What Arena Multimedia does

Arena Multimedia (legal name: Arena Multimedia Pakistan) is the Pakistan training wing of APTECH Global Training Solutions, operating a Master Franchisee-led network of branded multimedia education centers founded circa 1998 and headquartered in Karachi. The company delivers industry-aligned, internationally certified curriculum across 3D Animation, VFX, Film Making, Game Design, Graphic & Web Design, Digital Marketing, and Generative AI, taught using standard creative tools (Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere, After Effects, Autodesk Maya, 3ds Max, ZBrush, AutoCAD, Lumion, WordPress/Elementor, Shopify, WooCommerce). Its core product spine is a set of multi-semester diplomas — ADMS Prime, ADMS, DAFM (Advertising & Film Making), and DGWD (Graphic & Web Design) — augmented by Short Term Courses (STCs), standalone Digital Marketing, and two newer programs (Gen AI Mastery Program and Digital Marketing Executive Course) delivered under the NASTP-2 government partnership. Instruction is supplemented by Onlinevarsity, Arena's proprietary cloud-based learning platform offering e-books, video tutorials, articles, and expert chats, and validated through a public online certificate verification portal.

The business model is built on a franchise and tuition flywheel. Arena earns revenue from course tuition across long-duration diploma programs and short-term courses, franchise/license fees from partners operating branded centers under the Master Franchisee governance of Tariq Habib, and professional services revenue from NASTP-2 government-sponsored program delivery. Go-to-market combines direct walk-in enrollment at 18+ physical centers across Karachi (15 neighborhoods), Hyderabad (Latifabad), and Lahore (Johar Town, Cavalry Ground), with event-driven demand generation — recurring free and paid workshops, industrial visits to media and manufacturing partners (PTV, BOL TV, DAWN Press, Pepsi Cola, APERTUREWOOD FILM), and student-engagement ceremonies. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed.

The company is privately held with no disclosed institutional investors, funding rounds, M&A, or cap-table information. Operations are supported by 251–500 employees and overseen by a leadership team that includes Master Franchisee Tariq Habib, GM Academics Erum Tariq, and branch-level Managing Partners/Academic Heads (e.g., Saira Abbas Rizvi at IIC, Mujtaba Ali Bhatti at Hyderabad, Faisal at Bahadurabad). Arena celebrated its Silver Jubilee (25th anniversary) on 12 March 2023 with the Governor of Sindh, underscoring its brand positioning as a legacy training institution in Pakistan's creative-skills market.

Name

Arena Multimedia

Legal name

Arena Multimedia Pakistan

Website

https://arena-pakistan.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Arena Multimedia (Pakistan) is a private, Master Franchisee-led training network delivering internationally certified multimedia and creative-skills education — including animation, VFX, filmmaking, game design, graphic/web design, digital marketing, and generative AI — across 18+ centers in Karachi, Hyderabad, and Lahore, with NASTP-2 government-sponsored programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Multimedia and Animation Training Services

NAICS

Computer Training (611420), Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Interactive Multimedia Learning Content (Video, Audio, Interactive Lessons) (EDAFACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Multimedia Learning Production (Video, Animation, Interactive) (EDAGAKAG), K–12 Instructional Video & Multimedia (EDAGALAA)

Keywords

• Multimedia training
• Animation courses
• Graphic design education
• Film making diploma
• Digital marketing training

Headquarters

HQ city

Karachi

HQ country

Pakistan

HQ region

Asia

Offices19 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Course Tuition Fees: Revenue from student enrollment in long-term diploma programs (ADMS Prime, ADMS, DAFM, DGWD) and short-term courses (STCs), with multi-semester progression.
2. Franchise & Partnership Fees: Revenue from granting franchise rights to operate Arena Multimedia training centers, evidenced by a dedicated 'Become a Partner' page and a Master Franchisee structure led by Sir Tariq Habib.
3. NASTP-2 Sponsored Programs: Government-sponsored training delivery under NASTP-2 covering Gen AI Mastery Program and Digital Marketing Executive Course.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Arena Multimedia Pakistan delivers in-person multimedia training through a nationwide franchise network of physical training centers, offering long-form diplomas (ADMS Prime, ADMS, DAFM, DGWD), short-term skill courses, Digital Marketing, and a Gen AI Mastery Program. Curriculum is taught on industry-standard creative tools and supplemented by Arena's proprietary Onlinevarsity cloud learning platform, with a certificate verification portal supporting credential authenticity for students and employers.

Product overview

Arena Multimedia Pakistan operates a unified training portfolio rather than a software platform: a flagship multi-semester media studies track (ADMS Prime, ADMS), with parallel diploma specialisations in advertising and filmmaking (DAFM) and graphic/web design (DGWD), augmented by shorter modular courses (STCs) and skill tracks in Digital Marketing and a Gen AI Mastery Program. The offering is structured as a core diploma spine (ADMS) with multiple elective diploma streams (DAFM, DGWD) and add-on short courses (STCs, Digital Marketing, Gen AI Mastery Program, NASTP-2 Digital Marketing). All programs are delivered through Arena Multimedia's nationwide network of training centres across Pakistan, with a supplementary cloud-based learning platform called Onlinevarsity for e-books, tutorials and expert chats.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ADMS Prime - Advance Diploma In Media Studies Prime Premium long-duration diploma in media studies covering multimedia, design, and media production skills, targeted at aspiring multimedia professionals in Pakistan.
• ADMS - Advanced Diploma in Media Studies Core multi-semester diploma covering animation, VFX, filmmaking, graphic and web design, broadcast, and related multimedia disciplines for individual students.
• DAFM - Diploma in Advertising and Film Making Specialised diploma focused on advertising and film production, including pre-production, production, and post-production workflow skills.
• DGWD - Diploma in Graphic and Web Design Diploma covering graphic design and web design disciplines, including tools, layout, typography, and web fundamentals.
• STCs - Short Term Courses Shorter modular courses offered across multiple multimedia skill tracks for learners who cannot commit to a full diploma program.
• Digital Marketing Course Standalone digital marketing course covering social media marketing, brand-building, audience targeting, and online advertising.
• Gen AI Mastery Program Generative AI training program offered under the NASTP-2 partnership covering prompt-driven content creation, AI-powered design and motion workflows, and use of generative AI tools.
• Digital Marketing Executive Course (NASTP-2) Executive-level digital marketing course offered as part of the NASTP-2 collaboration for advanced learners.

