The Witness is streaming on Netflix in the UAE, with all three episodes released at once on 4 June 2026. It's a true crime drama about the 1992 Rachel Nickell murder case, told through the eyes of her partner André and their two-year-old son Alex — the only witness. Netflix plans start at AED 35 per month, and episodes can be downloaded for offline viewing.
- All 3 episodes of Season 1 landed on Netflix UAE on 4 June 2026
- Netflix costs AED 35–71 per month in the UAE, with no free trial
- Rated TV-MA — this is heavy, mature viewing and not one for the family
- Arabic and English subtitles are available, and episodes support offline downloads
The Witness is available on Netflix in the UAE. With their 2-year-old as the sole witness to her murder, Rachel Nickell's partner fights to protect him amid a flawed investigation.
Where to Watch The Witness in the UAE
The Witness is a Netflix Original, so the answer is refreshingly simple: it streams on Netflix in the UAE, with all three episodes available since 4 June 2026. For more of what’s landing on the platform this month, check our Netflix UAE June 2026 guide.
| Platform | Netflix (UAE) |
| Price | AED 35/month (Basic), AED 49/month (Standard), AED 71/month (Premium); no free trial |
| Bundles | Netflix is sometimes included in du and etisalat packages — worth checking with your provider before paying separately |
| Quality/offline | Episodes can be downloaded for offline viewing; streaming quality depends on your Netflix plan. Arabic and English subtitles available |
The Witness Official Trailer
What Is The Witness About?
The Witness follows André Hanscombe as he fights to protect his two-year-old son Alex, the sole witness to the brutal murder of his partner Rachel Nickell on Wimbledon Common in 1992. The case gripped Britain for decades, and this three-part drama tells it from the family’s perspective — exposing how a flawed police investigation traumatised a grieving father and son while the real killer remained free.
Jordan Bolger (Peaky Blinders) delivers a powerhouse performance as André, capturing a father’s desperation to shield his child from both media scrutiny and mounting police pressure. The series is unflinching in its critique of the Metropolitan Police’s handling of the case, which became infamous for fixating on an innocent man while the actual perpetrator, Robert Napper, wasn’t brought to justice until 2008.
Created and written by Rob Williams (The Victim), The Witness sits closer to Broadchurch and A Very English Scandal than to a standard detective procedural. There’s no whodunnit machinery here — the drama comes from institutional failure and the human cost of getting it so badly wrong. Director Alex Winckler brings a documentarian’s eye to the material, and it shows in every frame.
If you’ve found recent true crime dramas either too glossy or too exploitative, this one threads the needle. It’s rooted in the family’s own account, which keeps the focus on the people rather than the crime scene. Just be warned: at three hours, it’s a short watch, but not a light one.
How Many Episodes Does The Witness Have?
The Witness has 3 episodes in total, all released on Netflix at once on 4 June 2026. It’s a limited series with a complete, self-contained story — no cliffhangers, no waiting a year for resolution. Perfect for a single weekend sitting, if you can stomach the subject matter in one go.
| Season 1 | 3 episodes — 4 June 2026 |
The Witness Cast
Jordan Bolger leads as André Hanscombe, and this feels like his proper arrival as a leading man after scene-stealing turns in Peaky Blinders. Young Max Fincham takes on the delicate role of Alex Hanscombe, the toddler at the heart of the case.
The supporting cast reads like a who’s who of British television. Neil Maskell (Utopia) brings his trademark intensity to DI Keith Pedder, Kevin Eldon plays DCI Mick Wickerson, and Kerry Godliman (After Life) provides real emotional ballast as June. Jon Pointing, James Dryden and Mark Stanley round out the investigative side as DC Nick Sparshatt, DC Paul Miller and DS Ivan Agnew respectively.
Behind the camera, writer Rob Williams and director Alex Winckler keep the tone sober and precise — a deliberate contrast to the tabloid frenzy that surrounded the real case.
Good to Know
Is The Witness kid-friendly?
No. The Witness carries a TV-MA rating and deals with the murder of a young mother, police interrogation and the psychological trauma inflicted on a small child. This is emotionally heavy, adults-only viewing — we’d suggest 18+.
Is The Witness free to watch?
No, you’ll need a Netflix subscription, and Netflix doesn’t offer a free trial in the UAE. The cheapest way in is the Basic plan at AED 35 per month, which works out to roughly AED 12 per hour for the full series. If you’re a du or etisalat customer, check whether your plan bundles Netflix before paying separately.
Can I watch The Witness outside the UAE?
Yes. As a Netflix Original, The Witness is available globally wherever Netflix operates. Your UAE subscription travels with you, so you can keep watching on holiday or download episodes before you fly.
What to Watch After The Witness
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder (Netflix) — Emma Myers’ crime thriller is a lighter-touch mystery if you need to decompress after The Witness, and Season 2 is streaming now.
Legends (Netflix) — another true crime series, this one following undercover customs officers, for viewers who prefer their crime drama drawn from real cases.
Adolescence (Netflix) — the acclaimed British limited series about a family torn apart by a crime investigation, with a similarly unflinching look at how institutions handle children caught up in the system.
Updated 5 June 2026: Refreshed to the latest Where to Watch format, confirmed Netflix UAE availability from 4 June 2026, and updated the series status to a completed three-part limited series.
