Ask any fan of Arabic drama about the best Syrian TV series and you will probably hear Al-Taghriba Al-Filistinia, Dayaa Dayaa and Al-Zeer Salem first, before the talk quickly turns to Taim Hasan’s latest work. In this guide we have gathered 15 Syrian series, from the classics up to Ramadan 2026, with each show’s IMDb rating and the official platform where you can watch it from the UAE.
We took the broadcast years, directors and cast from Arabic Wikipedia, checked the IMDb ratings in October 2026, and checked ourselves whether or not each show is on Shahid. Where we could not find a confirmed official platform for a show, we say so plainly instead of guessing. If you want a wider list that also covers Egypt, the Gulf and Lebanon, start with our guide to the best Arabic series to watch in 2026.
Why Syrian drama leads the Arab TV scene
The strength of Syrian drama comes down to three things: a solid script, a director who knows what he wants, and actors who can carry a scene on their own. The generation of Hatem Ali and Al Laith Hajjo, working with writers such as Walid Saif and Mamdouh Adwan, made shows from the late 1990s onwards that are still rerun today. In our comparison of the highest-rated Arabic series on IMDb, two Syrian shows came out on top.
Then the duo of director Samer Al Barqawi and actor Taim Hasan came along and steered Syrian drama towards action and co-productions with Lebanon, and their Ramadan shows have kept coming, from Al Hayba to Mawlana. That is why we have split the list by genre, so you can pick what suits your mood and not just what is trending.
The classics
1. Al-Taghriba Al-Filistinia (2004)
Written by Walid Saif and directed by Hatem Ali over 31 episodes, it follows a Palestinian family through decades of upheaval and displacement. It stars Jamal Suleiman, Juliette Awwad, Taim Hasan and Bassel Khayyat. It is a painful watch that takes time and patience, but it is one of the few shows that lets you see history from inside a single home.
Rating: 9.4 out of 10 (IMDb rating as of October 2026). Where to watch: Shahid.
2. Al-Fusoul Al-Arbaa, Four Seasons (1999 and 2002)
Directed by Hatem Ali and starring Jamal Suleiman, Khaled Taja and Bassam Kousa. It shows the daily life of a large Damascus family in a light, warm style, which makes it a good fit for family viewing. If you want a break from crime and war dramas, this is your pick.
Rating: 8.8 out of 10 (IMDb rating as of October 2026). Where to watch: Not currently available on a confirmed official platform.
Damascene period dramas in the vein of Bab Al Hara
3. Bab Al Hara (2006-2023)
The best-known and longest-running Damascene period drama: 13 seasons set in a Damascus neighbourhood under the French mandate, built around leadership, honour and neighbours standing together. It was directed by Bassam Al Mulla and others, and its best-known faces include Samer Al Masri, Abbas Al Nouri, Sabah Al Jazairi and Wael Sharaf. For years it was a Ramadan ritual in many homes, even for people who criticise it. To see where it stands among the most successful Arabic shows, read our ranking of the best Arabic series of all time.
Rating: 7.0 out of 10 (IMDb rating as of October 2026; IMDb lists only the first 9 seasons). Where to watch: seasons 3 to 9 are on Shahid.
Syrian comedy series
4. Dayaa Dayaa (2008 and 2010)
57 episodes over two parts, directed by Al Laith Hajjo and set in a remote village called Umm al-Tanafes al-Fouqa. Its two leads are Joudeh (Bassem Yakhour) and Asaad (Nidal Sijri), and the laughs come from small details: simplicity, stubbornness and the tricks the two neighbours play on each other. It suits the whole family, and many people rewatch it more than once.
Rating: 9.4 out of 10 (IMDb rating as of October 2026). Where to watch: Not currently available on a confirmed official platform.
5. Bokaat Daw (2001-2022)
A series of short comedy sketches that ran for 15 seasons, poking fun at social life and bureaucracy with direct satire. Over the seasons its cast included Ayman Reda, Bassem Yakhour, Abdul Moneim Amayri and others. The beauty of it is that you can watch any sketch without having followed what came before.
Rating: 8.2 out of 10 (IMDb rating as of October 2026). Where to watch: Not currently available on a confirmed official platform.
