Sheikh Waleed, owner of MBC, expands his empire

Sheikh Waleed Al Ibrahim of Saudi Arabia, owner of Middle East Broadcasting Company (MBC) and media tycoon of the Arab world is expanding his media empire on a big level.

After he launched MBC Films, earlier in the year, he is investing in Mark Gill and Neil Sacker's Film Department with the aim to make MBC Group the Arab world's foremost content provider and delivery platform.

Last year, MBC Group tied up with Saudi singer Rashid Al Majed for music channel Al-Wanasah.

Sheikh Waleed is credited for inventing the pan-Arab satellite television boom when he launched MBC, the region's first privately owned satcaster in 1991.

MBC 1 took to the airwaves during the Gulf War in 1991 with the first independent pan-Arab news. Today, boasting one of the most popular family news services in the region and with a strong commitment to local programming, from drama series to hit reality TV, it continues as the number one family viewing option in the region.

Initially the company was set up in London and after 10 years Sheikh Waleed shifted base to Dubai and has been earnestly working towards making the media open up more in the region.

Though he has had his share of confrontation with several religious and political entities here, the leader has taken all problems in his stride and believes this is a part of the game.

Sheikh Waleed believes there is no limit to expansion and things are happening faster than he had thought. "It's becoming more than I planned myself. I think my role is fading."

"It's not anymore the one-man show that it was in the early 90s when we could only see less than a metre in front of us. If there's anything that I want to accomplish today, it is to have a system in place… whether I'm there or not. It's not anymore about me," Sheikh Waleed was quoted saying in an interview to the media.