How to watch WWE on Netflix in the Middle East

Three wrestling programmes are now streaming exclusively on the platform in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Egypt

John Cena during the debut Raw episode at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. Getty Images

WWE has made its long-awaited Netflix debut with its flagship programme, Raw.

After more than three decades on television, the long-running wrestling show, which first aired in 1993 and has surpassed 1,600 episodes, is now available on the streaming platform under a 10-year contract. The debut episode featured Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, John Cena and Hulk Hogan. Here is everything you need to know.

How can I watch the WWE’s Raw, Smackdown and NXT in the UAE and Saudi Arabia?

Raw is a three-hour show that will air live on Netflix at 5am UAE time every Tuesday, aligning with its American broadcast, and will be available on the platform for on-demand viewing afterwards. Smackdown will follow suit, being live-streamed on Saturdays at 5am UAE time, while NXT will be on Wednesdays at 5am UAE time.

What countries is this available in?

In the Middle East region, WWE is now available on Netflix in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Egypt.

Why isn’t WWE on Netflix available in my country?

Not every country has the rights. WWE has individual deals in place in certain countries. However, once they expire the wrestling company could eventually move all of its content to Netflix.

Originally, when the deal was announced in January 2024, WWE parent company TKO Group Holdings said Netflix would be “the exclusive new home of Raw in the US, Canada, UK and Latin America, among other territories, with additional countries and regions to be added over time”.

Are the WWE archives available to watch?

A vault of old Raw, Smackdown and NXT shows are available. WWE’s pay-per-view programmes will also be available to stream live, including the 2025 Royal Rumble on February 2 at 3am UAE time.

Other PPV’s available to watch include WrestleMania, Summerslam and Survivor Series as well as hell in a Cell, Money in the Bank and Elimination Chamber.

WWE’s Royal Rumble heading to Saudi Arabia in 2026

It’s also been announced that the Royal Rumble will be held in Riyadh in January 2026, marking the first time the event has been hosted outside North America.

The popular pay-per-view includes a men’s and women’s match, with wrestlers aiming to eliminate all opponents in the ring to be the last one standing.

This will be the 13th pay-per-view event in the kingdom, dating back to the Greatest Royal Rumble in 2018 in Jeddah. The same year, the WWE and General Authority for Entertainment signed a 10-year partnership to host events. The deal has since been extended to 2027.

“Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the Royal Rumble for the first time outside North America reflects the General Entertainment Authority’s ongoing commitment to bringing the world’s largest and most important entertainment events to the Kingdom,” says Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority.

“We are excited to see this historic event as part of Riyadh Season’s activities and look forward to providing an exceptional experience for wrestling fans from around the world, whom we welcome to all events hosted in Saudi Arabia.”