Dubai-based advertising technology startup POPCORN (PopcornStudio.ai) has launched a new AI-powered platform that enables brands, agencies, and content creators to generate professional video advertisements within minutes using nothing more than a product link.
The platform is designed to automate the entire video production process, offering an end-to-end workflow that includes creative concept development, scriptwriting, visual effects, voiceovers, virtual actor selection, and lip-sync synchronization. By eliminating the need for traditional production resources such as film crews, studios, and lengthy editing processes, POPCORN aims to significantly reduce production time and costs.
A key differentiator for the platform is its proprietary Arabic lip-sync technology, which was specifically developed to recognize Arabic as a diverse collection of regional dialects rather than a single standardized language. This enables advertisers to create localized video content tailored to specific audiences across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
The platform can distinguish between multiple dialects within the same country, including Hijazi and Najdi dialects in Saudi Arabia, as well as Cairene and Sa’idi dialects in Egypt. It also supports a wide range of dialectal variations across the region, including Riyadhi and Northern Saudi dialects, Alexandrian and Nubian dialects in Egypt, Moroccan Arabic, and Amazigh languages in North Africa.
“Arabic is not a single language from a marketing perspective,” said Shady Essam, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of POPCORN. “Every region, every city, and sometimes every community has its own way of expression. We built POPCORN to reflect this reality and help brands create video content that feels more authentic, relevant, and culturally aligned with their audiences.”
Mohamed Haidar, Chief Product Officer at POPCORN, emphasized that dialect precision was central to the platform’s development from the outset.
“Dialect accuracy was not a feature added later; it is the engineering foundation upon which the platform was built,” Haidar said. “Our objective is to make AI-generated video more realistic, engaging, and contextually relevant for local audiences.”
The company reported strong early adoption following the platform’s launch. Within its first 15 days, POPCORN attracted more than 2,800 users, including content creators, marketers, advertising agencies, and businesses across the MENA region.
To support localization efforts, the platform currently offers more than 200 AI-generated virtual personas designed specifically for Gulf and broader Middle Eastern audiences, providing advertisers with a wide range of presentation styles and audience-specific options.
As demand for AI-driven content production continues to accelerate, POPCORN is positioning itself as a regional player focused on Arabic-language advertising. The company believes its technology can help brands scale content production more efficiently while maintaining the cultural and linguistic nuances that are critical to successful marketing campaigns in the Arab world.
Founded by Shady Essam, the entrepreneur behind influencer marketing company DMENTA, which was later acquired by ArabyAds Group, and Mohamed Haidar, a digital growth and retail executive with leadership experience at Alshaya Group and Al Tayer Group, POPCORN aims to reshape the future of digital advertising production across the region.
