What MBC Studios does

MBC Studios FZ LLC is the dedicated film and television production arm of MBC Group, the largest media conglomerate in the Middle East and North Africa. Headquartered at Dubai Media City with a regional HQ in Riyadh and a stated footprint of fully-fledged production houses in five countries, the studio produces premium Arabic-language original content — spanning drama, crime, horror, period, historical, and documentary genres — primarily for exclusive distribution on Shahid VIP, MBC Group's flagship streaming platform, and for broadcast across MBC1, MBC4, MBC Drama, MBC Egypt, and MBC Masr.

The studio's catalog includes first-mover Arabic-language titles such as the first Arabic vampire horror film (Bloodline), the first Arabic soap opera (Inheritance / Al Mirath), and the largest Saudi streaming-original drama (Rashash), alongside high-budget features such as Desert Warrior (a $100–150M 7th-century Arabia epic produced with JB Pictures and AGC Studios and shot at NEOM). Core production operations are supported by MBC Academy for talent development and partnerships with Image Nation Abu Dhabi, twofour54, and NEOM Media Industries for infrastructure and locations.

MBC Studios monetizes through four streams: (1) subscription-based exclusivity on Shahid VIP, (2) licensing royalties from MBC Group's linear channels, (3) international licensing royalties via AGC International and dedicated regional sales leads covering Europe, the Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Africa, and (4) co-production services with international partners such as JB Pictures and AGC Studios. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. The studio's competitive position is anchored entirely within the MBC Group ecosystem, making it functionally an in-house production supplier rather than an independent studio competing for third-party commissions.

Name

MBC Studios

Legal name

MBC Studios FZ LLC

Website

https://mbcstudios.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

MBC Studios is the film and television production arm of MBC Group, producing premium Arabic-language series and features (e.g., Rashash, Bloodline, Desert Warrior) for Shahid VIP, MBC's linear channels, and international distribution across five country-based production houses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dubai

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Streaming Platform Content: Producing original content exclusively for Shahid VIP, the MENA region's leading Arabic streaming platform under MBC Group
2. Broadcasting Rights: TV content licensing to MBC network channels including MBC1, MBC4, MBC Drama, and MBC Egypt
3. International Distribution: Worldwide sales and distribution of produced content through partnerships with international distributors like AGC International
4. Co-production Services: Joint production arrangements with international partners (JB Pictures, AGC Studios) sharing production costs and distribution rights

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

MBC Studios is a Dubai-based film and television production company that produces premium original Arabic-language series and feature films for the MENA region and international audiences. The studio serves as MBC Group's content production arm, delivering programming primarily to the Shahid VIP streaming platform and to MBC's broadcast channels, with select projects co-produced with international partners for global distribution. Its slate spans drama, crime, historical epics, horror, soap opera, documentaries, and large-budget theatrical features.

Product overview

MBC Studios is a Middle East-based media production company producing TV series and feature films. The company operates as a content production powerhouse with fully fledged production houses in 5 countries, creating content for both domestic Middle Eastern markets and international audiences. The portfolio includes drama series (Rashash, Blood Oath, Homecoming, Inheritance), documentaries (Carlos Ghosn documentary), horror/thriller series (Final Scene, Into The Dark, Room 207), period/historical dramas (Omar, The Palace, Safar Barlek), and feature films (Desert Warrior, Bloodline). Content is distributed through MBC's own streaming platform Shahid VIP as well as theatrical releases.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Rashash An eight-part Saudi crime drama based on the true story of a notorious 1980s Saudi criminal, created by Tony Jordan with an all-Saudi cast; distributed on the Shahid VIP streaming platform.
• Blood Oath Crime thriller adapted from the Serbian series Besa, following an ordinary man forced to become an assassin to protect his family; produced as an Arabic-language original for the MENA audience.
• Boxing Girls Drama series centered around a young Saudi female boxer navigating life challenges including peer pressure, bullying, and abuse; broadcast on MBC4 channel.
• Carlos Ghosn Documentary Documentary series recounting Carlos Ghosn's journey from auto industry titan to international fugitive, produced in partnership with Alef One; intended for global distribution.
• Devils Promise Drama series where a married Egyptian man and American widow, both cheated by the devil, join forces against Iblis; part of the Shahid Originals slate.
• The Fates Hotel Drama series set in a dilapidated hotel in Riyadh that becomes the center of family feuds and clandestine events.
• Final Scene Anthology series of dark twisted tales spanning romance, action-adventure, and horror genres.
• Homecoming Drama following a writer's return to Lebanon after her father's accident, involving a murder investigation and forbidden romance.
• Inheritance (Al Mirath) Saudi Arabia's first soap opera depicting family drama around inheritance disputes in Riyadh; broadcast on MBC1.
• Into The Dark Horror anthology series where each episode takes place during holidays or festivals.
• London Class Drama set in 1980s London following Arab students navigating love, jealousy, and conspiracy.
• Omar Historical biography drama exploring the life of Omar Bin Al Khattab, the second Caliph of Islam; broadcast on MBC1.
• Room 207 Horror series following a hotel receptionist who becomes obsessed with discovering the truth about the mysterious Room 207.
• Safar Barlek Historical epic following four Arab college students in their revolt against Ottoman Empire tyranny.
• Slave Market Anthology series featuring five diverse tales focusing on slavery practices throughout history.
• The Palace Period drama focusing on Khedive Ismail Pasha's reign in 1800s Egypt and conflicts between his wives and mother; broadcast on MBC Egypt.
• Black Crows Drama series depicting three women who join a terrorist group and uncover truths about terrorist operations.
• Bloodline First Arabic-language vampire horror film starring Nelly Karim and Dhafer L'Abidine, about parents whose son exhibits disturbing behavior after an accident; premiered exclusively on Shahid VIP.
• Rise of The Witches Fantasy drama based on a Saudi novel set 1,500 years ago with strong female empowerment themes, following two witches' covens at war; described as the biggest-budget Saudi Arabian TV series to date.
• 1001 Nights Modern crime thriller infused with tales from The Thousand and One Nights; premiered as part of MBC Studios' 2022 production slate.
• Desert Warrior Epic historical action film set in 7th century Arabia starring Anthony Mackie and Ben Kingsley; produced in partnership with JB Pictures and AGC Studios; budget reportedly $100M–$150M.

