Guides

Best Video Streaming Services In The Middle East

Whether you need something to watch while having breakfast, or an escape during the weekend, these are the best video streaming services in the Middle East.

Published

1 year ago

January 23, 2023

David Morelo

best video streaming services in the middle east

Are you tired of scrolling through a never-ending list of video streaming options with lackluster regional content or nonexistent availability in your location? Look no further because we’ve done the legwork for you and rounded up the best video streaming services in the Middle East. With them, you’ll be able to say goodbye to malware-ridden illegal streaming sites and hello to endless hours of quality entertainment.

#1- Netflix

netflix

🍿 Number of subscribers in the MENA region: 7.5 million

With its more than 200 million global subscribers and worldwide availability, it’s no surprise that Netflix is the most popular video streaming service in MENA. When it launched in 2007, it single-handedly disrupted the stale movie rental industry by offering a much more convenient alternative powered by the internet.

Today, Netflix offers a wide variety of content to its MENA subscribers, including movies, TV shows, documentaries, and original programming that you won’t wind anywhere else, such as Wednesday, BoJack Horseman, The Queen’s Gambit, The Crown, The Umbrella Academy, Stranger Things, or The Witcher.

The least expensive Netflix plan costs AED 29 in the United Arab Emirates, and it lets you watch on up to one screen at a time. To consume content on more screens simultaneously, and enjoy better video quality, you can upgrade to two more expensive plans (AED 39 for two screens and AED 56 for four screens).

#2- Starzplay Arabia

starzplay arabia

🍿 Number of subscribers in the MENA region: 2.1 million

Owned by Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation, Starzplay Arabia is the second most popular video streaming service in the Middle East. The service has a strong focus on Arabic content and offers a wide selection of Arabic films and TV shows, such as Shams Al Shita and Ikhtifaa, but there’s also no shortage of Western movies and TV shows.

Sports fans can enjoy exclusive access to all 380 matches of the Italian league, Serie A, live with Arabic and English commentary, watch live cricket matches, and enjoy many more major international sports events. Starzplay Arabia costs AED 40 a month.

#3- Amazon Prime Video

amazon prime video

🍿 Number of subscribers in the MENA region: 2 million

Amazon’s video streaming service is gaining a lot of popularity in the MENA region, and it’s easy to see why. The service is offered as part of Amazon Prime, a paid subscription service that includes Amazon Prime Video, a subscription video-on-demand over-the-top streaming and rental service, as well as free shipping, exclusive shopping deals, and free video games, among other things.

It costs AED 140 a year or AED 16 a month to become a Prime member, and around 2 million people in the MENA region have already decided to sign up. Prime members can watch original shows like The Grand Tour, The Expanse, Homecoming, or The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and there’s plenty of third-party content as well.

#4- Disney+

disney plus

🍿 Number of subscribers in the MENA region: 1.1 million

Disney+ launched in Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, UAE, and Yemen only last year, and it already has more than 1 million subscribers. The service provides access to an extensive library of classic Disney films, beloved movies from Pixar and Marvel, the entire Star Wars saga, educational programming from National Geographic, and more.

In the United Arab Emirates, Disney+ costs AED 29.99 a month or AED 298.99 a year. All subscribers can watch on up to four devices at the same time and download an unlimited number of TV shows or movies on up to 10 devices. Robust parental controls are available to help parents ensure their kids can see only age-appropriate content.

#5- MBC Shahid

mbc shahid

🍿 Number of subscribers in the MENA region: 1 million

Shahid is a streaming service run by Saudi media conglomerate MBC Group. The service focuses on Arabic content, offering plenty of Arabic movies and TV shows to keep you entertained for a long time, including Confession, Stiletto, Fareed, Heera, and Brando El Sharq.

