Dubai-based Popcorn Studio AI raises $1M pre-seed for Arabic-first AI filmmaking
Dubai-based Popcorn Studio AI announced on October 18 that it has secured $1 million in pre-seed funding, Wamda reported. The round was led by Emirati entrepreneur and investor Mohammed Bin Bouta Alharsoosi.
Founded in 2026 by Egyptian entrepreneurs Shady Essam and Mohamed Hedar, Popcorn runs an AI video production platform for filmmakers, content creators, agencies and brands. It brings scriptwriting, character development, scene generation, voiceovers, lip-sync and post-production into one workflow.
Arabic-language content is central to the product, with native Arabic lip-sync and support for regional dialects.
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The money will go into AI development, new products and growth across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, along with international partnerships. The company has not disclosed its valuation, revenue or user numbers.
Popcorn has also announced an AI filmmaking competition linked to the El Gouna Film Festival, with a $70,000 prize pool.
“Our ambition isn’t to replace filmmakers. It’s to remove the barriers between imagination and execution,” said Shady Essam, co-founder and CEO.
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