About Rise of the Witches
Rise of the Witches is a Saudi fantasy adventure series set in an imagined ancient Arabia, before Islam and Christianity, where two rival covens of sorceresses wage a long war for survival and supremacy. Produced by MBC Studios and streaming as a Shahid Original, it was promoted as the largest scripted production ever mounted in Saudi Arabia, built around a predominantly Saudi cast and crew and a heavy investment in practical and visual effects.
The story follows the coven known as Afsaar and its rivals in the Daja coven as betrayal, prophecy and forbidden magic draw their members into escalating conflict. Themes of love, death, revenge and the power of women run through the ten one-hour episodes, which blend large-scale battle sequences with intimate character drama. The series adapts best-selling fantasy novels by Saudi author Osamah Almuslim, whose books built a wide regional readership before the screen version was announced.
Marketed as a milestone for the Saudi screen industry, Rise of the Witches arrived during a period of rapid expansion for locally produced drama on streaming platforms in the Gulf. Its mythic setting, female-led ensemble and franchise ambitions positioned it as a flagship title for MBC Studios and Shahid, aimed at both domestic audiences and the wider Arabic-speaking market.