Quantifiable outcome

• 400+ enrollments in 2 years at Latifabad Hyderabad centre
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and minor.

• NASTP-2flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment training partnership under which Arena Multimedia delivers the Gen AI Mastery Program and Digital Marketing Executive Course at its centers. Listed as 'NASTP-2 Courses' on the main navigation menu.
• Digital CoberootminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHeld a Recruitment Drive for Graphic Designer with Digital Coberoot at the Arena Multimedia KDA (Gulshan-e-Iqbal) campus on 12 June 2024, jointly producing recruitment pictures.
• TechoidminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSpeaker Hafiz Ibad Jabbar, Founder and Managing Director of Techoid, delivered the 'Building a career in the World Wide Web to Unlock Endless Possibilities' seminar at Arena Multimedia North Nazimabad on 21 October 2023.
• BOL TV NetworkminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHosted educational trips for Arena Multimedia ADMS students on 25 October 2021 (North Nazimabad) and 27 November 2021 (Nazimabad), giving students access to broadcast channel operations.
• Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHosted Arena Multimedia students from Nazimabad on 5 November 2022 and 29 August 2023 for channel department visits and interactive learning with broadcast professionals.
• DAWN PressminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIndustrial visit venue for Graphics Suite students from Bagh-e-Quaid (15 October 2019) and Nazimabad (7 October 2023) to observe printing and publishing operations.
• Pepsi ColaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIndustrial visit on 9 September 2023 attended by Arena Multimedia Bahadurabad, Malir and Korangi students for practical industry exposure.
• Shahi Printing PressminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerField Trip on 12 March 2020 by Arena Korangi students to learn about digital, offset, and screen printing; coordinated by Mr Syed Muhammad Kashif and Mr Ali Rehman.
• Metro 1 News ChannelminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEducational visit venue on 24 August 2019 by Arena Multimedia Shahrah-e-Faisal Audio/Video students.
• APERTUREWOOD FILMminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIndustrial visit on 11 July 2019 for Arena Multimedia Bagh-e-Quaid Broadcast Media Suite and Animation Suite students to a creative power-house film production company.
• Sharp Image Media ProductionminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerVisit venue on 27 June 2019 by Arena Multimedia Nazimabad for student digital media production exposure.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Aptech Pakistan: Pakistan operation of the Aptech global IT and multimedia training group (parent/sister network to Arena Multimedia). Offers IT and creative courses through franchise centers, sharing overlap in multimedia curriculum and Pakistani franchise distribution.
• ADMEC Multimedia Institute: India-based institute delivering diploma and certificate courses in graphic design, web design, animation, VFX, and digital marketing — comparable in curriculum mix (Adobe/Autodesk toolchains) and diploma-style program structure to Arena.
• MAAC (Maya Academy of Advanced Cinematics): India-based franchise network offering diploma and short-term courses in 3D animation, VFX, film making, gaming, and multimedia — essentially the Indian subcontinent peer to Arena's Pakistani franchise model, with a similar center-based delivery and industry-aligned curriculum.
• Arena Animation India: Indian sister brand under the same Aptech / Arena Multimedia worldwide franchise heritage, offering ADCDM, ANIMD, VFX, web design, and digital marketing diplomas through a large Indian center network. Directly comparable curriculum, brand, and franchise operating model.
• Picasso Multimedia: India-headquartered multimedia training franchise offering animation, VFX, web design, and digital marketing courses across an Indian center network. Closely comparable in target audience (aspiring creative professionals), course catalog, and franchise-based delivery.

Broad incumbents

• Coursera: Global online learning platform offering multimedia, animation, and digital marketing courses from top universities and companies. Competes indirectly with Arena for the same aspiring-creative learner wallet, but via self-paced online certificates rather than in-person diplomas.
• Udemy: Global marketplace of affordable on-demand courses covering Adobe, Autodesk, digital marketing, and AI creative workflows. Sets the price floor for Arena's short-term courses and increasingly competes for the same Pakistani self-learners.

Regional players

• MIT Institute Pakistan: Pakistani technical and vocational training institute offering multimedia, IT, and design courses through multiple campuses. Comparable in delivery model (in-person diploma tracks) and Pakistan-centric footprint, though broader in IT.
• Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture: Karachi-based degree-granting institution covering design, architecture, and creative arts. Targets overlapping Pakistani creative-student demand but at the formal university level rather than Arena's vocational diploma track.
• NCA (National College of Arts) Lahore: Pakistan's premier formal arts and design institution offering degree programs in animation, film, graphic design, and multimedia. Competes with Arena for the same Pakistani creative-student pool but via full degree programs rather than vocational diplomas.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/arenians

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Arena Multimedia