026 shows Share’ Al A’sha, Yawmiyyat Rajol Motazawwej and Kasra on Shahid.

For more series and film guides, browse the Movies section on DubaiPress.