MBC Group
MBC Group is a Saudi media conglomerate operating television, radio, streaming, production, talent and digital-media businesses across the Middle East and North Africa.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
MBC Group is a Saudi media and entertainment conglomerate and one of the most influential broadcasting groups in the Middle East and North Africa. The company began in London in 1991 with the launch of MBC 1, described as the first privately owned Arabic satellite television channel. Its founding reflected the emergence of commercially funded Arabic satellite broadcasting, which allowed programming to reach audiences across national borders rather than relying solely on state-controlled terrestrial networks. Founder Waleed bin Ibrahim Al Ibrahim remains closely associated with the group and serves as its chairman. The group expanded its operating base to Dubai in 2002 and subsequently developed a broad portfolio of television channels, radio stations, production companies and digital services. Its television operations have included general entertainment, news, drama, documentary, sports and religious programming aimed at different Arabic-speaking markets. MBC became particularly important in the development of pan-Arab entertainment formats and in the distribution of dubbed international programming. Turkish drama became a major audience phenomenon after MBC introduced its first Arabic-dubbed Turkish soap opera in 2007; the finale of Gümüş reportedly attracted more than 85 million viewers. The company later removed Turkish programming from its channels in 2018, reportedly following direction from Saudi authorities. MBC's digital strategy is centered on Shahid, an over-the-top streaming service offering free and subscription-supported video-on-demand products. Shahid carries MBC programming, Arabic originals, acquired international content and dubbed or subtitled foreign works. A 2020 agreement with Disney and Fox added thousands of hours of international material, including Disney, Marvel and Star Wars titles, alongside new Arabic productions. By December 2024, Shahid was reported to lead the subscription video-on-demand market in the Middle East and North Africa, with approximately 4.4 million subscribers. The group has also expanded upstream into production. MBC Studios, established in 2018, develops Arabic film and television projects for regional and international audiences and has formed partnerships with production companies in Hollywood and London. Its work has included Arabic drama such as Rashash and Rise of the Witches, as well as international co-productions and projects filmed in Saudi Arabia. MBC Academy and MBC Talent Agency extend the group into training and talent representation. MBC Hope, launched in 2013, was created to coordinate social-engagement and community campaigns, including initiatives supporting displaced Syrians and female entrepreneurs. MBC relocated its main operations to Riyadh in 2022 as Saudi Arabia increased its investment in domestic media, entertainment and cultural industries. The group has also explored partnerships with telecommunications companies and international studios, and has shown interest in adjacent digital fields including video games, non-fungible tokens and digital currencies. Ownership and financing changed substantially during the 2020s. In 2023, Istedamah Holding Company, associated with Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Finance, held 60% of the group while the balance was held by Al Ibrahim. MBC announced an initial public offering in 2023, offering 33.25 million new ordinary shares, equivalent to 10% of the post-listing share capital. The shares began trading on Tadawul in January 2024. By October 2024, Istedamah's stake had reportedly declined to 54%, and that stake was transferred to the Public Investment Fund in November 2024. The supplied reference material further describes the PIF as acquiring the 54% interest through Istedamah in 2025. MBC's scale gives it substantial cultural and political visibility. It has faced criticism over editorial positioning, programming decisions, portrayals of race and identity, and the relationship between Saudi media ownership and editorial independence. Despite these controversies, the group remains active and has positioned itself as a central commercial media platform for the region's television, streaming and production ecosystem.
