Real Image

What Real Image does

Real Image (legally Real Image Production) is a Dubai-headquartered, privately held animation and post-production studio founded in 1996 that provides 2D/3D animation, CGI, VFX, and end-to-end film production services. The studio's product offering spans 2D/3D character animation, hyper-realistic full 3D animation indistinguishable from live action, special effects and CGI, 3D modeling, corporate video production, television commercials, and architectural visualization. Notable technical capabilities include production of 9,148 x 1,716 pixel animation output (≈5x Full HD) for the Mohammad Bin Rashid Business Awards and large-format projection mapping on a 44-meter-wide screen with 6 projectors producing 20,925 x 1,080 pixel composite output for the African Global Business Forum 2017 opening ceremony, demonstrating capacity for unusually high-resolution and large-scale deliverables. The underlying production stack is built on Maya, ZBrush for sculpting, Redshift rendering, Nuke, and Adobe After Effects for compositing.

The studio operates a project-based, professional services revenue model with custom quote-driven pricing and no disclosed public tiers. Its go-to-market is direct enterprise and government field sales, delivered primarily through long-tenured relationships with UAE government entities — including the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai Chamber of Commerce, DEWA, the Ministry of Culture UAE, the National Guard, Dubai Sports Council, Sharjah TV, and Emirates Health Services — alongside select enterprise clients such as Dolphin Energy, Hyundai UAE, and Etisalat. Distribution is direct (no intermediary channels); marketing is primarily portfolio-driven via the company website (realimage.tv) and broad social media presence (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Vimeo, X, Behance), supplemented by earned coverage in industry publications like Digital Studio Magazine and Broadcast Pro Middle East.

Real Image has accumulated ten documented regional industry awards between 2011 and 2019, including multiple Digital Studio Awards (Best Animation 2012, Special Effects/CGI 2018, Excellence in Post-Production 2018, Best Editing 2018, Best Use of Animation 2019), BroadcastPro Middle East awards (Best Tech Production 2011, Best in Animated Work 2017), and Dubai Awards (Excellence in VFX 2017), alongside the original-IP children's edutainment series 'Zac & Penny.' Operating geographies are concentrated in the United Arab Emirates with selective work in Canada. Leadership is founder-led by CEO and Creative Director Aiham Ajib, with Senior Producer Tanya Robin Nesi, Head of Post Production Pierre Nayagam (formerly founder of 25 FRAMES), and Partner/Consultant Mohamad Falaknaz. No external funding, parent company, subsidiaries, or M&A activity is disclosed.

Name

Real Image

Legal name

Real Image Production

Website

https://realimage.tv

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Real Image is a Dubai-headquartered animation and post-production studio founded in 1996, providing 2D/3D animation, CGI, VFX, and film production services primarily to UAE government entities and Middle East enterprise clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animation and Post-Production Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (512110), Postproduction Services and Other Motion Picture and Video Industries (51219)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

VFX & Motion Graphics (CGI, Compositing, 2D/3D) (MPAAAMAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Virtual Art Department (VAD) & Environment/Digital Matte Painting (MPADAHAG), Simulation & FX Animation (Cloth, Hair, Particles) (MPAHACAH)

Keywords

• 3D animation services
• Visual effects production
• Film production services
• Post-production services
• Corporate video production

Headquarters

HQ city

Dubai

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Animation and VFX Production Services: Custom animation, VFX, and post-production services for government and corporate clients. Projects include 2D/3D character animation, architectural visualization, corporate films, TV commercials, and special effects work.
2. Film Production Services: End-to-end film and video production from development through post-production, serving clients across the Middle East region for over 20 years.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Real Image is a full-service animation and post-production studio that produces 2D/3D animation, CGI and VFX, film production, corporate videos, TV commercials, and architectural visualization for government entities and corporate clients. The studio handles end-to-end projects from concept development through pre-production, production, and post-production, with capabilities spanning hyper-realistic 3D animation, 3D character animation, 3D modeling, and large-scale projection-based event visuals.

