Scripted

Calinos Entertainment has secured a new international deal for Turkish drama Ugly, licensing the series to Dubai Media Incorporated (DMI) for broadcast across Dubai TV and Dubai Plus. The agreement expands the drama’s international footprint and introduces the title to audiences across the MENA region following its successful run in Türkiye.

Originally airing on Star TV, Ugly emerged as one of the season’s standout dramas despite debuting later in the broadcast schedule and concluding its first season after eight episodes. The series gained attention for its emotional storytelling, strong performances and distinctive visual style. The drama delivered solid ratings throughout its run, launching with a 4.70 rating in the Total category and rising to 7.30 by its fourth episode. Its season finale ranked first across all audience categories, achieving a 6.28 Total rating. The series also performed strongly among female viewers, averaging 7.88 among Female 20+, 6.75 among Working Women and 8.55 among Housewives.

“We are more than confident that Ugly will become a major success in the MENA region,” said Aslı Serim, Head of Content at Calinos Entertainment. “The series has a distinctive narrative that carries the emotional spirit of classic Turkish cinema, while bringing it to the screen with a modern and visually rich production style. We are very pleased with the performance of the series and look forward to seeing its journey continue with audiences in Dubai.”

Produced by 25 Film, Ugly stars Çağlar Ertuğrul and Derya Pınar Ak and is directed by Burcu Alptekin, known for her work on Golden Boy, alongside Merve Çolak. The series follows Meryem Tunalı, who loses her family at a young age and is raised by her mother’s friend Cennet alongside Cennet’s children. Mocked as a child and labelled “ugly”, Meryem grows into a confident young woman while holding onto her lifelong love for Kadir. Years later, Kadir unexpectedly proposes marriage, setting in motion a story shaped by love, ambition, power struggles and long-buried secrets. The first-season finale marks a major turning point for Meryem as she begins to discover her inner strength, with the story hinting at her future rise as a famous singer.