History
MBC Group was established in London in 1991 by Saudi businessman Waleed bin Ibrahim Al Ibrahim. Its first service, MBC 1, was a privately owned Arabic satellite television channel that helped establish a commercially oriented, transnational model for Arabic broadcasting. Instead of serving only one national terrestrial market, the channel could distribute entertainment and other programming to Arabic-speaking viewers across the Middle East and beyond. The company expanded its infrastructure and commercial presence over the following decade. Dubai became an important operating center when MBC expanded there in 2002, placing the group within one of the region's principal media and advertising hubs. MBC subsequently developed a large portfolio of television and radio outlets, using a mixture of locally produced programs, commissioned Arabic drama, news and entertainment formats, and acquired international content. The group's scale made it a leading broadcaster in the region; the supplied reference material records 165 million viewers in 2011. MBC played a major role in the regional circulation of Turkish television drama. In 2007 it broadcast its first Turkish soap opera dubbed into Arabic. The format became highly successful, and the finale of Gümüş was reported to have attracted more than 85 million viewers. In 2018, however, the group removed Turkish programs from its schedules, reportedly in response to Saudi government direction. This episode illustrated the extent to which the company's programming choices could be affected by regional politics and state policy. The group created MBC Hope in June 2013 to organize social-engagement campaigns. Its initiatives included Syrians without an address and Stars on board. In 2017, MBC Hope expanded activity in Egypt, including efforts intended to support female entrepreneurs. These projects broadened the group’s role beyond commercial broadcasting and used its media reach to promote charitable and social-development themes. MBC entered a new phase of vertical integration with the creation of MBC Studios in 2018. The studio was established to produce Arabic films and television series for Middle Eastern audiences, while also building partnerships for internationally oriented projects. Its production slate has included Arabic works such as Rashash and Rise of the Witches. The studio has additionally participated in international co-productions and projects filmed in Saudi Arabia, including Desert Warrior and the filming of Kandahar in the country. The supplied reference material also identifies later participation in The Voice of Hind Rajab and the production of the historical Arabic drama Muawiya. The group's most important digital expansion has been Shahid. Initially developed as a free video-on-demand service, Shahid evolved into an over-the-top platform with both free and premium offerings. It distributes MBC programs, Arabic originals, acquired foreign series and films, and dubbed or subtitled material. In January 2020, a partnership with Disney and Fox added more than 3,000 hours of content, including Disney, Marvel and Star Wars titles, as well as new Arabic originals. By December 2024, Shahid was reported to be the leading subscription video-on-demand service in the Middle East and North Africa, with approximately 4.4 million subscribers. MBC expanded beyond broadcasting and streaming through MBC Academy, MBC Talent Agency and other production and digital initiatives. The group has pursued relationships with telecommunications operators and international studios, and has explored emerging areas such as games, non-fungible tokens and digital currencies. In 2022, it relocated its main operations to Riyadh, aligning the company more closely with Saudi Arabia's national investment in media, entertainment and cultural production. Ownership became increasingly linked to Saudi state institutions during the 2020s. In 2023, Istedamah Holding Company, associated with the Saudi Ministry of Finance, held 60% of MBC while the remainder belonged to Al Ibrahim. The group announced an IPO in the same year, offering 33.25 million new shares equal to 10% of post-listing capital. The offering reportedly raised SAR 831 million. Shares began trading on Tadawul on 8 January 2024 and were reported to have risen substantially during the first weeks of trading. By October 2024, Istedamah's holding was reported at 54%, and the interest was transferred to the Public Investment Fund in November 2024. The supplied reference material further describes a 2025 PIF acquisition through Istedamah. MBC has also faced controversy. Several MBC owners were arrested in Riyadh during the 2017 corruption crackdown; Waleed bin Ibrahim was released after 83 days and was described in the supplied material as having been found innocent. MBC Masr attracted criticism over blackface in comedy programming in 2018–2019. In October 2024, an MBC report that labeled several regional militant and political figures as faces of terrorism led to vandalism of the group's Baghdad office and license suspensions in Iraq and Algeria. These episodes reflect the political sensitivity of operating a large Arabic-language media organization in a region where broadcasting, national identity and state policy are closely connected.
- 2024
Shares begin trading on Tadawul
[1]MBC Group shares begin trading on the Saudi Exchange in January.
- 2024
PIF assumes a 54% interest
[1]A 54% interest previously associated with Istedamah Holding Company is transferred to the Public Investment Fund in November.
- 2023
IPO is announced
[1]MBC announces an offering of 33.25 million new ordinary shares, equal to 10% of post-listing capital.
- 2022
Operations relocate to Riyadh
[1]MBC relocates its main operations to Riyadh and expands its Saudi-based activities.
- 2020
Shahid partners with Disney and Fox
[1]The streaming service adds thousands of hours of international content and new Arabic originals through a partnership with Disney and Fox.
- 2018
MBC Studios is established
[1]The group creates an in-house studio focused on Arabic film and television production and later international co-productions.
- 2013
MBC Hope launches
[1]MBC creates MBC Hope to coordinate social-engagement campaigns.
- 2007
First Arabic-dubbed Turkish soap opera
[1]MBC broadcasts its first Turkish soap opera dubbed into Arabic, helping popularize Turkish drama across the region.
- 2002
Expansion to Dubai
[1]The group expands its operations to Dubai, an important regional media and commercial center.
- 1991
MBC 1 launches in London
[1]MBC Group begins operations with MBC 1, a privately owned Arabic satellite television channel.
Products and positioning
A mass-market Arabic media and entertainment group combining pan-Arab broadcasting reach with Saudi-based production, streaming and digital-media growth.
Television channel · 1991
MBC 1
MBC 1 is the group's original flagship Arabic television channel. Launched in London in 1991, it helped pioneer privately owned pan-Arab satellite broadcasting. Its programming has covered general entertainment, drama, news, talk shows and locally produced formats for Arabic-speaking audiences across the region.
