JioHotstar is now available to viewers in the UAE and across the Middle East and North Africa through STARZPLAY, with monthly access starting at AED 34.99. The service lives within the STARZPLAY app and website as a dedicated destination for Indian films, originals, reality shows, and daily television, not as a separate regional app.
JioHotstar announced the expansion in partnership with STARZPLAY, adding MENA to its international markets after the UK, Canada, and Singapore. For UAE subscribers, the practical distinction is between a plan for the entertainment library and a higher-priced option that also includes STARZPLAY’s sports portfolio.
JioHotstar on STARZPLAY: UAE prices and plans
JioStar’s official announcement lists two monthly options. STARZPLAY PLUS costs AED 34.99 and includes access to JioHotstar’s multilingual entertainment library. MAX costs AED 49.99 and combines the complete JioHotstar entertainment offering with STARZPLAY’s sports portfolio.
That makes MAX AED 15 more per month than PLUS. Viewers who choose primarily for films, series, and television can get an entertainment option without paying for the sports bundle. Those who also want STARZPLAY’s sports coverage can choose the combined plan.
The distinction is important for cricket viewers: the announcement describes the sports component as STARZPLAY’s portfolio. It does not promise that every sporting event available on JioHotstar in India transfers to the MENA service. Neither release provides a competition-by-competition rights list for this package.
Indian originals, films, and television in one destination
The regional catalogue spans Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Bangla, and other languages. Malayalam programming features prominently, with originals including Prince of Mollywood, Kerala Crime Files, 1000 Babies, and Roslin. The uploaded launch announcement also names films including Drishyam, Moonwalk, and Thudarum.
The announced line-up also includes Asur, Special Ops, and Criminal Justice, alongside films such as Kesari Chapter 2 and Super 30. The selection mixes established catalogue titles with new originals, rather than focusing only on new film releases.
JioHotstar says new originals will premiere in MENA alongside their Indian release. Its announcement also promises access to JioStar television content at the same time as its Indian broadcast, naming shows such as Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai. For viewers following ongoing series, release timing is as important as the size of the back catalogue.
Reality programming includes Bigg Boss in Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, and Bangla, as well as Khatron Ke Khiladi and Laughter Chefs, unlimited entertainment. Anil Kapoor’s India Ka Top 1% also features in the announced line-up. This builds on STARZPLAY’s existing Indian reality offering: we previously covered Bigg Boss Season 20 on STARZPLAY in the UAE.
Access through the existing STARZPLAY app
The partnership puts JioHotstar’s regional entertainment destination inside an existing streaming service. Viewers access it through STARZPLAY’s app or website, with PLUS and MAX providing the subscription routes described in the announcement.
It follows another recent change for local streaming audiences: the new Disney+ app launch in the UAE. Here, the change is a new content destination within STARZPLAY, not a replacement app. The two-plan structure gives UAE viewers a clear starting point: choose the entertainment library alone or add STARZPLAY’s sports coverage.
