Media City Qatar Leadership Team

H.E. Sheikh Dr. Abdulla bin Ali
Al Thani

His Excellency Sheikh Dr. Abdulla bin Ali Al Thani, Ph.D., is Chairman of Media City Qatar and Advisor to the Amiri Diwan.

He serves as Chair of the Executive Board and Vice Chairman of the Board of Regents at Qatar University, Vice Chair of the Board and Managing Director of Qatar Leadership Centre, and Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies. Dr. Al Thani is also Chairman of the Arab International Academy.

He sits on the board of Georgetown University, is a Life Member of the Baker Institute for Public Policy, and is on the International Advisory Council of the American University of Beirut.

Previously, he served as Vice President of Education at Qatar Foundation; he was the founding President of Hamad Bin Khalifa University; and he also led the strategic planning for the project to build Qatar National Library. He was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2011 for his contributions to education. In 2012, he received the Magisterio Prize for Education Leaders, presented by Her Majesty Queen Letizia of Spain, in recognition of his role as founding Chairman of the World Innovation Summit for Education.

A long-time patron of the arts, Dr. Al Thani was awarded the title of Commandeur, Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, by the Republic of France. He is the founder of Al Markhiya Gallery for Arab art and East Wing, a global platform for photography. He is active in supporting Qatar Museums’ cultural initiatives and is President of Lusail Museum.

Dr. Al Thani earned a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Southampton, a Master of Science from Colorado State University, and a Bachelor of Science from Qatar University, where he also taught engineering.

H.E. Mr. Hassan bin Abdulla
Al Thawadi

His Excellency Hassan Al Thawadi is the Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, the entity that coordinates Qatar’s government and private entities involved in the implementation of infrastructure and development projects for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™ and was the Chairman of the National Organizing Committee for the 2022 FIFA World Cup™, the organizer of the events.

In July 2020, H.H. the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani appointed H.E. Al Thawadi as a member of the Board of Directors of Qatar Investment Authority. H.E. Al Thawadi also served as the General Counsel of the Qatar Investment Authority.

H.E. Al Thawadi holds positions on the boards of important national entities, including Katara Hospitality, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Northwestern University in Qatar, Qatar Museums, Qatar Railways, Qatar International Islamic Bank, and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research.

H.E. Al Thawadi studied law and graduated from the University of Sheffield in Britain. He speaks four languages (Arabic, English, Spanish and French).

Dr. Hassan Mohammed
Al Ansari

Dr. Hassan Mohammed Al Ansari is an Advisor at the Amiri Diwan of the State of Qatar. In addition to this important advisory role, Dr. Al Ansari is the Editor-in-Chief of the well-known English newspaper Qatar Tribune. Dr. Al Ansari’s commitment to positive change extends beyond journalism and his diverse professional responsibilities, as he is also an active member of the Board of Directors of the Qatar Society for Rehabilitation of Special Needs and the Qatar Special Needs Sports Federation.

Dr. Al Ansari has in-depth experience and knowledge of the history of the Arabian Gulf and the Middle East, as well as American studies, and has devoted much of his time to teaching these subjects to Qatar University students, and through his deep experience, insight, and commitment to many issues, he contributes to academia, journalism, and improving the conditions of society as a whole.

Dr. Al Ansari holds a Ph.D. in Middle Eastern History from Ann Arbor University in Michigan.

Mr. Nasser bin Fahad
Al Khater

With a career spanning more than two decades of extensive experience in mega-event planning and delivery, marketing and communications, as well as organisational and national development, Mr. Nasser Fahad Al Khater is a leading figure in establishing Qatar’s global standing as a premier sporting destination. He currently serves as Chief Advisor for Tournament Operations at the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) and as an Executive Board Member of Qatar’s Local Organising Committee for Football Events (LOC).

Under its expanded mandate, the SC now oversees the coordination, planning and delivery of major events across Qatar, building on the expertise and legacy established through the success of 2022.

As a member of the LOC’s Executive Board, Al Khater has played a central role in cementing Qatar’s standing as football’s most trusted host on the global stage. Recently, the LOC made history by delivering a succession of landmark tournaments in 2025: the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025, the first 48-team tournament in FIFA’s history; the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025, which reunited the Arab world’s footballing nations on home soil; and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2025.

As Chief Executive Officer of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 LLC, the joint venture between the State of Qatar and FIFA established in 2019, Al Khater led the delivery of what is widely hailed as the best World Cup ever,” and the first edition of the tournament to be held in the Middle East and Arab world. Under his leadership, the tournament redefined global expectations, set new operational benchmarks, broke numerous records and delivered an exceptional fan experience, welcoming over 1.4 million fans to Qatar.

Al Khater’s imprint on the tournament began in 2009, when he joined the Qatar 2022 Bid Committee, overseeing media and marketing campaigns that propelled Qatar’s historic bid to host the tournament. He then rose through a series of senior leadership positions at the SC, including Chief of Experience and Tournament Readiness, Assistant Secretary General of Tournament Affairs, and Executive Director of Marketing and Communications.