Streaming platform
MBC Shahid
Shahid is MBC's over-the-top video-on-demand service and one of the leading Arabic streaming platforms. It combines free and premium access models and offers MBC programs, Arabic originals, acquired international films and series, and dubbed or subtitled content. A 2020 Disney and Fox partnership significantly expanded its international library.
Film and television production · 2018
MBC Studios
MBC Studios develops Arabic films and television series for regional and global distribution. It has also formed partnerships with international production companies and participated in projects filmed in Saudi Arabia, including Arabic drama, historical productions and international feature-film co-productions.
Social-impact platform · 2013
MBC Hope
MBC Hope coordinates social-engagement and community campaigns using the group's media reach. Its initiatives have included programs related to displaced Syrians, social support and female entrepreneurship, with activity expanding into Egypt in 2017.
Media training
MBC Academy
MBC Academy is part of the group's broader talent and capability-development activities. The supplied reference material identifies it as one of the group's current operating businesses, although detailed program information is not provided.
Talent representation
MBC Talent Agency
MBC Talent Agency extends the group into talent-related services and complements its broadcasting and production operations. Detailed information about its roster and commercial structure is not provided in the reference material.
Controversies
2024
Controversial terrorism-labeling report
An October 2024 MBC report labeled several regional militant and political figures as faces of terrorism. The broadcast was followed by vandalism at the group's Baghdad office and suspension of MBC licenses in Iraq and Algeria.
2018
Blackface criticism involving MBC Masr
MBC Masr faced criticism in 2018 and 2019 over the use of blackface in comedy programming.
2017
Arrests during Saudi corruption crackdown
Several MBC owners were arrested in Riyadh during a Saudi corruption crackdown. Founder Waleed bin Ibrahim was released after 83 days; the supplied material states that he was found innocent.
Marketing campaigns
- 2017MBC Hope female entrepreneurship support
Egypt
MBC Hope expanded into Egypt with initiatives intended to support female entrepreneurs.
- 2013Syrians without an address
Middle East and North Africa
A social-engagement initiative associated with MBC Hope addressing the circumstances of displaced Syrians and people lacking stable homes or documentation.
- 2013Stars on board
Middle East and North Africa
A social-impact campaign coordinated through MBC Hope that used celebrity participation and the group's media reach to promote community engagement.
Brand decisions
2023
Launch initial public offeringOtherBackground
MBC sought public-market access and new capital for continued media and digital expansion.
Action taken
The company offered 33.25 million new ordinary shares, representing 10% of its post-listing share capital.
Aftermath
The offering reportedly raised SAR 831 million, and MBC shares began trading on Tadawul in January 2024.
IPO proceeds. SAR 831 million (2023 IPO)
2022
Relocate core operations to RiyadhStrategyBackground
Saudi Arabia was expanding investment in domestic media, entertainment and cultural industries.
Action taken
MBC relocated its main operations to Riyadh and expanded its Saudi presence.
Aftermath
The move aligned the group more closely with Saudi Arabia's media-development agenda.
2020
Expand Shahid through Disney and Fox partnershipProduct launchBackground
Shahid needed a deeper premium content library as regional streaming competition intensified.
Action taken
The platform added more than 3,000 hours of Disney and Fox content, including Star Wars, Marvel and Disney titles, alongside new Arabic originals.
Aftermath
The partnership strengthened Shahid's combination of Arabic programming and internationally recognized entertainment.
2018
Establish MBC StudiosStrategyBackground
The group aimed to increase control over Arabic content creation and develop productions for regional and international audiences.
Action taken
MBC created an in-house film and television production studio.
Aftermath
MBC Studios expanded into international partnerships and Saudi-based film and television projects.
2007
Adopt Arabic-dubbed Turkish dramaStrategyBackground
MBC sought programming with broad cross-border appeal for Arabic-speaking audiences.
Action taken
The group aired its first Turkish soap opera dubbed into Arabic.
Aftermath
Turkish dramas became highly popular on MBC, with the finale of Gümüş reportedly attracting more than 85 million viewers.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
MBC Group pre-buys O3 Medya's The Hatmaker for Shahid and MENA channels[2]
MBC Group has pre-bought O3 Medya's upcoming Turkish period drama The Hatmaker (Şapkacı Kadınlar) for its streaming platform Shahid and linear channels across MENA. Agreed at Mipcom, the presale is the first international deal for the drama, which distributor Eccho Rights is shopping.
MBC Group announces Marc Antoine d'Halluin as CEO[3]
Reported:
MBC Group announced the appointment of Marc Antoine d'Halluin as its chief executive. He was scheduled to join on January 5; the article does not specify the year for that date.
Sources3 sources
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