Product overview

Real Image is a Dubai-based animation and post-production studio offering a comprehensive suite of creative services centered around 2D/3D animation, special effects (CGI), and film production. The company operates as a single integrated studio rather than a platform-with-modules architecture, providing end-to-end services from concept development through post-production. Core offerings include 3D modeling and animation, hyper-realistic CGI indistinguishable from live action, corporate video production, TV commercials, and architectural visualization. The studio also produces original entertainment content such as the children's edutainment series 'Zac & Penny' and supports these offerings with award-winning post-production services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 2D/3D Animation Services Animation services including 2D animation, 3D character animation, and hyper-realistic full 3D animation with output indistinguishable from live-action video, produced for government and corporate clients.
• Special Effects and CGI Visual effects and computer-generated imagery for film production, creating visually arresting content combined with animation expertise for film, TV commercials, corporate films, and event visuals.
• Film Production End-to-end film and video production services covering development, pre-production, production, and post-production for corporate, government, and event clients across the Middle East.
• 3D Modeling and Animation 3D modeling and animation services utilizing teams of animators and 3D modeling experts employing Maya, ZBrush for sculpting detail, Redshift rendering, and comprehensive compositing workflows.
• Post-production Services Award-winning post-production capabilities including editing, compositing, color grading, and finishing for films, TV commercials, corporate videos, and event visuals.
• Corporate Video Production Corporate video content production for business clients including award videos, business awards ceremony productions, and promotional content for enterprise brands.
• TV Commercials (TVC) Television commercial production for corporate brands and government entities, including campaign work for Hyundai UAE, Etisalat, Dubai Chamber, and RTA, across seasonal and product launch campaigns.
• Architectural Visualization Interior and exterior architectural visualization and design, including walk-throughs, master plans, and architectural renders for real estate and urban development projects (e.g., First Canadian Centre Phase Two in Calgary, Alberta).
• Zac & Penny (Edutainment Animated Series) Edutainment animated series for children ages 6-10, featuring characters Zac, Penny, and friends in fantasy adventures that combine learning with entertainment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Produced animation with output resolution of 9148 x 1716 pixels, almost five times FULL HD
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature4 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• DNEG (Double Negative): Award-winning global VFX and animation studio operating across feature film, episodic, and advertising. Comparable at the high-end CGI/animation capability level but serves much larger-scale international mandates.
• Pixomondo: Global VFX and virtual production company with established Middle East operations including LED volume work. Comparable in VFX/real-time capability and increasingly competing for the same regional government and entertainment projects.
• Moving Picture Company (MPC): Global VFX, animation, and creative studio with major advertising and feature film work. Comparable at the high-end CGI and post-production level but operates at much larger scale with offices worldwide.
• Framestore: Global VFX and animation studio with regional Middle East presence. Comparable in CGI, VFX, and immersive storytelling capabilities, but operates at much larger scale across feature film, advertising, and immersive content.
• Industrial Light & Magic (ILM): Lucasfilm's global VFX and animation division with deep CGI heritage. Comparable in hyper-realistic VFX/animation capability but serves the largest Hollywood and entertainment mandates globally.

Direct peers

• Hybrid Media: UAE-based animation and motion graphics studio producing TVCs, corporate films, and digital content. Comparable as a regional direct competitor pursuing similar government and corporate animation mandates.
• The Think Tank: Dubai-based animation and post-production studio serving enterprise and government clients in the Middle East. Closely comparable in geography, customer base, and service offering (2D/3D animation, VFX, corporate films) to Real Image.
• Big Animation: Middle East animation studio producing 2D/3D animation, character work, and TV commercials. Directly comparable in regional focus, animation services, and customer types.
• Studio 88: Dubai-headquartered animation and production house offering 2D/3D animation, post-production, and content development. Closely matches Real Image's service portfolio and UAE enterprise/government client focus.

Regional players

• Lattouf Production: Beirut and Dubai-based animation, TV production, and content company serving regional broadcasters and brands. Comparable as a regional Arabic-language animation/TVC competitor serving similar Middle Eastern customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/realimagedubai
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@realimage.production
• Facebookfacebook.com/realimagedubai
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/realimageproduction
• Instagraminstagram.com/realimageproduction

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

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 Real Image