Disney+ Launches Streaming Services in Middle East

Disney+ launched its streaming service in the 16 countries in the Middle East and North Africa on Wednesday.

Disney+ said it had gone live in 16 Arab countries and was tailoring content for the region, including offering Arabic subtitles on most offerings, particularly popular content.

"In my opinion, Disney+ is entering the Middle East and North Africa region at a great time. Compared to other streaming markets, ours is still in early stages and we have the unique opportunity to grow along with it," Tamim Fares, Disney+ director for the region, told Reuters in an emailed statement.

Marvel series such as Hawkeye and Moon Knight, starring Oscar Isaac and directed by Egyptian filmmaker Mohamed Diab, as well as Star Wars series "The Book of Boba Fett", are now available on the service.

In January, the Walt Disney Company’s streamer announced that it will launch in Egypt and the Middle East in the summer of 2022.

The Middle East countries that will have Disney+ services are Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

Other countries include Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malta, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Turkey, and Vatican City.

The service will also be available in Denmark’s Faroe Islands, France’s French Polynesia, French Southern Territories and St. Pierre and Miquelon Overseas Collective, Finland’s Åland Islands, the Netherlands’ Sint Maarten, Norway’s Svalbard & Jan Mayen and the U.K.’s British Indian Ocean Territory, Gibraltar, Pitcairn Islands and St Helena.