There are three paid subscription plans you can choose from: VIP (EUR 7.99), VIP | Sports (EUR 12.99), and Ultimate (EUR 15.49). All three plans include Shahid Originals, exclusive series and movie premieres, live TV channels, and Roshn Saudi League, but only the Ultimate plan adds live events, concerts, and more from Riyadh and Jeddah Season.

Conclusion

So there you have it — the best video streaming services in the Middle East. From Netflix’s American hit shows to Starz Play’s Arabic dramas to Disney+’s family-friendly content and much more, the world of subscription video-on-demand services in the Middle East and North Africa region has something for everyone. But don’t just take our word for it; give these streaming services a try to see which of them can satisfy your viewing needs and desires the best. Happy streaming!

Guides

Getting Started With Google Gemini: A Beginner’s Guide

Learn how to use Google’s powerful AI chatbot, Gemini. Explore its unique features, get tips for effective prompts, and see how it compares to ChatGPT.

Published

2 months ago

February 29, 2024

David Morelo

getting started with google gemini a beginner's guide

Google Gemini, a large language model (LLM) that outperforms OpenAI’s GPT-4 in many benchmarks, has been available in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region since February 2024. This guide is aimed at those who have yet to try it as well as those who are currently wondering whether they should cancel their ChatGPT subscription in its favor. We provide a comprehensive overview of its capabilities and a brief comparison with its biggest rival.

What Is Google Gemini?

Born from the evolution of Google’s AI initiatives, Gemini, formerly known as Bard, is a state-of-the-art chatbot developed by Google. This LLM initiative was Google’s answer to the fast-rising popularity of OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

Gemini brings to the table a suite of capabilities we’ve come to expect from large language models:

Multi-Modal Understanding: Gemini is natively multi-modal, meaning it can understand, operate across, and combine different types of information including text, code, audio, image, and video.
Sophisticated Reasoning: Gemini’s reasoning capabilities enable it to think more carefully before answering difficult questions, leading to significant improvements over just using its first impression. This is particularly useful in fields requiring complex problem-solving abilities.
Advanced Coding: Gemini can understand, explain, and generate high-quality code in over 20 programming languages. It excels in coding benchmarks, making it a powerful tool for developers.
Multi-Language Support: Gemini’s translation abilities and its support for numerous languages help break down communication barriers. This is especially valuable in a globalized world, making both work and personal interactions potentially smoother.
State-Of-The-Art Performance: Gemini Ultra (used in Gemini Advanced) has outperformed human experts on the MMLU benchmark, a massive multitask language understanding test, scoring 90.0%. It exceeds current state-of-the-art results on 30 of the 32 widely-used academic benchmarks.

While Gemini was introduced with the ability to generate images through Google Brain’s Imagen 2 text-to-image model, these image generation capabilities are currently disabled because the feature created a controversy after flooding the internet with historically inaccurate, racially-biased images.

Google Gemini Availability

Currently, Gemini supports more than 40 languages, including Arabic, Farsi, and Turkish, among others, and extends its reach to over 230 countries and territories, with Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, and Tunisia all being on the list.

Besides the standard version of Gemini, which uses Google’s Pro 1.0 model, there’s also Gemini Advanced, which is based on the Ultra 1.0 model. This more sophisticated version of the LLM is available in more than 150 countries and territories in English. Again, Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, and Tunisia are all supported. Unfortunately, Gemini Advanced is optimized only for English, so its responses in other languages can be a hit or miss.

How To Use Google Gemini?

Getting started with Google Gemini, whether on desktop or mobile, is a straightforward process:

On Desktop:

1- Visit The Gemini Website: You can find it at gemini.google.com.

