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Sand, sweat and high stakes

What happens when a global survival format gets a cultural reboot in the heart of Neom? In an exclusive interview with Vijaya Cherian, Blue Engine's Ziad Kebbi and MBC's Hussein Jaber explain how they turned an international hit into a distinctly Arab spectacle, powered by raw emotion and regional authenticity. Set against the dramatic backdrop of Saudi Arabia's Neom region, Million Dollar Island brought a daring new twist to reality television. Season 2 returned to the Middle East with a sharper edge, a more intimate cast and a desert twist that has attracted audiences far beyond the region. Rebranded as Million Dollar Land (or Ard Al Malyon), the Arabic-language version was filmed entirely in Neom under the creative direction of Blue Engine Studios and with the full backing of MBC Group. 'It's a partnership rooted in trust and aligned ambition,' says Ziad Kebbi, founder of Blue Engine Studios and Executive Producer of the show. 'MBC has the regional muscle and reach; Blue Engine brings the creative edge and executional agility. We complement each other in the best way, challenging each other, pushing boundaries, but always with the same goal: to elevate the content landscape in the region.' But there's more to it than survival drama and big-money suspense. At its heart, this is a show about identity, resilience and how global storytelling can take on new meaning when rooted in Arab values, say the duo. 'We flipped the script,' explains Kebbi. 'No one had ever done a desert version before. We didn't just relocate the geography; we redefined the cultural texture. From how competition is framed to the way alliances and group dynamics are portrayed, we built the format around values like trust, honour, resilience and respect for others. The tone of interaction, the story arcs, even how we depict conflict is all intentionally filtered through a regional lens. This isn't just an Arab version of a Western show, it's a rooted, reimagined take that stands on its own.' Kebbi, a long-time champion of international formats adapted for Arab audiences, knows how to find that sweet spot between global appeal and regional authenticity. For him, Million Dollar Land 'isn't just a survival show or entertainment'. He calls it 'a layered social experiment'. 'What fascinated me was the psychological interplay, the ever-shifting alliances and the way it unearths primal human behaviour under pressure. I saw an opportunity to localise those dynamics and make them culturally relevant. It's rare to find a format that's both epic in scale and deeply emotional. That duality is what pulled me in.' The format has already proved successful. In its first season, it quickly became the highest-rated non-scripted programme on MBC. 'Audiences were hooked. They rooted for some, plotted against others and fully immersed themselves in the ride. It wasn't just background TV; it became a weekly conversation starter. And let's not even talk about the visuals. Neom gave us a backdrop that made every frame feel cinematic. People weren't just watching a show, they were watching a spectacle,' says Kebbi. Now, with season 2 introducing only 30 contestants (down from 100), the stakes are more personal and less predictable. 'We wanted to go deeper,' says Hussein Jaber, Senior Programme Manager at MBC Group. 'Fewer contestants meant richer stories. The result is a more intense emotional arc that connects across the Arab world.' Kebbi elaborates: 'In season 2, we focused on filming in a deeply intimate way, capturing raw, unfiltered emotions with zero manipulation or scripting. We let reality unfold on its own, and what came through is powerful, unexpected and very real. This season brings unparalleled moments to the screen, ones that will cause gasps, awe and a flurry of emotions. And of course, we made sure to design water cooler moments that drive conversation and reaction. Think shocking twists, emotional reckonings and scenes that stick with you long after the episode ends. This isn't just a show, it's an emotional rollercoaster waiting to be talked about.' That depth, Kebbi notes, is the result of a team that brought both technical mastery and cultural sensitivity to the table. 'Director and Head of Production Jenane Mandour, Producer Nadine Smayra and our Content Producer Jad Azzam played key roles in shaping the narrative,' he says. That emotional resonance is what both Jaber and Kebbi believe makes the show work in this market. 'Audiences here want to see themselves reflected – people who sound like them, look like them, carry their stories and what they stand for. And they want complexity. They don't want to be spoon-fed,' explains Kebbi. The setting, of course, plays its own starring role. Neom's surreal desert backdrops elevate the show into something cinematic. But producing there comes with its own set of challenges. 'Neom is a beast in the best way,' Kebbi says. 'Logistically it's remote and ambitious, which presents challenges in infrastructure and access. But the flip side? You're standing in a landscape that looks like Mars and shoots like a dream. The visual scale is cinematic.' Jaber agrees: 'The location was stunning and futuristic, perfect for the show. Even though logistics were a bit tougher in terms of weather and proximity, it was worth it for the result on screen.' From Format to Franchise Talpa Studios, which created the original Dutch version, is now expanding the format internationally, with Million Dollar Land in the Middle East and Million Dollar Desert airing on NET5 in the Netherlands. Blue Engine Studios has been key to that evolution, not just executing the Middle East edition but helping bring other productions to the site as well. 'Season 1 made such an impact that it inspired the Dutch to shoot their next season here,' Kebbi says. 'That's a testament to the concept and to what Neom can offer.' The changes in season 2 go beyond cast size. New plot twists like the sudden disappearance of 10 bracelets (each worth $10,000) inject new layers of strategy and tension. 'That mystery kicks off the game with a bang,' says Kebbi. 'It's not just about surviving anymore; it's about decoding the game.' Culture Takes Precedence Every element of Million Dollar Land has been adapted with cultural consciousness at its core, says Kebbi. 'We understand this region – its complexities, its sensitivities and its deep-rooted values. That awareness isn't just a checkbox; it's embedded into every decision we make, from format tweaks to how we cast and guide interactions on set. And that extends to the contestants themselves. Everyone carries a deep respect for the cultural nuances of the countries they come from, and what's even more rewarding is seeing how eager they are to learn about each other's differences.' Jaber adds that the production went to great lengths to avoid the kind of confrontation-heavy content that often dominates Western reality formats. 'We prioritised storytelling that felt real. Family. Ambition. Roots. We made sure everything, including scripts, scenes, even tone, was authentic. We kept the thrill but grounded it in the Arab values of trust, growth and unity. Diverse casting and thoughtful challenge design made it relatable and inclusive.' That attention to nuance even shows up in unscripted moments. Kebbi recalls a powerful early scene: 'Without any intervention or instruction, the men in the game instinctively built shelters for the women to shield them from the rough desert environment and to provide them with a private space. That wasn't scripted. That was cultural DNA at work, and it was beautiful. This was an environment where cast and crew understood the line between drama and disrespect. And when that's your starting point, you rarely need to course-correct.' Connecting Across Borders For both Kebbi and Jaber, the show's success is proof that Arab audiences are ready for more emotionally complex, high-concept reality formats, especially when they're localised with care. 'The region was ready for a bold, emotional adventure. Neom gave us a dramatic canvas, and the format felt tailor-made for stories of loyalty, survival and community,' Jaber notes. 'We cast wide, hit key platforms and used social media smartly – teasers, BTS, polls. Mohamed El Shehri's hosting helped anchor the connection.' Blue Engine and MBC are already looking ahead, Kebbi reveals. 'We're working hard to establish this as a franchise that keeps coming back. The ultimate goal is to make this show the go-to place for anyone who wants to challenge themselves under extreme conditions and walk away with life-changing lessons. We've got exciting plans for future seasons, maybe even a celebrity version. We're also actively working to bring in other countries from around the world to film their own versions in this challenging desert environment.' He adds: 'This could be the franchise that keeps evolving. We're not done yet. Every format we've adapted has either struck gold or taught us how to refine. And we're just getting started.'