Popcorn AI Studio raises $1M pre-seed for Arabic-first AI filmmaking platform

DUBAI — Popcorn AI Studio has raised $1 million in a pre-seed round to build what it describes as the Arab world's first AI-native video production platform.

The round was led by Mohammed Bin Bouta Alharsoosi, an Emirati serial entrepreneur and investor, with participation from Maram Hamam, an angel investor and early backer who joins as an advisor.

The Dubai-based company combines scripting, voiceover, visual generation, lip sync and post-production in a single suite. Its stated edge is language: native Arabic lip sync and support for regional dialects, a gap in the mostly English-first generative video market. The company is an official partner of the El Gouna Film Festival and the Cairo International Film Festival, and is running an AI filmmaking competition tied to El Gouna with a $70,000 prize pool.

Co-founder and chief executive Shady Essam previously founded Dmenta, which was acquired by a regional media group. Co-founder and chief product officer Mohamed Hedar held roles at Alshaya Group and Al Tayer. The new capital will fund AI technology development, platform growth and expansion across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

Watch whether the festival partnerships convert into paying studio and broadcaster clients, the test of whether Arabic-first is a durable moat or a feature global tools will absorb.

Zawya first reported the round.