MVP guide / Saudi Arabia & the GCC
What belongs in the first version of your MVP?
The short answer
Your MVP scope should describe one target user, a problem worth solving and a complete journey that lets that user reach an outcome. Add the minimum operational tools needed to run that journey. Define success and acceptance before listing optional features. A small scope can still need proper permissions, reliable data and useful error states. FLUIDS turns these decisions into a written release plan before design and development begin.
Write a brief a developer can act on.
Use this structure: 'For [user], the product solves [problem]. The user starts by [action], completes [core steps] and receives [outcome]. An admin handles [operation]. We will learn [question] from [observable behaviour].' Add platform, language and integration constraints. This is more useful for estimation than a list of screens copied from a larger competitor.
Separate the essential workflow from later improvements.
Ask what fails if a feature is missing. If the customer cannot complete the main job, or the team cannot safely operate it, it may belong in the first release. If it improves convenience after the journey already works, consider deferring it. Some early operations can be handled manually when ownership and limitations are explicit.
Make acceptance observable.
For each core flow, specify a successful case, a failed case and who can view or change the result. Include empty data, denied permissions and duplicate submissions where relevant. Agree the test environment and the person who approves delivery. Do not equate the number of completed screens with a working customer outcome.
Example: prioritising a booking MVP
| Need | First release | Possible later phase |
|---|---|---|
| Find a service | A small searchable service list | Personalised recommendations |
| Request a booking | Request, confirmation and cancellation rules | Waitlists and group bookings |
| Run the pilot | An admin view with clear responsibilities | Multiple branches and automated allocation |
| Learn from use | Agreed events and direct feedback | Advanced segmentation dashboards |
Your first-release brief
- Target user and the problem to solve
- Start, core steps and end result
- Roles, permissions and admin actions
- Platforms, languages and integrations
- Acceptance criteria, exclusions and feedback plan
Questions about this topic.
How many features should an MVP include?
There is no universal feature count. Include what is necessary to complete the core customer journey and operate it responsibly. Describe workflows and acceptance criteria before counting features.
Do I need an admin dashboard?
Often some admin capability is needed, but its scope depends on who runs the product. A focused record-management screen can be enough for an early pilot; a full reporting suite may not be.
What should be excluded from an MVP?
Features that do not support the core user outcome or the learning goal are candidates for a later phase. Document exclusions so the budget and acceptance process stay clear.
Plan your first release
Practical guides to building an MVP.
Work through your budget, timeline, features and platform choice. Then discuss a scope that fits your idea.
What should your first release do?
Discuss the app or platform you want us to develop, who will use it and the workflow your first release needs to support.
Discuss your MVP