Netflix is set to release a new catalogue of 44 Arabic films from today, that will include Destiny by Youssef Chahine, The Message by Moustapha Akkad and Capernaum by Nadine Labaki.

Other films include the works of Youssry Nasrallah, Anne Marie Jacir and Laila Marrakchi.

Licensed from Front Row Filmed Entertainment, some of the films are already on the service and the majority will be available on Netflix starting today, June 18. All the films will include subtitles relevant to those countries where they are streaming in either English, Arabic or French.

Netflix said the new catalogue combines cinematic masterpieces with contemporary rising stars from the Arab world's entertainment industry. The stories come from the UAE, Kuwait, Egypt, Lebanon, Tunisia, Morocco, Syria, Algeria and Sudan.

“We want more people around the world to have access to great stories and have the chance to see their lives represented on screen," said Nuha El Tayeb, Director, Content Acquisitions, MENAT at Netflix. "We also believe that great stories come from anywhere and can travel everywhere connecting with audiences far beyond their place or language of origin. We’re honored to share these classic and contemporary films with our members in the Arab world and globally."

Earlier in May, Netflix released a collection of plays through a dedicated row on the service called “Arabic Nostalgia”. The plays include El Eyal Kebret, Al Motzawgoon, Bye Bye London, Raya w Skeina, Morahek Fl Khamseen, Shahid Ma Shafsh Haga, Sok Ala Banatak, Madraset Almoshagbien and Elwad Sayed Elshagal.