Crystal Magazine Sep 29, 2026
DISNEY+ CELEBRATES A NEW ENTERTAINMENT EXPERIENCE FOR THE REGION IN RIYADH
Disney+ celebrated the start of a new chapter in Riyadh with a milestone event, bringing together leading Saudi and international talent, creators, media and industry partners to unveil what’s next for Disney+ across the region.
Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story 5” Marks a New Chapter for Storytelling in Saudi Arabia
Among the evening’s biggest announcements was a landmark first for Saudi audiences, as Disney+ revealed that global smash-hit movie, Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story 5” will stream exclusively on Disney+ in the Saudi dialect on 6 October, marking the first-ever film from The Walt Disney Company to be dubbed in Saudi Arabic. The Saudi adaptation brings together leading Saudi actors, comedians and content creators to lend their voices to some of the franchise’s most beloved characters.
The Saudi Arabic voice cast is set to include Ibraheem Khairallah (Buzz Lightyear), Sohaib Qudus (Woody), Reem Alhabib (Jessie) Malik Nejer (Smarty Pants), Aseel Seraj (Lilypad), Yaser Al Saqaf (Atlas) Aseel Morya (Snappy), Mohammad Al Qass (Mr. Prickle Pants), Abdullah Rafeaa (Forky), Shahad Al Ahmari (Bo Peep), Rahaf Al Zaidi (Trixie), and Fares Al Yahya (Duckie).
The cast will also feature familiar faces from across the Kingdom’s creator community, including Mohammed Salem, Khawlah Al Saif, Yasmeen Al Shafei, Abdulaziz Khuja, Hadi Al Khodari, Dr. Adel Radwan, Abdulaziz Al Dulaijan and Mohammed Shamsi.
Developed with close attention to language, humor and cultural context, the Saudi version has been created to encapsulate the spirit of the original film while making its dialogue feel authentic and familiar to Saudi audiences.
More global stories coming to Disney+
The evening brought some of Disney+’s most exciting global stories to the forefront, with a look at what’s coming next from Türkiye, Korea, and beyond.
Turkish entertainment had a strong presence, reflecting its continued popularity with audiences across the region. Stars of the popular drama “Halef”, İlhan Şen and Biran Damla Yılmaz, joined the evening to reveal that the series will return for a second season, following the success of its first.
Korean stars also joined the evening virtually, with Lee Se-young sharing a special message ahead of the arrival of “The Remarried Empress” on Disney+ 4 November. Hyun Bin, Jung Woo-sung, Woo Do-hwan and Seo Eun-soo also connected with fans across the region as “Made in Korea” returns for its second season.
The excitement continued with a look at some of Disney+’s biggest upcoming releases, with something for everyone in the family. From Disney’s “Moana” live-action to the upcoming Season 23 of fan-favorite “Grey’s Anatomy”. Guests were also treated to a preview of the highly anticipated new Marvel Television series “VisionQuest”.
“Tonight is about the next chapter for Disney+ in the region and our continued ambition to bring audiences closer to the stories they love,” said Tamim Fares, Director of Disney+ in the Middle East and North Africa. “Our approach starts with understanding what audiences here want: the familiarity of Disney and the brands they’ve known for generations, alongside an experience that reflects how they live, travel and watch.
“That means building on the Disney+ experience with more ways to personalize how customers watch, while giving families even greater choice and control over their viewing, and continuing to bring audiences more of the stories they love. Creating a trusted viewing experience that is designed for families has always been at the heart of Disney, and that remains a priority as we continue to evolve Disney+. It also means finding new ways to make those stories feel closer to home, whether that’s bringing beloved characters to life through Saudi voices and language, or giving audiences access to more great entertainment from around the world.
“As we continue to grow our lifetime of great stories, we want Disney+ to be a place where audiences can always find something they love, discover something new and enjoy it in a way that works for them.”
A Disney+ experience made for the whole family
Disney+ also unveiled a new app launching across MENA from the evening of 6 October, offering new features and updates designed to enhance the viewing experience, while still bringing together entertainment for every generation, from award-winning dramas and documentaries to comedy, family favorites and iconic animation. led:
Among the updates, customers will be able to stream on-the-go across the Middle East, Europe, the United States and beyond, while the new experience will also become increasingly personalized over time, adapting content recommendations based on individual viewing preferences.
Enhanced parental controls and Junior Mode, known in Arabic as عالم الصغار, will also offer a dedicated space with curated content for younger viewers, giving parents greater control and added peace of mind over what their families watch.
Disney+ is available from SAR 49.99 per month - with no hidden costs and the ability to cancel anytime. There's something for everyone to watch, with a lifetime of great stories and a constantly growing library of blockbuster movies, brand new originals and exclusive hit shows, alongside live sports throughout the year. From Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, Hulu, FX and ESPN, Disney+ spans everything from documentaries to critically acclaimed drama, comedy to classic animation, and general entertainment. Customers can enjoy titles from the second season of International Emmy® and BAFTA® Award winning series, “Rivals”, the award-winning comedy series “Only Murders in the Building”, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ box office smash “Zootropolis 2” and 20th Century Studios’ “Send Help”.
Robust parental controls ensure that Disney+ remains a suitable viewing experience for everyone in the family. Subscribers can set access limits on mature content and create PIN-protected profiles alongside the already existing Junior Mode profiles to give parents and guardians peace of mind.
