New International Million Dollar Island Seasons

New seasons of Talpa Studios’ Million Dollar Island format have been commissioned for MBC in the Middle East and NET5 in the Netherlands.

Blue Engine Studios has just completed a season of the Dutch production, titled Million Dollar Desert, and is now working on the second season of the MBC version, Million Dollar Land (Ard Al Malyon). Both iterations are produced at the NEOM production hub in Saudi Arabia.

Across the new seasons of the format, 30 contestants face the ultimate test of endurance as they navigate the harsh and breathtaking challenges of desert life.

“We are very excited to expand the success of Million Dollar Island with these captivating spin-offs,” said Sebastian van Barneveld, director of global distribution at Talpa Studios. “The show preserves the core principles that have made the original so compelling while introducing innovative new elements that are perfectly suited to NEOM’s stunning desert scenery.”

Wayne Borg, managing director of media industries for NEOM, commented, “Over the last two years, NEOM has become the regional hub for content creation, boasting state-of-the-art infrastructure, sound stages and attractive production incentives, alongside a rich talent pool. Through successful partnerships with industry leaders like Talpa Studios and Blue Engine, NEOM has emerged as the international format hub in the region for premium unscripted television productions. This success ensures a robust pipeline of productions and affords opportunities to accelerate our media ecosystem while training the next generation of talent.”

“We are thrilled to be at the forefront of bringing innovative and culturally relevant content to the Arab world,” added Ziad Kebbi, CEO of Blue Engine Studios. “Our collaboration with NEOM and Talpa Studios underscores our commitment to producing high-quality entertainment that resonates with audiences.”