Quantifiable outcome

• First Arabic-language vampire horror film
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic, key infrastructure and distribution.

• JB PicturescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 November 2021US-based production company led by Jeremy Bolt (Resident Evil franchise, Monster Hunter, Polar) as producer of Desert Warrior. JB Pictures co-produced the $100+ million epic feature film set in 7th century Arabia starring Anthony Mackie.
• AGC StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 November 2021AGC Studios handles worldwide sales and distribution for Desert Warrior through its international sales arm AGC International. The partnership also involves co-production financing for the epic feature.
• Alef OnestrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 October 2020Partnership to produce English-language documentary and drama series about Carlos Ghosn's true story. Includes exclusive interviews with Carlos Ghosn and his wife Carol, with French producer Nora Melley attached.
• Image Nation Abu DhabistrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandmark partnership for film, TV, and entertainment production announced at Cannes Film Festival 2019. First project was Bloodline vampire horror film.
• Majid Al FuttaimstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Image Nation Abu Dhabi and MBC Studios for regional film, TV, and entertainment content production.
• twofour54strategicImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAbu Dhabi's media zone providing world-class production facilities, talent development, and training. Built dedicated studio for Inheritance production and provides business support services.
• NEOM Media Industrieskey infrastructureOthersNEOM Media Industries Sector supports production at NEOM in northwest Saudi Arabia. Desert Warrior was the first international feature film shot at NEOM, with the area positioned as a major industry hub.
• Rotana StudiosdistributionChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRotana Studios acquired worldwide distribution rights for Bloodline film via Film Clinic Indie Distribution.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Rotana Studios: Film/TV production arm of Rotana Group, the largest Arab music and media conglomerate. Directly comparable to MBC Studios as a leading Gulf- and MENA-focused production studio producing premium Arabic content for regional and international audiences, with overlapping distribution channels across MENA.
• Image Nation Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi-based film and entertainment production company and a documented co-production partner of MBC Studios (e.g., Bloodline). Closely comparable as a Gulf-region production studio producing premium Arabic and international content with state-aligned backing and a similar tentpole-plus-library business model.
• AGC Studios: International film production and sales company that co-produced Desert Warrior with MBC Studios and handles worldwide distribution through AGC International. Directly comparable as a co-production partner and global distribution counterpart for premium Arabic/MENA-originated content targeting theatrical and streaming windows.
• Telfaz11: Saudi-based digital-first content studio producing premium Arabic series and films, originally via YouTube and now expanding into streaming-original production. Closely comparable as a Saudi content producer targeting Arabic-speaking youth audiences with rising streaming ambitions and an active slate of original Arabic-language titles.

Broad incumbents

• Lionsgate: Major film and television studio producing and distributing premium content globally, including via Starz. Comparable as a broad incumbent with vertically integrated production-distribution capabilities and risk-weighted tentpole projects analogous to MBC Studios' Desert Warrior strategy.
• Miramax: Independent film and television studio with an extensive content library and ongoing premium content production. Comparable as a broad incumbent whose business model of premium feature film production, library monetization, and partnership-based global distribution mirrors MBC Studios' tentpole-plus-library strategy.
• Fremantle: Global production and distribution powerhouse (owned by RTL Group) producing scripted and unscripted television across 60+ countries. Comparable as a large established TV production incumbent with multi-territory regional hubs and global distribution capabilities that compete for talent and IP.
• Banijay: World's largest international content producer and distributor (formed via the Endemol Shine Group acquisition). Comparable as a broad incumbent in TV production with global scale, multi-territory hit shows, and a packaged distribution model that competes directly for talent and IP globally.

Regional players

• Al Jazeera Studios: Production arm of Al Jazeera Media Network producing Arabic and English documentary and drama content across the MENA region. Comparable as a regional broadcaster-producer with Arabic-language content capabilities, though its remit is broader (news/journalism) rather than entertainment-only focus like MBC Studios.
• beIN Media Group: Qatar-based global sports and entertainment broadcaster (subsidiary of beIN Media Group / Qatar's beIN) with regional content production capabilities. Comparable as a regional player pursuing Arabic entertainment content strategy across MENA, though primarily distribution-led (sports rights) with a different monetization model than MBC Studios.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mbc-studios

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 MBC Studios