Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, in partnership with MBC Group, first private free-to-air satellite broadcasting company in the Arab World, announced the launch of SHAHID application, the region’s leading video on demand (VOD) service. As a regional first, Samsung Smart TVs across the MENA will feature the SHAHID application.
SHAHID application and SHAHID.NETare currently available for viewers to catch up on their favorite TV shows and series. The region’s leading VOD, recorded 284 million media views in 2013 only. The new application is now available for viewers to enjoy what they have missed on TV, from series to shows and to global formats.
“The television experience is rapidly evolving for viewers across the MENA region,” said Choong Ro Lee, president of Samsung MENA. “We at Samsung are dedicated to create new and innovative ways to deliver best viewing experience, and with our partnership with MBC Group we will continue offering viewers the content they want, when they want in a new MENA consumer lifestyle. As a leader in the visual display market, Samsung’s Smart TV lineup offers a powerful platform for SHAHID service, providing viewers with unrivaled picture quality and the ultimate front row experience as they enjoy premium content.”
SHAHID experience will be enhanced further by Samsung’s Curved UHD TVs, which usher in a new era of immersive viewing. The curved screen gives video content a wider field of view, creating a panoramic effect that brings images to life, while enveloping viewers in true-to-life clarity and detail.
Sam Barnett, MBC Group CEO, stated: “Since 2007, SHAHID has made the best Arabic content available on VOD. Recent upgrades to the service have also made it easier to search and faster to watch. We’re now ensuring that this popular service is accessible across different devices. So we’re delighted to announce this partnership with a leading company like Samsung and to have SHAHID available on Samsung Smart TVs. SHAHID viewers will be able to choose between SD and HD picture viewing to match their broadband network and speed.”
Samsung partners with MBC to launch SHAHID application
Samsung partners with MBC to launch SHAHID application
25,000 attend Social Development Bank’s DeveGO25 forum
The Social Development Bank concluded the second edition of the Entrepreneurship and Modern Business Practices Forum — DeveGo 2025 — announcing the achievement of high-impact outcomes that further reinforced the forum’s position as the largest national platform in the region dedicated to entrepreneurship, innovation, and freelance work in Saudi Arabia and beyond.
The forum witnessed broad participation from local and international experts, investors, entrepreneurs, and representatives of local, regional, and international institutions.
Over three days at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center, the forum drew 25,000 participants and visitors, who benefited from over 45 specialized workshops and over 2500 advisory sessions delivered by more than 70 consultants and experts.
The sessions covered key areas including entrepreneurial planning, business models, venture capital, digital platforms, freelancing, and emerging technologies.
The forum also featured 20 panel discussions with leading local and international speakers, addressing major global trends in entrepreneurship, including the future of artificial intelligence, the creative economy, digital transformation, and venture investment.
The forum saw the launch of the Saudi Empretec Fellowship, in the presence of Rebeca Grynspan, secretary-general of the UN Conference on Trade and Development.
The partners in success within the Social Responsibility Portfolio supporting entrepreneurs were honored.
It also saw the honoring of 13 winners of the Handicrafts Competition, representing various regions of the Kingdom, the announcement of winners of the Salam Award for Promising Projects, and the recognition of leading entrepreneurial projects fund under the Enterprises Track.
In addition, the NEXT UP Challenge concluded on the third day of the forum with 20 startups presenting their projects to more than 500 investors, enhancing opportunities for networking and partnership building.
As part of efforts to strengthen the support ecosystem, the forum witnessed the signing of 51 agreements, along with the launch of a suite of new financing products. These included the Capital Expansion Product with a ceiling of up to SR10 million, the Payroll Product with a ceiling of SR2 million, and the Rental Product with a ceiling of SR1.5 million, aimed at supporting enterprises in asset development and covering operational costs.
This reflects the bank’s direction toward offering more specialized financing tools that respond effectively to market needs.
The forum concluded by reaffirming its role as a unifying national platform for entrepreneurship, where accompanying activities and events provided direct engagement opportunities between entrepreneurs, investors, and experts.
The forum also highlighted success stories and practical experiences that reflect the scale of entrepreneurial momentum in the Kingdom and the growing role of the Social Development Bank in supporting a national economy driven by innovation and knowledge.
