Stranger Things 5 arrives in three parts on Netflix. Volume 1 on 26 November (PT), Volume 2 on Christmas, and the finale on New Year’s Eve, all at 5 PM PT. That’s 5 AM the following day in the UAE.
Release schedule for the UAE
Here are the dates and local times so you don’t set an alarm for nothing.
- Volume 1: Thursday, 27 November 2025 at 5:00 AM GST (four episodes)
- Volume 2: Friday, 26 December 2025 at 5:00 AM GST (three episodes)
- The Finale: Thursday, 1 January 2026 at 5:00 AM GST
The series is releasing in three waves, not all at once.
Story setup: Hawkins, 1987
The new season is set in the autumn of 1987. Hawkins is torn open by Rifts. The group has one goal: find and kill Vecna. But he’s missing. The government locks the town down and steps up the hunt for Eleven, who goes back into hiding. As the date of Will’s original disappearance nears, the dread returns. The final fight is close, and it’s the most dangerous yet. The full party must stand together.
- Setting: Hawkins, autumn 1987
- Main threat: Vecna
- Stakes: larger and deadlier than before
- Government response: military quarantine of Hawkins
- Eleven: forced back into hiding
It’s a clean setup that pulls threads from seasons 1 to 4 and funnels them into one target. The quarantine raises the risk for every character. The date nod to Will anchors the show’s full-circle arc for the finale season.
Confirmed cast and creators
The Duffer Brothers return as creators and executive producers with 21 Laps. Shawn Levy and Dan Cohen are listed as executive producers.
More on Tbreak
- Returning cast: Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink
- Also back: Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Maya Hawke, Priah Ferguson, Brett Gelman
- Villain: Jamie Campbell Bower as Vecna
- Others named: Cara Buono, Amybeth McNulty, Nell Fisher, Jake Connelly, Alex Breaux, Linda Hamilton
The sheet confirms a wide lineup, including fan favourites and key season 4 players. Linda Hamilton’s inclusion signals bigger government involvement, which fits the quarantine angle.
Where to watch and rewatch
Stranger Things streams on Netflix.
- Follow along with a rewatch of seasons 1–4 on the show
- UAE drop time is 5 AM GST for each release window
- Expect 4 episodes in Volume 1, 3 in Volume 2, then a standalone finale
If you plan a full rewatch, there is a social and Tudum-led revisit to past seasons starting 29 September. It’s a neat way to refresh the lore and character beats before the last stand. If you’re comparing regional streaming bundles, read our breakdown of the MBC and Netflix partnership in MENA for context on pricing and availability.
Why this matters
Stranger Things is one of Netflix’s biggest series since 2016. Season 4 alone pulled massive view counts and pushed Kate Bush up the charts again. The final season is designed as a multi-drop event to cap the story and keep the community talking through the holidays.
- Big cultural reach since 2016
- Strong season 4 performance
- Finale structured around late-year tentpole dates
- Clear plot target: Vecna
This cadence gives fans time to watch, discuss and predict before the end. It also lines up with when people are at home and awake early, which is either smart planning or cruel if you like sleep. For related Netflix coverage in the UAE, see what’s new on Netflix and upcoming shows such as Mo Amer: Wild World.
What time does Stranger Things 5 release in the UAE?
5 AM GST the day after each listed US release: 27 Nov 2025, 26 Dec 2025, and 1 Jan 2026.
How many episodes are in each drop?
Volume 1 has four episodes, Volume 2 has three, and then there is a separate finale.
Where can I stream it?
On Netflix.
