Waleed bin Ibrahim Al Ibrahim | |
---|---|
Born | 1962 (age 61–62) Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
Nationality | Saudi Arabian |
Occupation | Chairman of Middle East Broadcasting Company (MBC) |
Years active | 1991 – present |
Waleed bin Ibrahim Al Ibrahim (Arabic: وليد بن إبراهيم آل إبراهيم Walīd bin Ibrahīm Āl Ibrahīm) (born 1962) is a Saudi Arabian businessman, and founder and chairman of Middle East Broadcasting Center, known as MBC Group.[1]
In 2018, the government of Saudi Arabia arranged to acquire 60 percent of MBC, leaving the remaining 40 per cent of the company in Al Ibrahim’s hands.[2] MBC Group said in a statement that Al Ibrahim would retain his stake and had, in his capacity as chairman, reviewed growth plans during a meeting held in the United Arab Emirates on 29 May 2018.[2]
The Saudi Arabian government's acquisition of the MBC stake came against the backdrop of a number of owners and board members of MBC being summoned in 2017 to Riyadh, where they were arrested, accused of corruption, and locked in the Ritz-Carlton. These moves came following years of the Saudi Crown Prince attempting to purchase the media company. After 83 days the company's chief owner Waleed al-Ibrahim was released.[3] A "senior MBC executive" was cited by Arabian Business as stating that Waleed al-Ibrahim was found innocent of any wrongdoing.[4]