Home › Blog › How to Watch MBC and Shahid in Canada

How to Watch MBC and Shahid in Canada

Updated November 2, 2026 · Arabic IPTV Canada team

MBC is one of the most-watched Arabic broadcasters in the world, and its series, talk shows, talent shows and children's programming are part of daily life in many Arabic-speaking homes. Shahid, MBC Group's streaming platform, brings much of that content on demand. For families in Canada, the question is how to get the same experience here: the series everyone is talking about back home, the live shows, and Arabic cartoons for the kids. This guide explains the options and how to combine them.

MBC and Shahid: what is what

MBC is a group of TV channels covering general entertainment, drama, films, kids' content, news and sport, with versions aimed at different audiences across the Arab world.

Shahid is MBC Group's official streaming service. It offers on-demand series, films and shows, including exclusive productions, and some live channels depending on the plan and region. It runs as an app on phones, Smart TVs and streaming devices.

The two are related but not identical. Shahid is mainly about choosing what to watch and when. Live TV is about following a schedule: news as it happens, the evening show, and the moment a new Ramadan episode airs.

Option 1: The official Shahid app

If your family mostly watches series on demand, the official Shahid app is the natural place to start. It is a legitimate subscription service from the content owner, and it supports the creators of the shows you watch.

Things to check before subscribing in Canada:

• Which plans are offered in your region, and their current price.
• Whether the shows you want are available in Canada; catalogues can differ by country.
• Which devices are supported. Most streaming sticks, Android TV and recent Smart TVs have the app.
• Whether live channels are included in the plan you choose.

Prices and catalogues change, so always check on the Shahid website or in your app store rather than relying on articles, including this one.

Option 2: Arabic IPTV for live channels

Arabic IPTV is designed for live TV. Instead of browsing a catalogue, you get Arabic channels organised by category and by country: news, series and drama, kids, religious, sport and national channels from Morocco to the Gulf. Many families use it to keep the TV "on" in Arabic the way they did back home.

We list categories, not specific channel names, because availability depends on current licensing and can change. If MBC channels matter to your family, ask us on WhatsApp for the current lineup, then check them yourself during a free trial. It costs nothing to verify, and you avoid surprises.

Option 3: Combine both

Many households in Canada do exactly this: Shahid for binge-watching series on demand, and an Arabic IPTV subscription for live news, live shows, sport and the general Arabic channels from their country. A single Fire TV Stick or Android TV box can run both apps, so switching takes a few seconds.

Which device should you use?

For a full comparison of hardware, read our guide to the best IPTV box for Arabic channels in Canada.

Ramadan: the busiest season for MBC viewers

Ramadan is when the biggest Arabic drama series and shows premiere, and it is when demand is highest everywhere. If you want to follow the season from Canada, prepare a few weeks ahead: set up your devices, test your connection in the evening, and decide which series you will follow. We have a dedicated guide to Ramadan 2027 Arabic TV in Canada.

Getting a smooth picture

• Wire the TV. Ethernet beats Wi-Fi, especially in apartment towers.
• Check speed on the device. Plan on about 15 Mbps per HD stream.
• Keep apps updated. Both Shahid and IPTV players release fixes regularly.
• Restart the device weekly. Streaming sticks run better after a restart.

Our Firestick setup guide has more fixes for buffering and slow menus.

For kids growing up in Canada

Many parents in Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal tell us the same thing: their children speak English or French at school, and Arabic TV is one of the easiest ways to keep the language alive at home. Arabic cartoons and children's channels, on demand or live, make Arabic part of everyday life instead of a weekend lesson. Set up a kids' profile or a favourites list with only children's channels so they can find them easily.

Egyptian, Gulf, Levantine or Maghreb?

MBC content is often Gulf, Egyptian or Levantine. If your family is North African, you may also want Moroccan, Algerian or Tunisian national channels. See Egyptian TV in Canada and Moroccan TV in Canada for what to look for by country, and our article on Moroccan, Egyptian and Lebanese channels in Canada.

Prices

Our Arabic IPTV plans are a single payment in USD with no contract: 6 months $29.99, 1 year $49.99, 2 years $84.99. See the pricing page. The official Shahid subscription is separate and is paid to Shahid directly. If you are comparing services internationally, you can also look at Golden OTT, our international service.

Summary

For on-demand MBC series, the official Shahid app is the cleanest option. For live Arabic channels by country and category, an Arabic IPTV subscription fills the gap, and many Canadian families use both on the same device. Check what is available in Canada, test before you commit, and prepare early for Ramadan. For more guides, visit the Arabic IPTV Canada home page.

Frequently asked questions

Related: Prices · Free trial · Arabic channels · All articles