The head of Middle East broadcaster MBC, Walid al-Ibrahim, made his first appearance Tuesday at company headquarters in Dubai since being detained in Riyadh amid a crackdown on corruption.
Ibrahim – a Saudi national – chaired “a strategy meeting with senior management”, during which he reviewed he group’s “vision for the future and validated growth plans”, said the Middle East Broadcasting Company.
MBC faces growing competition in Saudi Arabia from the Saudi Broadcasting Corporation and its new SBC entertainment channel.
The pan-Arabic broadcaster said it was “shifting a greater focus towards Saudi Arabia and neighbouring markets”.
Ibrahim would continue to serve as chairman, it said.
The MBC head was among dozens of high-profile politicians and business leaders detained in Saudi Arabia as part of an “anti-corruption” campaign launched on November 4 by powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Ibrahim was detained and held at Riyadh’s Ritz-Carlton Hotel until he was released on January 27.
In some cases, Saudi authorities released detainees after reaching financial settlements.
Follow us on
