Spotify is testing a revised subscription lineup in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, introducing three paid tiers aimed at segmenting listeners by how they use the platform. The pilot brings Premium Lite, Premium Standard (including a Student option), and Premium Platinum to both markets, marking a shift toward more granular pricing and feature sets rather than a single, catch-all premium experience. The company has framed the effort as a way to respond to different listening patterns, though it also reflects a broader industry push to restructure subscriptions as streaming services mature.
Premium Lite focuses on core functionality, offering ad-free music for users who want minimal extras. Premium Standard targets people who expect offline access and broader app features. Premium Platinum, the highest tier, layers on additional capabilities meant to appeal to heavy users willing to pay for audio upgrades and experimental tools. This top tier includes lossless audio—long requested but repeatedly delayed—along with AI DJ features, third-party DJ integrations, and an AI Playlist generator. Existing social and discovery features such as Jam and daylist remain available across the upper plans.
Audiobooks also play a significant role in the Platinum offering. Subscribers receive 12 hours of monthly listening time, with optional 10-hour add-ons if they run out. At launch, more than 150,000 English-language titles are available, supported by convenience features like automatic bookmarking, a sleep timer, and recommendations on the Home tab. While audiobook integration has become increasingly common among large audio platforms, time-metered access suggests the service is still experimenting with how to balance licensing costs with user expectations.
The transition also brings trade-offs. Legacy Family plans covered six members at a lower price point than today’s Platinum tier, which supports only three. Existing subscribers will retain their plans, but new customers must choose from the updated tier structure. Users uninterested in lossless audio or AI tools may find themselves paying more for features they don’t necessarily need, or settling for a Lite tier that offers fewer conveniences than the previous Standard plan.
Whether these plans become permanent will depend on how listeners respond over the coming months. The pilot structure indicates that adjustments are likely as the service evaluates demand for lossless audio, AI-driven curation tools, and the appeal of audiobook time allowances in daily use.
