Special Forces Trilogy, a brand-new reality competition television show hosted by British TV personality Ant Middleton and co-produced by Ti22 Films, will be filmed across the UAE in 2026.
The show will follow 20 individuals on a once-in-a-lifetime experience that includes a test of endurance, perseverance and resilience.
Co-produced by Ti22 Films and Ant Media & Productions, the 10-episode intense reality series will broadcast on OSNtv and stream on OSN+ in 2026.
“I’m thrilled to be bringing my format to the region for the very first time. Special Forces Trilogy is arguably the toughest course on the planet. It’s a competitive journey of self discovery that pushes people to their limits physically, mentally, and emotionally,” said Ant Middleton. “The landscapes of Dubai and Hatta provide the perfect backdrop for this challenge, and I am excited to be working with Ti22 Films and OSN to deliver something truly unique.”
The launch of Special Forces Trilogy follows the growing appetite for reality and competition television in the UAE. In 2024, game-show formats made up 5.3 per cent of series demand, higher than the global average, while unscripted “performance” content accounted for 3.3 per cent of demand, even though there’s very little of it on the market.
Recent research also shows that 65 per cent of UAE residents watch streaming content daily, and 86 per cent use on-demand or streaming services. Reality, action/adventure, and competition formats consistently rank among the highest-demand genres in the UAE and MENA, outperforming global averages.
Special Forces Trilogy also aims to offer advertisers a powerful way to reach audiences and maximise ROI. The show will air on OSN TV and stream on OSN+ the OTT platform, while also delivering digital-first content like behind-the-scenes footage, challenge highlights, and contestant diaries that will be shared across social media, including Ant Middleton’s 1.2m + Instagram followers.
The team behind the new show said global studies prove that integrated reality and adventure sponsorships outperform standard ads in recall, trust, and perception, giving brands tangible marketing value while reaching both traditional and digital-first audiences, including younger demographics that are otherwise hard to engage.
“Special Forces Trilogy represents a defining moment for regional television production – it’s ambitious, highly engaging, and unlike anything audiences here have seen before,” said Reim El Houni, Founder of Ti22 Films.
“Partnering with Ant and OSN will give us the opportunity to deliver something truly original for regional and global audiences alike,” she said.
Special Forces Trilogy aims to be a platform where brands can inherit the show’s aspirational qualities such as resilience, teamwork, endurance, and adventure that creates a stronger, more memorable association that uplifts brand equity and drives marketing impact.