2- Sign In: Click on the Sign in If you have an existing Google account and are older than 18 years, then you can simply use it to sign in. If you don’t have one already, this is the time to create it.

google gemini sign in

3- Accept The Terms Of Service: Read and accept Google Gemini’s Terms of Service by clicking more, followed by I agree on the subsequent page.

google gemini terms of service

4- Start Using Gemini: After clicking Continue, you will be directed to the Gemini page.

google gemini prompt

5- Message Gemini: Type your question or search term into the search box and press enter. Await Gemini’s response, which will be generated based on the input provided.

google gemini response

On Mobile:

Android: As an Android user, you can download the Google Gemini app from the Play Store, or you can use the mobile version of the gemini.google.com website.
iOS: Unfortunately, there’s currently no dedicated Google Gemini app for iOS, but there’s a Gemini tab will appear at the top of the Google app.

Top Tips For Google Gemini Beginners

One of the biggest advantages of conversational AI systems like Gemini is their intuitiveness. You can literally just start asking questions and issuing commands, and Gemini will do its best to understand and respond appropriately. However, to truly harness the power of Google Gemini, especially if you’re just starting out, it’s important to keep a few key tips in mind:

Double-Check Information: Click the Google icon below any response from Gemini. This feature allows you to quickly verify the accuracy of the information provided using Google Search.
Provide Feedback: Use the thumbs up or down icons to give feedback on Gemini’s responses. This simple action helps Gemini learn from your preferences, continually improving the accuracy and relevance of its future replies.
Listen To Responses: For those who prefer auditory learning or simply wish to hear the information, click the speaker icon at the top of a response. This feature converts text to speech, allowing you to listen to Gemini’s replies.
Leverage Multi-Modality: If you’re stuck explaining something in words, try supplementing your query with an image or reference a piece of code. Gemini’s understanding of different input types can lead to more nuanced assistance.
Break Down Complex Tasks If you have a complicated problem, try breaking it into smaller, sequential steps. Gemini can assist with each stage, making the whole process more manageable.
Experiment With Prompts: Don’t be afraid to rephrase questions or provide additional context to guide Gemini in different directions. You may be surprised by the insights you uncover through a slight change in wording.

ChatGPT vs Google Gemini: Which Is Better For MENA Users?

With both Google Gemini and ChatGPT being available in the MENA region, users have unprecedented access to some of the most advanced AI chatbot technologies. Deciding which platform best suits your needs depends on various factors, including pricing, features, and how well each integrates into your daily digital routine. Here’s a breakdown to help you make an informed decision:

Service:	Model:	Pricing:	Features:
Gemini Free	Gemini Pro 1.0	Free	Access to Gemini Pro within supported countries with a Google account.
Gemini Advanced	Gemini Ultra 1.0	$19.99/Month	Access to Ultra 1.0 LLM and all Google One subscription benefits, including 2 TB of cloud storage.
ChatGPT Free	GPT-3.5	Free	Access to GPT-3.5 with basic OpenAI account registration.
ChatGPT Plus	GPT-4	$20/Month	GPT-4 access with browsing and analysis features, and DALL-E capabilities for image generation.

Gemini presents a compelling option for users deeply embedded in Google’s ecosystem or those looking for a value-packed subscription. With the Google One AI Premium plan, you can enjoy access to Gemini Advanced and 2 TB of cloud storage space for use across Google’s suite of products, which includes Gmail, Google Docs, and more. Best of all, you can currently get two months of the Google One AI Premium plan for free, so there’s no reason to not give it a try.

On the other hand, ChatGPT shines with its extensive feature set, especially with DALL-E for image generation and the ability to create and train custom GPTs. Despite what artificial LLM performance benchmarks say, ChatGPT’s answers are typically more accurate and relevant than Gemini’s, but they do take longer to generate, and there’s a fairly strict usage limit (40 messages every 3 hours). Unfortunately, OpenAI doesn’t offer a free trial version of its ChatGPT Plus plan, but you can play with the free version of ChatGPT without any limitations.

Conclusion

Google Gemini is a fascinating addition to the world of conversational AI, and it’s already available to users across the MENA region. With its advanced capabilities — from multi-modal understanding to sophisticated reasoning and multi-language support — it presents a good alternative to ChatGPT for those in the Google ecosystem as well as those who have a need for another AI companion in their.