Syrian historical series
6. Al-Zeer Salem (2000)
The epic of the Basus war in 40 episodes, as written by Mamdouh Adwan and directed by Hatem Ali, with Salloum Haddad as Al-Zeer, alongside Khaled Taja and Abed Fahd. Classical Arabic and poetry are a big part of its appeal, which is why many people still go back to it today, especially fans of old Arab tales.
Rating: 9.2 out of 10 (IMDb rating as of October 2026). Where to watch: Shahid.
7. Saqr Quraish (2002)
30 episodes written by Walid Saif and directed by Hatem Ali about Abd Al Rahman Al Dakhil and the founding of the Umayyad state in Al Andalus, starring Jamal Suleiman and Sulaf Fawakherji. It was a big historical production for its time, and it suits anyone who loved Al-Taghriba Al-Filistinia and wants another show from the same team.
Rating: 8.6 out of 10 (IMDb rating as of October 2026). Where to watch: Not currently available on a confirmed official platform.
Social dramas about war and displacement
8. Ghadan Naltaqi (2015)
30 episodes directed by Rami Hanna, starring Maxim Khalil and Kariss Bashar. It follows a group of Syrian refugees in Lebanon and the arguments, love and struggle to get by that life away from home forces on them. It is one of the few shows to look at displacement from the inside without grand speeches.
Rating: 8.5 out of 10 (IMDb rating as of October 2026). Where to watch: Shahid.
9. Al Nadam (2016)
Directed by Al Laith Hajjo and starring Salloum Haddad, Bassem Yakhour and Mahmoud Nasr. Orwa, a writer, tells the story of the Al Ghoul family in Damascus, from the night Baghdad fell in 2003 to the war years, moving between two timelines, and its title, which means regret, sums up its whole mood. The pace is slow, but it leaves a mark that stays after the final episode.
Rating: 9.1 out of 10 (IMDb rating as of October 2026). Where to watch: Shahid.
Syrian-Lebanese and action series
10. Al Hayba (2017-2021)
A Syrian-Lebanese co-production in 5 seasons directed by Samer Al Barqawi. It follows the Sheikh Al Jabal family, who control a village on the border between Lebanon and Syria, with Taim Hasan as Jabal alongside Nadine Nassib Njeim and Mona Wassef. It was not the duo’s first collaboration, as Cello (2015) and Nos Yawm (2016) came before it.
Rating: 7.3 out of 10 (IMDb rating as of October 2026). Where to watch: season 1 is on Shahid, and we have not yet confirmed the other seasons.
11. Al Zind: Thi’b Al Assi (Ramadan 2023)
A historical action drama directed by Samer Al Barqawi and set between 1895 and 1900 in the Al Ghab plain on the Orontes (Al Assi) river, in the late Ottoman era. Taim Hasan plays Assi Al Zind, who stands up to the injustice of the feudal lords, with Dana Mardini. It has plenty of action, but the human story stays in front.
Rating: 8.5 out of 10 (IMDb rating as of October 2026). Where to watch: Shahid.
12. Taj (Ramadan 2024)
Al Barqawi and Taim Hasan return to Damascus under the French mandate, this time with Bassam Kousa. The pace is closer to action and suspense than to the traditional Damascene drama, so if you found Bab Al Hara slow, Taj may suit you better.
Rating: 7.5 out of 10 (IMDb rating as of October 2026). Where to watch: Shahid.
The latest Syrian series, 2025-2026
13. Taht Sabe’ Ard (Ramadan 2025)
A modern thriller directed by Samer Al Barqawi, bringing together Taim Hasan, Kariss Bashar and Mona Wassef. It is a good pick if you want a recent show from the same duo, away from period settings.
Rating: 7.5 out of 10 (IMDb rating as of October 2026). Where to watch: Shahid.
14. Al Batal (Ramadan 2025)
A social drama directed by Al Laith Hajjo that brings together Bassam Kousa and Mahmoud Nasr. Hajjo returns to the genre he became known for with Al Nadam, and it is the highest-rated 2025 or 2026 show on this list.
Rating: 8.1 out of 10 (IMDb rating as of October 2026). Where to watch: Shahid.
