Waleed Nassif: biography
Waleed Nassif is a Lebanese senior filmmaker and senior AI director working across the Middle East. In a career of more than 30 years he has directed films, television, music videos and live events. Today he focuses on AI-powered production. In 2006 he founded WP AI Powered Production, the production company behind his AI films.
Waleed Nassif's name is also spelled Walid Nassif and Walid Nasif; in Arabic it is written وليد ناصيف.
- Founder, WP Production
- Senior Filmmaker
- AI Media Innovator
- Senior AI Director
- AI Creative Consultant
- Senior TV Director
Updated
What does Waleed Nassif do today?
Waleed Nassif directs AI-powered productions through WP AI Powered Production: fully AI-generated films, AI avatars and digital twins, voice synthesis, character development and hybrid shoots that combine AI with live action. Recent clients include Dubai Police, MBC Audio Network, Servcorp in Saudi Arabia and Taif Al Emarat.
Founder and senior director · founded in 2006 Pixel Persona (opens in a new tab), an AI agency that creates virtual AI influencers, models and actors, is also Waleed Nassif's own company.
He continues to work in live events and television: as director of Arab Hope Makers at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai and as senior filmmaker on a 2026 concert by Hussain Al Jassmi in Rabat. His portfolio counts more than 3,000 featured projects for over 320 clients, including more than 500 music videos. Each of his directing and AI production services is described with examples.
Where did he study and teach?
Waleed Nassif, born in Beirut, Lebanon, holds a BA in Communication Arts, Radio and Television from Notre Dame University–Louaize (NDU), where he later taught from 2003 to 2008. Since 2009 he has led workshops on directing, creative production and online content, and more recently on AI filmmaking. See his workshops and talks.
Which productions define his career?
The productions that define Waleed Nassif's career include four years of Cannes Film Festival coverage for Arab Radio and Television and the music format "Tarab" with Marwan Khoury. They also include the UAE National Day 50 live broadcast and Ras Al Khaimah's 2023 New Year show. Since 2025 he has directed AI films for Dubai Police and MBC Audio Network.
The productions below are grouped by period, newest first, from AI-generated films in 2026 back to his first professional work in 1996, two years before he joined Arab Radio and Television. The gallery has photos from his sets.
2023–2026
-
AI-powered production
Fully AI-generated corporate films for MBC Audio Network (MBC FM, Panorama FM, MBC Loud, MBC Mood), a 50-minute AI docu-drama for Dubai Police, an AI opening film for AD Dimension at the Saudi Media Forum 2026, AI work for Abbott in Iraq, the Ministry of Industry in Iraq, SWANK in Dubai and the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals in Doha.
-
AI characters and voices
AI RJ Steve, an AI radio jockey project for Channel 4 Network in the UAE; DJ Rayan, an AI DJ project for Rotana Music; L(ai)la, an AI artist concept; an AI digital twin for a Saudi National Day film.
-
Live shows and formats
Senior filmmaker and director for Arab Hope Makers at Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai (2025 and 2026), and senior filmmaker for a 2026 Hussain Al Jassmi concert in Rabat; executive producer, writer and senior director of "Fi Hob Dubai" for Dubai TV and Dubai Media Office, with Ahlam (2024) and Assala (2025).
-
Saudi Arabia
Executive producer and senior director of "Turuq Al Saudiya", 100 cultural musical films for the Saudi Ministry of Culture (2023); creative senior director and producer for Boulevard World Spain, its opening and an original music video experience (2023); tech creative consultant for Nokia at LEAP in Riyadh (2023–2024).
2021–2022
-
State ceremonies
Senior director of the UAE National Day 50 live broadcast, a full-day broadcast, and of the Dubai Police graduation ceremony at Al Wasl Plaza, Expo 2020 Dubai (February 2022).
-
Museum and immersive films
Senior director, creative lead and executive producer of museum films and a VR film experience for Al Fakhr and the UAE Ministry of Presidential Affairs in Abu Dhabi, and of museum films for Zayed II Military College; director of a UAE 2071 VR and metaverse experience.
-
Ras Al Khaimah New Year
Senior director of the 2023 New Year pyro-musical show in Ras Al Khaimah, for the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority; the show set two Guinness World Records titles.
-
Television
Director of "Otr Kalam" for SBC during Riyadh Season, and senior director on "Al Shifra" for OSN.
2016–2021
-
Tarab with Marwan Khoury
Format creator, senior director and executive producer of the music format "Tarab" on Al Araby TV: 100 episodes across seasons one to three, followed by season five on Alaraby 2 in 2023.
