What Shahid does

Shahid is the first and (per its own positioning) largest Arabic-language video-on-demand streaming platform globally, operating as a subsidiary of MBC Group, the largest media conglomerate in the Middle East and North Africa. It serves Arabic-speaking audiences across the MENA region and worldwide diaspora, with the platform supporting Arabic, English, and French interfaces. Content spans Shahid Original productions, exclusive Arabic series, films after cinema release, live MBC TV channels in HD, sports events, and international content from Turkish, Korean, Western, and Bollywood catalogs; dedicated verticals include Shahid Kids with parental controls and family profiles. The technical platform supports 4K and HD streaming (with AVIF image format), multi-device viewing (up to 4 simultaneous streams for higher tiers), offline downloads, and parental controls, delivered via web (shahid.mbc.net), iOS and Android apps, smart TV apps, and Apple TV.

Shahid operates a freemium, direct-to-consumer business model with three tiers: a free ad-supported tier, VIP at $13.99/month (ad-free, originals, exclusives, live TV, 4K, 2 devices), and VIP BigTime at $16.99/month adding Riyadh and Jeddah Season event access, live concerts, and VIP-exclusive experiences. Revenue streams are subscription recurring and advertising; distribution is fully self-serve through the website and mobile apps with month-to-month billing and no contracts. Marketing leans on Shahid Originals as a content-marketing vehicle, exclusive live-event coverage (Riyadh/Jeddah Seasons), and MBC Group's broadcast cross-promotion across the Middle East. The company is private, holds no disclosed patents or trademarks, has no disclosed API or developer ecosystem, and provides no financials, headcount, or management team details in the available source data.

Name

Shahid

Website

https://shahid.mbc.net

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Shahid is the first Arabic-language video-on-demand streaming platform globally, owned by MBC Group, serving Arabic-speaking audiences across MENA and the worldwide diaspora with original productions, exclusive series, films, live TV, and sports via freemium and VIP subscription tiers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Video Streaming

NAICS

Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210), Motion Picture and Video Distribution (51212), Broadcasting and Content Providers (516)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)

akta.pro primary industry

User-Generated Content (UGC) & Short-Form Video Platforms (BPAMAJAH)

Keywords

• Arabic video streaming
• Video on demand
• Subscription streaming
• Live TV streaming
• Arabic original content

Headquarters

HQ city

Dubai

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Subscription Revenue: Monthly recurring subscription fees from VIP ($13.99/month) and VIP BigTime ($16.99/month) tiers. VIP includes Shahid Original productions, exclusive series, first-run movies, and live channels. VIP BigTime adds access to Riyadh and Jeddah season events, live concerts, and exclusive activities.
2. Advertising Revenue: Free tier users view advertisements during content consumption, generating ad revenue for the platform.
3. Freemium Conversion: Free content available to drive user acquisition and conversion to paid tiers through upselling premium features.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Shahid is a subscription-based Arabic video-on-demand (VOD) streaming platform that streams Arabic original productions, exclusive series, films, live HD TV channels, and curated international content (Turkish, Korean, Western, Bollywood). It operates on a freemium model with a free ad-supported tier and two paid tiers (VIP at $13.99/month and VIP | BigTime at $16.99/month) distributed directly to consumers via web, mobile, and smart TV apps.

Product overview

Shahid is a streaming video-on-demand (VOD) platform and the first of its kind in the Arab world, operated by MBC Group. The platform operates on a tiered subscription model offering three main products: a free ad-supported tier (Shahid Free), a premium VIP subscription at $13.99/month providing ad-free viewing with exclusive original productions and Arabic/Turkish series, and a VIP | BigTime tier at $16.99/month that adds exclusive access to Riyadh and Jeddah Season events and live concerts. The platform also features dedicated content verticals including Shahid Kids for children's programming and Shahid Originals for award-winning exclusive productions. Content is accessible via mobile apps, smart TVs, and the web platform at Shahid.net, with features including multi-device viewing (up to 4 devices for premium tiers), offline downloads, parental controls, and up to 5 user profiles per account.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Shahid Original: Original productions by Shahid that have won awards
• VIP
• VIP | BigTime

Products and services

• Shahid Free Free ad-supported tier offering access to selected Arabic series, live TV channels, and select content without a subscription. Targets Arabic-speaking viewers seeking casual access to Arabic entertainment.
• Shahid VIP Premium subscription at $13.99/month providing ad-free viewing, exclusive Shahid Original productions, Arabic and Turkish series, exclusive film premieres, live TV channels, and HD/4K quality streaming for individual Arabic-speaking consumers.
• Shahid VIP | BigTime Top-tier subscription at $16.99/month including all VIP benefits plus exclusive access to Riyadh and Jeddah Season events, live concerts, special performances, and VIP-exclusive experiences for premium Arabic-speaking entertainment consumers.
• Shahid Kids Dedicated children-focused content library featuring safe, educational, and culturally appropriate Arabic entertainment for kids of all ages, with parental controls and dedicated kids profiles.
• Shahid Originals Award-winning original productions created exclusively for the Shahid platform, representing high-quality Arabic content and serving as a primary content marketing vehicle to attract subscribers.
• Shahid Live TV Channels Live streaming of MBC TV channels and other television networks in HD quality, allowing viewers to watch broadcast content in real-time alongside on-demand content.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• MBC GroupcoreOthersShahid is owned and powered by MBC Group, the largest media company in the Middle East and North Africa. MBC Group provides content licensing, production capabilities, and brand backing for the platform.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Amazon Prime Video: Global streaming platform bundled with Prime, expanding Arabic and MENA-specific content. Competes with Shahid on premium originals, multi-device streaming, and pricing for premium MENA subscribers.
• Netflix: Global streaming incumbent expanding aggressively in MENA with Arabic originals and locally-produced series. Directly competes with Shahid for premium Arabic-speaking subscribers and sets the pricing/locale benchmark in the region.
• YouTube Premium: Massive global video platform with strong Arabic content creator base and ad-supported + premium subscription offerings. Serves as a default destination for Arabic video consumption and competes with Shahid's free tier for time spent and advertiser interest.
• Apple TV+: Premium global streaming service with high-profile originals and broad device reach (including Apple TV integration). Positioned similarly to Shahid at the premium tier and competes for high-ARPU viewers in MENA.
• Disney+: Global streaming platform with expanding MENA presence and family-focused content. Competes with Shahid's family/kids segment and premium general-entertainment subscribers in the region.

Direct peers

• OSN (Orbit Showtime Network): MENA-based subscription TV and streaming service offering Hollywood, Arabic, and international content. Directly competes with Shahid for premium Arabic-speaking households and has a comparable premium tiered subscription model.
• TOD (beIN Media Group): Qatar-based streaming service from beIN Media Group offering Arabic content, live sports, and premium entertainment to MENA audiences. Directly competes with Shahid on Arabic content, live TV, and sports rights, with overlapping target geographies.

Regional players

• Anghami: Leading Arabic music streaming platform serving MENA with subscription and ad-supported tiers. While audio-focused, it competes for the same Arabic-speaking subscription budget and shares Shahid's regional freemium playbook.
• StarzPlay (Lionsgate+): International streaming service with strong MENA presence, offering Hollywood, Arabic, and Turkish content. Shares Shahid's reliance on Turkish and international content and competes for similar premium subscribers in the region.

Others

• Shahid VIP (MBC Group internal benchmarking): Shahid's own premium tier — included as a self-reference for tier-level peers that mirror its pricing and content. (Note: this is the subject company itself; included only for completeness of comparable MENA subscription product offering.)

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ShahidVOD

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Shahid