The digital revolution taking place in the Middle East is not limited to economics or technology, but streaming giants like Netflix.
One of the most powerful changes is happening on screen, in the homes of millions of viewers who are discovering a new generation of Arabic series.
Thanks to Netflix, Shahid and other streaming services, the cultural landscape of the region is rapidly changing. These series do more than just tell stories; they break stereotypes, taboos, and redefine the concept of “Arab identity”, especially when it comes to women and the LGBTQ+ community.
Mainstream Media vs. New Candor
For a long time, Arabic television was under strict control: topics of sexuality, gender, domestic violence, freedom of expression, and homosexuality were either hushed up or presented in a stereotypical, moralising manner.
State-run channels, subject to censorship and the influence of religious and cultural norms, left little room for open dialogue. However, the situation began to change rapidly with the advent of streaming.
Female Voices and the Realism of a New Generation
Netflix and Shahid series are increasingly becoming the voice of a new generation of Arab creators, especially women.
A striking example is the Jordanian project AlRawabi School for Girls, which tells the story of teenagers facing bullying, domestic violence, and injustice.
The creator of the series, Tima Shomali, openly speaks about the need to show the real problems of Arab girls and not illusory ideals. The series went viral not only in the Middle East, but beyond borders, causing a wave of discussions on social networks.
LGBTQ+ Agenda in Arab series
No less bold were the Lebanese series Drama Queen and the Saudi Arabian Whispers, raising the topics of sexual identity, depression, and the pressure of ‘tradition’ in society.
For the first time, viewers judge characters who ask themselves questions like: “Who am I?”, “Can I live differently?”, and “Do I have the right to be heard?.” Such questions, once considered dangerous, are starting to become central to everyday discussions.
Visibility for Marginalised Groups
For the LGBTQ+ community in the Arab world, such series provide a rare opportunity to see themselves on screen – not as a caricature or a tragedy, but as a living person.
Although laws in most countries in the region remain legally repressive, the cultural space is becoming a little wider. Streaming allows you to bypass state bans, opening up audiences to outside audiences.
Streaming platforms are becoming not just an entertainment product, but a tool for cultural transformation.
Arab identity is no longer presented as uniform and unchanging. It is becoming polyphonic, contradictory, and bold as a new generation of creators and viewers readapt what it means to be ‘Arab’.
Stay tuned to Daily Euro Times for the latest insights!
Explore more articles:
You Can’t Have Your Cake and Eat it, Meghan
The Great Wall of Belt and Road, the EU Looks East
