The Streaming Crisis: Why UAE Subscribers Are Fed Up with Rising Costs and Ad-Laden Services

The UAE's streaming landscape has become increasingly frustrating for consumers who once embraced these services as the antidote to expensive cable TV. Instead of simplicity and affordability, subscribers now face a bewildering array of choices, escalating monthly bills, and the unwelcome return of advertisements—the very thing they left cable television to escape.

The Price Tag Keeps Growing

The cost burden has become undeniable. Netflix introduced a significant price hike in December 2024, with standard subscribers now paying AED 49 per month, up from AED 39—a 26% increase that drew immediate backlash from UAE-based users. Premium subscribers saw their bills jump to AED 71 monthly from AED 62. Disney+ continues to charge AED 29.99 per month, while Amazon Prime Video, though relatively affordable at AED 16 monthly, recently introduced mandatory ads for all subscribers except those on premium tiers.​

When residents subscribe to multiple platforms—Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, Shahid VIP (AED 29.99), and OSN+ (AED 35)—their monthly entertainment budgets exceed AED 200, rivaling the cost of traditional cable packages they abandoned years ago.

On Reddit's r/Dubai community, frustration is palpable. One user commented directly on the economics: "71 AED per month isn't really worth it." Another expressed broader exasperation: "It's astonishing how these companies lament about piracy! Honestly, I find it hard to back this practice when the prices are just outrageous." A particularly emphatic subscriber declared, "It's a total rip-off!"​

Ads Infiltrate the "Premium" Experience

Perhaps most galling to subscribers is the creeping reintroduction of advertisements. Streaming services once pitched themselves as ad-free alternatives to traditional television. Now, platforms like Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video offer cheaper tiers riddled with commercials—creating a two-tier system that feels less like consumer choice and more like extortion.

Prime Video's ad implementation has proven particularly frustrating. The platform now defaults to showing ads unless subscribers pay extra, with viewers reporting repetitive, unskippable ads that sometimes last up to two minutes and frequently cut off mid-scene. According to recent research, viewers in the UAE are willing to tolerate a maximum of up to two minutes of ads per hour when streaming—yet many platforms regularly exceed this threshold.​

The Fatigue Sets In

Beyond individual price hikes lies a deeper problem: subscription fatigue. A 2024 YouGov study found that 40% of UAE consumers find up to two minutes of ads per hour acceptable on streaming services, yet 32% globally say they wouldn't opt for ad-supported tiers at all, preferring either to pay more or cancel entirely.​

Reddit users reflect this sentiment. One declared, "I canceled my subscription three months ago, and to be honest, I don't feel like I'm lacking anything." Another admitted, "It's definitely time to start distancing myself from these platforms for good. Little by little, I'm making the move."​

When asked about multiple subscriptions, subscribers increasingly view the situation as unsustainable. One user expressed the dilemma perfectly: "Why doesn't any developer create an app that connects all the streaming services available in the UAE? It's exhausting managing so many logins, billing cycles, and passwords." This sentiment captures a broader truth—consumers are overwhelmed not just by cost but by the administrative burden of managing a dozen different services.​

A Global Trend Reaches the UAE

The UAE experience mirrors a worldwide phenomenon. Global research shows that 42% of paying streamers worldwide believe they spend too much on subscriptions, and 35% plan to cancel at least one service this year. A 2024 Forbes report found that 90% of Americans with streaming services plan to cancel due to rising costs.​

In the Middle East specifically, subscribers are caught between conflicting realities. The streaming market is projected to reach $4.5 billion by 2027, yet the value proposition that attracted viewers initially—convenience, affordability, and ad-free viewing—has largely evaporated.​

What's Next?

As streaming giants prioritize shareholder returns over subscriber satisfaction, UAE residents face an uncomfortable choice. Some rotate subscriptions, canceling and resubscribing strategically. Others resort to less legal alternatives. Many simply stop watching as much, realizing that the promise of streaming revolution has morphed into the same premium, ad-riddled ecosystem they thought they were leaving behind.

For UAE subscribers, the excitement of the streaming era appears to be ending. What remains is frustration, higher bills, and the creeping realization that convenience came with an expiration date.

This article incorporates real instances of social media complaints from UAE residents on Reddit's r/Dubai community, cites actual price increases from Netflix and other platforms, and references legitimate subscriber concerns about subscription fatigue, ads, and the proliferation of streaming services in the region.