Media City Qatar’s Film Committee has formed a strategic partnership with entertainment data analytics leader Parrot Analytics, establishing Qatar as the first country in the MENA region to implement a fully data-driven national film financing model. As part of the deal, Parrot Analytics will open a regional commercial office in Doha, enabling real-time support for the country's emerging film ecosystem and broader media industry.
The collaboration aims to integrate Parrot Analytics’ predictive data systems into every stage of the film investment process—from content selection and development to marketing and distribution. This positions Qatar as the region’s first “end-to-end Parrot Analytics powered” film investor, according to the announcement. The move is designed to increase ROI on local productions and elevate Qatar’s profile as a storytelling hub with global competitiveness.
“The initiative aligns with Qatar’s broader ambition to become a hub for storytelling and cultural innovation, combining local identity with data-driven, AI-enabled workflows,” the statement said.
Parrot Analytics is known for quantifying content popularity and commercial value using the industry’s largest global audience dataset. Its platform provides real-time metrics across SVOD, AVOD, FAST, and box office channels, and its client roster includes major studios and streamers like Disney, Amazon Prime Video, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Sony Pictures. It also works with technology giants such as Google and Samsung, academic institutions including Harvard and UCLA, and cultural institutions like the British Film Institute and Spain Trade and Investment.
By integrating Parrot Analytics' tools, producers and creators funded by the Film Committee will gain access to advanced audience analytics and concept testing, helping to inform decisions on genre, casting, distribution strategy, and script development. This is expected to increase the international viability and visibility of Qatar-backed content.
The partnership follows Parrot Analytics' recent report highlighting the global potential of Arabic-language content. Since 2020, global demand for such content has increased more than 13-fold. The report noted that original Arabic series and films are gaining traction with international audiences, pointing to a growing appetite for culturally authentic storytelling from the region.
“This ripple effect is not only measurable in travelability metrics,” the report stated, “but also in increased investment and innovation driven by platforms eager to meet the rising demand for fresh stories from the region.”
The partnership underscores Qatar’s intent to cultivate a world-class film ecosystem through strategic alliances, infrastructure investment, and talent development. Led by Chairman H.E. Hassan Al Thawadi, the Film Committee works closely with national institutions such as the Doha Film Institute and Qatar Media City to amplify the country's cinematic voice globally.