Waleed Al Ibrahim

Waleed bin Ibrahim Al Ibrahim is a Saudi Arabian businessman and founder and chairman of MBC Group Company, an Arab TV broadcaster originally called Middle East Broadcasting Center. Born in 1962 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Al Ibrahim pioneered modern Arab media as one of the creators of modern Arab media and owner of the first Arab satellite channel.

Al Ibrahim received education in Oregon, USA, during the 1980s and completed his higher education there. During the 1990s, he was a shareholder and member of the Board of Directors of United Press International, and he also served as Chairman of the Board until the early 1990s. After completing his university education, Al Ibrahim founded the ARA Productions and Television Studios (ARAvision) in Saudi Arabia.

Career History

• Chairman, Board of Directors at United Press International (1990s)
• Founder and Chairman, ARA Productions and Television Studios (ARAvision)
• Founder and Chairman, MBC Group (launched 1991; currently operates 13 satellite-broadcast channels including Al Arabiya)

MBC Group was founded in London in 1991, launching the first independent Arabic satellite TV station. Al-Ibrahim launched Al Arabiya in March 2003 as Al Jazeera's main competitive news channel. In 2018, the government of Saudi Arabia arranged to acquire 60 percent of MBC, leaving the remaining 40 per cent of the company in Al Ibrahim's hands, and MBC Group listed its shares in Saudi Arabia in late 2023; Al Ibrahim owns a 36% stake, while the Saudi Public Investment Fund owns 54%.

Al Ibrahim's industry recognition includes receiving the Knight Award from the Arab League in 2006 and being named Man of the Year in the field of media in 2008. He was chosen to be ranked 27 among the 100 most influential people by Arabian Business in 2007, and received the King Abdulaziz Order of Merit, the highest civilian honor in the Kingdom, for his success in the media and broadcasting world.

What Waleed Al Ibrahim could bring to his role as Founder and Chairman at MBC Group: Based on his documented career, Al Ibrahim brings transformative vision in Arab media infrastructure, proven track record of scaling media enterprises from startup to regional dominance with 13+ channels, deep expertise in news and entertainment broadcasting, strategic expansion capabilities (London to Dubai to Riyadh headquarters moves), and decades of experience navigating complex regulatory and political environments in the Middle East while building commercially viable, pan-Arab content platforms.