Spotify has expanded its audiobook offering in the UAE with the launch of Audiobooks+, a monthly subscription that gives users access to 15 hours of audiobook listening and more than 350,000 English-language titles.
Available from November 12, the service is open to all Spotify users, including those on Free, Premium Standard, Premium Platinum and legacy plans. The launch extends an audiobook experience previously available to Premium Platinum subscribers since November 2025.
The UAE launch is part of Spotify’s global expansion of audiobook access, announced at the Frankfurt Book Fair on October 7. The company plans to extend access from 22 markets to more than 180 worldwide. By the end of 2026, more than 780 million people globally are expected to be able to stream or purchase books on the platform.
Akshat Harbola, Managing Director, MENAT+ at Spotify, said: “Every day, people across the UAE spend hours commuting, travelling, working out or winding down, and much of that time is spent with audio. Audiobooks turn those moments into time well spent: a chance to learn something new, get lost in a great story or finally finish the book you’ve been meaning to read. With Audiobooks+, we’re opening that up to everyone on Spotify, with hundreds of thousands of titles alongside the music and podcasts they already love, while helping authors and publishers reach new audiences across the region.”
Subscription and additional listening options
Audiobooks+ is priced at AED 29.99 per month as a recurring subscription. The 15-hour monthly allowance resets with each billing cycle, with only time spent actively listening counted towards the limit.
Premium Platinum subscribers will receive these 15 hours in addition to the 12 hours already included in their existing plan.
Users who need more listening time can purchase an additional 10 hours for AED 31.99. Spotify also allows listeners to buy individual audiobook titles without subscribing to Audiobooks+.
The catalogue can be accessed through a dedicated Audiobooks tab, where users can search, browse and discover titles.
Features designed for everyday listening
Spotify’s audiobook service includes features such as a sleep timer and Page Match, which allows listeners to switch between a printed book or e-book and its audiobook version without losing their place.
Automatic bookmarking saves listening progress across devices, while offline downloads allow users to listen without an internet connection. Spotify says its service is available on more than 2,000 devices.
Opportunities for local authors
Spotify is also seeking to expand opportunities for regional writers through Spotify for Authors. Self-published authors in the UAE can upload audiobook titles, including works in local languages, and use the platform’s tools to reach wider audiences.
The company said audiobook engagement has grown steadily since the format was introduced to Premium subscriptions three years ago. Monthly audiobook listeners increased nearly 40% over the past year, while listening hours rose by more than 30%.
Spotify, which launched in 2008, operates in 184 markets and has 788 million users, including 306 million subscribers, according to the company’s figures.
