What Navigation Films does

Navigation Films is a privately held, full-service video production and facilitation company founded in 2010 by Mike Charlton and headquartered in Dubai. The firm operates four regional offices across Tbilisi (Georgia), London (UK), Dubai, and Abu Dhabi (UAE), serving major international broadcasters, streaming platforms, production companies, and tourism and corporate clients. Its core service offering is two-sided: production facilitation, which sources local talent, crews, equipment, locations, transport, and permits for international productions entering the Middle East, UK, and Caucasus regions, and full-cycle production services covering concept development, scripting, filming, post-production (editing, grading, sound design, QC), and final delivery for reality TV, documentary series, scripted documentaries, feature films, broadcast, and digital projects. The company also produces branded content for tourism boards and corporations such as Emirates, Dubai Tourism, Atlantis The Palm, and Bloomberg Media-commissioned tourism campaigns.

The firm's underlying technology is professional-grade production equipment, including in-house RED, Sony, and Arri Alexa camera packages, lighting, sound, and grip, plus specialty hardware such as the GSS520 five-axis gyro-stabilised filming platform used for complex aerial and dynamic shots (demonstrated in the Emirates Burj Khalifa A380 stunt film). It maintains multi-camera live broadcast capabilities, including coordinated drone, helicopter, and remote camera deployments (used in Ras Al Khaimah's Guinness World Record NYE fireworks broadcast). Revenue is generated under professional services models on a quote-based, project-by-project basis with no publicly disclosed pricing. Distribution is direct enterprise sales through the four regional offices, with Executive Producer Akash Kingston managing Dubai-based client relationships and the broader team coordinating across regions. Government incentive programs are a meaningful commercial lever: Navigation Films offers clients access to a 25% rebate in Georgia and a 30% rebate in Abu Dhabi via the TwoFour 54 Yas Island campus partnership. The company is founder-owned, with no disclosed external investors, subsidiaries, or public listing.

Name

Navigation Films

Legal name

Navigation Films

Website

https://navigationfilms.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Navigation Films is a privately held, full-service video production and facilitation company operating from four offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, London, and Tbilisi, serving international broadcasters, streamers, and production companies with end-to-end filming, crew sourcing, and post-production services in the Middle East, UK, and Caucasus regions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dubai

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Production Services: Full-service production and facilitation for reality TV shows, docu-series, scripted documentaries, feature films, broadcast, and digital projects. Services include concept development, scripting, production, post-production, rights clearance, insurance, permits, filming, scriptwriting, grading, sound design, QC and final delivery.
2. Production Facilitation: Facilitation services sourcing best talent, production teams, crews, film and lighting equipment, transport, catering and locations for international productions.
3. Branded Content Production: Producing branded content for clients including tourism boards, corporations, and agencies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Navigation Films is a full-service video production and facilitation company providing end-to-end services for broadcasters, streamers, production companies, and brands. They produce reality TV shows, documentary series, scripted documentaries, feature films, broadcast content, and digital projects from concept through final delivery. They also provide production facilitation—sourcing talent, crews, equipment, locations, permits, and logistics for international productions across their offices in Tbilisi, London, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi.

Product overview

Navigation Films is a full-service video production company operating as a unified offering across four strategically located offices in Tbilisi, London, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi. The company provides two interconnected service lines: (1) production facilitation—sourcing talent, crews, equipment, locations, and handling permits and logistics for international productions, and (2) owned production—developing and producing original programming from concept through post-production and delivery. Core production services include reality TV, documentary series, scripted documentaries, feature films, and branded content. Supporting offerings include equipment rental (RED, Sony, Arri Alexa cameras; GSS520 gyro-stabilised platforms), post-production (scriptwriting, editing, grading, sound design, QC), and location facilitation with government incentive access (25-30% rebates in Georgia and Abu Dhabi).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Video Production Services Full-service video production encompassing reality TV shows, documentary series, scripted documentaries, feature films, broadcast content, and digital projects from concept through final delivery, including post-production, grading, sound design, QC, and rights clearance for broadcasters, streamers, and brands.
• Production Facilitation Sourcing and coordinating best talent, production teams, crews, film and lighting equipment, transport, catering, and locations for international productions to ensure projects are delivered on time and on budget, including permits, insurance, and rights clearance support.
• Production Equipment Rental Rental of core production equipment including cameras (RED, Sony, Arri Alexa), lenses, lighting, sound, grip, and the GSS520 five-axis gyro-stabilised filming platform for complex aerial and dynamic shots.
• Post-Production Services End-to-end post-production including scriptwriting, editing, color grading, sound design, quality control, and final delivery for broadcast and streaming platforms.

Named customers23 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and major.

• TwoFour 54coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAbu Dhabi office incorporated within TwoFour 54's Yas Island campus, enabling access to Abu Dhabi's 30% rebate scheme for qualifying productions and production facilities.
• Truly OriginalflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew York based production company for which Navigation Films facilitated The Real Housewives of Dubai, bringing together large teams of local talent.
• Aurora MediamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNavigation Films travelled to Doha with Aurora Media to work for FIFA on World Cup coverage, producing pre-packaged presenter led highlights from each day of the tournament.
• Bloomberg MediamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeorgian team completed series of films for Georgian Tourism and Enterprise Georgia produced by Bloomberg Media, filming in Tbilisi, Kazbegi, Batumi and Lechkhumi.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Visual Arabia: UAE-based production services company offering video production, equipment rental, and crew sourcing for international clients in the Middle East. Competes for similar branded content and broadcast work.
• Big Bear Films: Dubai-based full-service video production company offering similar reality, documentary, and branded content production services across the UAE. Direct regional competitor for the same international broadcaster and streamer clients.
• Mirador Group: Middle East-focused production services and facilitation company serving international broadcasters and brands. Comparable in offering production support, crew sourcing, and location logistics across the region.
• AP Services Group: International production services company providing crew, equipment, and logistics support to film and television productions globally. Comparable full-service facilitation model used by major streamers and broadcasters.
• Stellar Films: Dubai-headquartered production house producing reality TV, documentaries, and branded content for international clients. Comparable regional peer targeting the same international broadcaster roster.

Broad incumbents

• Panavision: Global leader in film and television production equipment rental and services. While not a direct regional boutique competitor, Panavision's expanding presence in the Middle East competes for the same production budgets and serves overlapping international clients.
• Truly Original: New York-based production company behind Real Housewives of Dubai — a flagship Navigation Films partnership. Produces premium unscripted content for streamers and cable networks, making it an adjacent incumbent rather than a direct service peer.
• North One Television: Established UK-based production company producing shows including Wheeler Dealers. Listed as a Navigation Films client/partner; comparable in producing unscripted broadcast content for international networks.

Others

• TwoFour54: Abu Dhabi-based media free zone and production hub where Navigation Films houses its Abu Dhabi office. TwoFour54 is more of an ecosystem partner and landlord than a competitor, but its in-house production services arm operates adjacently.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/navigationfilmsdubai
• Instagraminstagram.com/navigationfilms

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Navigation Films