15. Mawlana (Ramadan 2026)
30 episodes directed by Samer Al Barqawi, with Taim Hasan as Jaber, a man on the run from his past who takes on the identity of the grandson of a near-saintly man. Fares Al Helou and Nour Ali co-star. If you want the rest of the season, our guide to Ramadan 2026 Arabic series collects what you can still watch now.
Rating: 6.6 out of 10 (IMDb rating as of October 2026). Where to watch: Shahid.
Best Syrian TV series table: ratings and where to watch
Here is our list of the best Syrian TV series in one place, with IMDb ratings as of October 2026 and the confirmed official platform in the UAE:
| Series | Year | Genre | IMDb (as of October 2026) | Where to watch in the UAE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al-Taghriba Al-Filistinia | 2004 | Historical drama | 9.4 | Shahid |
| Al-Fusoul Al-Arbaa (Four Seasons) | 1999 and 2002 | Family drama | 8.8 | Not currently available on a confirmed official platform |
| Bab Al Hara | 2006-2023 | Damascene period drama | 7.0 (IMDb lists only the first 9 seasons) | Shahid (seasons 3 to 9) |
| Dayaa Dayaa | 2008 and 2010 | Comedy | 9.4 | Not currently available on a confirmed official platform |
| Bokaat Daw | 2001-2022 | Short sketch comedy | 8.2 | Not currently available on a confirmed official platform |
| Al-Zeer Salem | 2000 | Historical | 9.2 | Shahid |
| Saqr Quraish | 2002 | Historical | 8.6 | Not currently available on a confirmed official platform |
| Ghadan Naltaqi | 2015 | Social drama | 8.5 | Shahid |
| Al Nadam | 2016 | Social drama | 9.1 | Shahid |
| Al Hayba | 2017-2021 | Action (Syrian-Lebanese) | 7.3 | Shahid (season 1) |
| Al Zind: Thi’b Al Assi | 2023 | Historical action | 8.5 | Shahid |
| Taj | 2024 | Action thriller | 7.5 | Shahid |
| Taht Sabe’ Ard | 2025 | Thriller | 7.5 | Shahid |
| Al Batal | 2025 | Social drama | 8.1 | Shahid |
| Mawlana | 2026 | Drama | 6.6 | Shahid |
Where to watch Syrian series in the UAE
Shahid is the official platform where we found 11 of the 15 shows on this list, from Al-Taghriba Al-Filistinia to Mawlana. To see what else is worth watching there, read our guide to the best Shahid VIP series. Before you subscribe, compare streaming prices in the UAE, or check our comparison of the best streaming services in the UAE.
As for Dayaa Dayaa, Bokaat Daw, Al-Fusoul Al-Arbaa and Saqr Quraish, they are not currently available on a confirmed official platform. You will find many clips of them on YouTube, but mostly on unofficial channels, so we have not linked to them.
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 Syrian series of all time?
Based on IMDb ratings as of October 2026, Al-Taghriba Al-Filistinia and Dayaa Dayaa top this list with 9.4 each, followed by Al-Zeer Salem at 9.2 and Al Nadam at 9.1. Choosing between them depends on what you enjoy: historical drama, comedy or social drama.
Where can I watch Syrian series in the UAE?
Shahid is the biggest official platform for Syrian series, and we found 11 shows from this list on it. We have not yet found Dayaa Dayaa, Bokaat Daw, Al-Fusoul Al-Arbaa or Saqr Quraish on a confirmed official platform.
Is Al Hayba a Syrian series?
Al Hayba is a Syrian-Lebanese co-production, directed by Syrian director Samer Al Barqawi and led by Syrian actor Taim Hasan, and it is set in a village on the border between Lebanon and Syria.
What are the newest Syrian series?
The newest show on the list is Mawlana from Ramadan 2026, and before it came Taht Sabe’ Ard and Al Batal from Ramadan 2025. All three are on Shahid.
What is the best Syrian comedy series?
Dayaa Dayaa is the highest-rated comedy on the list at 9.4 on IMDb, followed by Bokaat Daw at 8.2, which suits viewers who prefer short sketches.
For more series and film guides, browse the Movies section on DubaiPress.