JEDDAH: Al-Asoof (‘Winds of Change’) was a big hit for last year’s MBC Ramadan lineup. Now the next instalment is due to air over the Holy Month and depicts events surrounding the 1979 terrorist attack at the Makkah Grand Mosque orchestrated by Juhaiman Al-Otaibi and his group of followers.
It focuses on a Riyadh family at a time of great transformation in the Kingdom.
Written by Abdulrahman Al-Wabil and directed by Muthanna Sobh, the cast included Naser Al- Qasabi, Abdul-Ellah Al-Sanani, Habib Al-Habib, Laila Al-Salman, Afnan Fuad, Reem Abdullah
The second season delves into the aftermath of the massacre, its impact on the wider Saudi society as well as the rise of the Islamic Awakening movement.
Speaking exclusively to Arab News, Ali Jaber, the director of MBC Group Television, said:
“Al-Asoof 2 tackles a major historical event of Saudi Arabia through its plot and dramatic tension which is an important process in the
formation of the present society.
“I believe that MBC to have the courage to tackle a very important and long-lasting effect of the Juhaiman incident is something very important,” he told Arab news.
“Discussing important events and issues have to come available for media to evaluate, criticize, develop, and look into,” Jaber said.
He added that MBC’s message in producing such a show, as a media company, was to make compelling television for its core Saudi audience.
“They (MBC Group) want to reflect and expose the reality of their audience’s life leading up to Juhaiman who turned life in Saudi Arabia upside down and pushed the country and society to a more conservative way of life.”
Relevancy is key according to Jaber.
He said that bringing forth a true image of Saudi Arabia before the Awakening Movement was an important part of the drama.
“We want to produce a drama series about life in Saudi Arabia in the 70s, 80s, and up to the 90s.”
He added: “We believe that life in the pre-Awakening Saudi Arabia was a different life from what it is now, we see that the openness and the good beautiful life was always there in the Kingdom.”
Commenting on Saudi Arabia’s current transformation, he said: “The message is that Saudi Arabia now opening up is something hugely important and it requires diving deep into.”
Al-Asoof 2 is set to be broadcast for MBC channel 1 exclusively in Ramadan.
‘Winds of Change’ drama recalls 1979 Makkah Grand Mosque attack
‘Winds of Change’ drama recalls 1979 Makkah Grand Mosque attack
- The next instalment is due to air over the Holy Month and depicts events surrounding the 1979 terrorist attack at the Makkah Grand Mosque orchestrated by Juhaiman Al-Otaibi and his group of followers
- The second season delves into the aftermath of the massacre, its impact on the wider Saudi society as well as the rise of the Islamic Awakening movement
Shahid, Disney+ and OSN+ launch exclusive streaming bundle across GCC
- Bundle available exclusively visa Shahid for $25 a month
RIYADH: In a landmark regional collaboration, Shahid, Disney+, and OSN+ have announced an exclusive streaming bundle that brings together world-class hits from the three platforms under a single subscription in a first-of-its-kind offer for audiences in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
The all-in-one entertainment package, available only through Shahid in the GCC for about $25 a month, grants subscribers full access to three leading platforms covering Hollywood blockbusters, Disney+’s expansive range of beloved films, animations and series, OSN+’s library of HBO originals and international hits, and Shahid’s Arabic premium content.
The bundle is designed to simplify subscription management with a unified payment model, allowing viewers to access all three apps at the price of two and offering a streamlined user experience.
Natasha Matos-Hemingway, chief commercial and marketing officer at Shahid, said the partnership reflects a broader effort to expand digital entertainment offerings in the Middle East, catering to a growing audience seeking diversity, convenience and high-quality programming.
“We are proud to collaborate with OSN+ and Disney+ to offer an unmatched streaming experience to our subscribers,” she said. “With one subscription, one payment, and full access to premium content from all three platforms, we’re delivering unbeatable convenience, value and entertainment.”
With a growing demand for high-quality on-demand content, the bundle is expected to attract a wide range of users seeking comprehensive entertainment without juggling multiple subscriptions.
The move also signals increasing cooperation between global media giants and regional platforms, in a bid to meet the entertainment preferences of Arab audiences while expanding market reach.
Karl Holmes, SVP and general manager at Disney+ EMEA, said the collaboration will bring award-winning series like FX’s “Shogun” and favorites such as “Lilo & Stitch” into a unique bundle with Shahid’s regional hits including “Al Dariya.”
The agreement “reflects a shared ambition between Disney+ and Shahid to shape the future of entertainment in the Middle East,” said Holmes. “The Middle East is young, dynamic and fast-growing, and we’re delighted to give consumers a new and easy way to access extraordinary content at exceptional value.”
Choucri Khairallah, chief business officer at OSN+, said the partnership takes OSN+’s entertainment experience “to the next level.”
He added: “Today’s audiences expect more than great content; they seek seamless access, variety and exceptional value. This all-in-one bundle delivers exactly that.”
