Reclaiming the Arab Narrative: How Trend Art Production Is Telling Stories From the Region, Not Just For It

Reclaiming the Arab Narrative: How Trend Art Production Is Telling Stories From the Region, Not Just For It

What if Arab storytelling didn’t just speak to the region but from it?

That’s what Trend Art Production is creating in Qatar. Through scripted drama, animation, dubbing, and stage productions, the company is reshaping how Arab stories are developed, shared, and celebrated, backed by the opportunity-rich environment of Media City Qatar.

At the center of this vision is Rana Al Halak, the company’s founder and creative lead. With a background spanning Syria, the UAE, and Oman, Rana has always been driven by one thing: telling stories that matter.

“We’ve worked under different identities across the region,” Rana says. “But once we saw the environment Media City Qatar was building, we knew it was time to bring everything together under one banner.”

Building More Than a Studio

Trend Art Production became formally established in Qatar in October 2024, consolidating years of regional experience into a single, powerful creative identity. Focused on creating content that is authentic, regionally relevant, and globally compelling, the studio now offers full-scale production services ranging from drama series, animated programming, and documentaries, to voice work, dubbing, and live theater.

“Qatar gave us clarity,” says Rana. “We had the experience, the content, the people but Media City Qatar gave us a real foundation. The energy here is different. You feel like you’re building something that matters.”

Spotlighting Regional Stories, at Scale

Since settling in Doha, Trend Art Production has begun to deliver on some of its most ambitious projects yet. One of them is a new animated series, developed in-house and supported by Media City Qatar highlighting Arab characters and themes in a format made for modern audiences.

Also, a slate of two 15-episode drama series, developed in collaboration with Arab writers, is now in production and aligned with regional platforms. Lastly, the flagship initiative, “Syria In Our Eyes,” brings together 11 embassies and institutions for a landmark cultural campaign including films, exhibitions, and children’s theatre that reflects Syria’s creative resilience through art and storytelling.“It’s the first major artistic event of its kind since Syria’s liberation,” says Rana. “And none of it would be possible without the environment and trust we’ve found here.”

Investing in the Next Generation

Alongside production, Trend Art Production is investing in the creative future of the Arab world. With workshops, mentorships, and training programs for emerging talent, the company is working to close the gap between passion and opportunity.

“There are so many talented young people in the region,” says Rana. “But they need access. They need support. That’s something we’re committed to changing.”

The company also plans to launch its own distribution platform, enabling greater creative freedom and content ownership across the Arab world, while continuing to expand its Arabic theatre work in Qatar, Egypt, and Syria.

Looking Ahead

As Trend Art Production grows its footprint in Qatar, its mission remains the same: to make storytelling more inclusive, more intentional, and more representative of Arab identities across formats, borders, and generations. And with Media City Qatar’s support, that mission is being realized faster, and with greater impact, than ever before.

“We didn’t come here to operate,” Rana reflects. “We came to create and to open doors for others to do the same.”