-
Concerts and concert films
Director of Winter at Tantora concerts in AlUla, broadcast across six networks for the Saudi Ministry of Culture, featuring Andrea Bocelli, Yanni, Lionel Richie, Enrique Iglesias and José Carreras; senior director of orchestral concert films at the Cairo Opera House with Hussain Al Jassmi, and with Mohammed Abdo and Angham.
-
National events
Director of the Arab Reading Challenge live initiative at Dubai Opera, UAE National Day 48 events at Al Majaz Amphitheatre and Burj Park, Khorfakkan New Year with Hussain Al Jassmi, and Saber Rebai at the Royal Opera House in Muscat.
-
Campaigns and online content
Concept, direction and production of Najwa Karam's celebrity flash mob "Mal3oun Abou 3ichik" and a live-broadcast music video; the participatory "Yala Nghani" project with Majid Al Mohandis; an interactive film for Chevrolet Tahoe (2021); virtual graduation, reality and corporate film content for Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University.
2009–2015
-
itivi.tv
Founded itivi.tv in 2009, an online channel for original shows, celebrity programming and brand collaborations, including an interactive fan video contest with Nancy Ajram.
-
3D and animation
Directed and executive-produced Najwa Karam's "Ma Fi Nom" (2011), a 3D stereoscopic music video with Sony Middle East and Rotana Music, through his own production company. Gulf News reported (opens in a new tab) that Najwa Karam became the first singer in the Middle East to shoot a music video in 3D. He also created a 2D cel-animation music video.
-
Armed forces films
A musical orchestral film for the UAE Armed Forces (2012) and a musical clip for the Lebanese Army (2013).
1996–2008
-
Arab Radio and Television
Executive director on four years of Cannes Film Festival coverage, with promotional campaigns and corporate films in Italy, Egypt and Lebanon; created, produced and directed more than 100 music videos for Middle Eastern artists.
-
Production company and teaching
Founded his production company in 2006, today WP AI Powered Production; taught at Notre Dame University from 2003 to 2008; directed films for the UAE Armed Forces and the Saudi and Egyptian national football teams.
-
First professional work
Started working professionally in 1996, two years before he graduated from Notre Dame University–Louaize (NDU).
Across the years
-
Television programs
Programs for MBC (CBM, Dandana, Raz Mania, Akhir Man Yaalam, Heya wa Houwa, Aalam Doureid), ART and Orbit (D.Jay, Call Collect, Fame), Disney Channel International, HIT TV, Top of the Pops, and BIAF and DIAFA live festival coverage.
Which awards has he received?
Waleed Nassif has received 12 awards and honours. The 9 below run from Best Arab Director, Music Video (2008) to a DIAFA achievement recognition in Dubai (2018). They include the Murex d’Or for Best Director for Elissa’s “Betmoun” (2009) and a Lions Club International honour (2015).
- 2008 Best Arab Director, Music Video
- 2008 Best Regional Show for CBM on MBC
- 2009 Best Program for D.Jay on ART
- 2009 Murex d’Or, Best Director for Elissa’s “Betmoun”
- 2009 Notre Dame University alumni recognition for professional achievement and leadership
- 2010 Best Director recognition, Lebanese Association for Film and Cinema
- 2015 Lions Club International honour
- 2016 Best Director award
- 2018 DIAFA achievement recognition, Dubai
Which artists has he worked with?
Waleed Nassif has worked with Arab and international artists on music videos, concerts, concert films and TV formats, from Nancy Ajram, Elissa and Majid Al Mohandis to Andrea Bocelli, Yanni and Lionel Richie at Winter at Tantora in AlUla. A selection of 32:
- Yanni
- Enrique Iglesias
- Caracalla
- José Carreras
- Andrea Bocelli
- Kool & the Gang
- Sister Sledge
- Omar Khairat
- Lionel Richie
- Jamiroquai
- Craig David
- Assala
- Hussain Al Jassmi
- Mohammed Abdo
- Angham
- Saber Rebai
- Wael Kfoury
- Nancy Ajram
- Elissa
- Najwa Karam
- Ahlam
- Majid Al Mohandis
- Abdul Majeed Abdullah
- Abdallah Al Rowaished
- Marwan Khoury
- Nawal El Zoghbi
- George Wassouf
- Nassif Zeytoun
- Assi El Hallani
- Fares Karam
- Walid Toufic
- Sherine Abdel Wahab
Where else can you find him?
Beyond this site, Waleed Nassif has an article on Arabic Wikipedia and entries on Wikidata and IMDb, the film and television database. Interviews and press coverage in Arabic and English, including reports on his AI music videos and his talks, are collected on the press page.
Planning an AI production, a film, a music video or a live event?