Prior to joining the Qatar 2022 Bid Committee, Al Khater helped shape Qatar’s national development agenda, working in Qatari government agencies on development strategies for small and medium-sized enterprises and leadership development programmes, which contributed to the establishment of Enterprise Qatar and the Qatar Leadership Centre.

He built his early career in Qatar’s world-leading oil and gas sector at Qatar Shell, preceded by five years in financial services at HSBC. Al Khater holds a degree from Suffolk University in Boston, Massachusetts.

Mr. Ali bin Saleh
Al Sada

Mr. Ali bin Saleh Al Sada serves as General Manager of Qatar Television, bringing more than two decades of professional and media experience to the role. Throughout his career, he has held a range of technical, programming, and leadership positions across the media sector.

Al Sada began his career at Qatar Petroleum (now QatarEnergy), where he worked for four years before joining Al Jazeera in 2003. He remained with the network until 2012, holding several technical positions that broadened his experience and strengthened his expertise in the media field.

In 2012, Al Sada joined Qatar Television’s Development Committee on secondment from Al Jazeera to contribute to the television network’s development phase. In this role, he established and headed the new Directing Department. He then continued his career at Qatar Television, holding several managerial and leadership positions, including Assistant Director of Programs and later Director of Programs.

In March 2022, Al Sada was tasked with overseeing Qatar Television's management on an interim basis before being formally appointed General Manager of the television network in February 2023, a position he continues to hold today.

Dr. Saud bin Abdullah Al Attiyah

Dr. Saud bin Abdullah Al Attiyah is the Deputy Undersecretary for Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Finance. He previously held the position of Director of Economic Policies and Research Department at the Ministry of Finance and was also in charge of managing the Public and Private Partnership Department from 2014.

Dr. Al Attiyah is a Board Member of Qatar Postal Services Company (Q-Post), Chairman of the Economic Diversification and Private Sector Development Strategy within the National Development Strategy 2018 – 2022, Vice Chairman of the Executive Technical Committee for improving the business environment at H.E. the Prime Minister’s office, Vice Chairman of Aspire Sport Accelerator, and has served as Chairman of Lusail Circuit Sports Club since 2015.

Previously, Dr. Al Attiyah served as Director of Legacy Department at the Supreme Committee for Legacy & Delivery from 2011 to 2014, and also as a member of various advisory and executive committees at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Aspire Zone, the Ministry of Public Health, and the Ministry of Education.

Dr. Al Attiyah holds a Doctorate of Business Administration from the Swiss Business School in Zurich, Switzerland, an Executive Master of Business Administration from HEC Paris (Winner of best Capstone project) and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Qatar University.

Mr. Abdulrahman Mosallam
Al Dosari

Mr. Abdulrahman bin Musallam Al Dosari is the Advisor to the Minister of Sports and Youth in charge of managing the sports and youth sector. He also plays a crucial role as Chairman of the Committee for Organizing the Hosting of International and Regional Sports Events in Qatar, Chairman of the National Sports Day Committee, President of the Qatar Sports for All Federation, and Vice Chairman of the Professional Players Committee.

During the period 2016 to 2021, Mr. Al Dosari served as an advisor to His Excellency the Minister of Culture and Sports in charge of overseeing the media, publications, and sports sectors. Prior to this, he held various leadership positions in several Qatari entities including Qatar Stars League, Qatar Olympic Committee, and Hamad Medical Corporation.

Mr. Al Dosari holds an MBA degree from the United Kingdom.

Dr. Mohammed bin Newaimi
Al Newaimi

Dr. Mohammed bin Newaimi Al Newaimi is an advisor at the Ministry of Culture, bringing extensive professional and academic experience in international relations, political science, and public policy, as well as expertise in political, diplomatic, and media affairs. His work also includes research and publications in the fields of foreign policy, international relations and strategic studies.

He began his professional career at Qatar Petroleum, where he served as an Administrative and Financial Supervisor from 1999 to 2014, before joining the Qatar Media Corporation as an Advisor to the Chief Executive Officer, a position he held until 2021. He also worked as a producer and presenter of the political program “Al Haqiqa” from 2017 to 2021 and served as the Official Spokesperson for the Government Communications Office of the State of Qatar from 2021 to 2023.

He also served as a faculty member at Qatar University from 2018 to 2024 and at Ahmed Bin Mohammed Military College from 2021 to 2024. Since 2021, he has been a lecturer at the Diplomatic Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a faculty member at Joaan Academy since 2022. His academic experience also includes reviewing postgraduate research and supervising master’s theses at several academic institutions.

He also serves as a board member of Al Doha magazine and has been a member of the National Day Celebrations Committee since 2023. He has authored several books covering political science, international relations, diplomacy, public policy, and political communication, including Political Science; Political Systems; Qatari Foreign Policy; The Science of International Relations, Cultural Diplomacy, Public Policy, Political Communication; and The Comprehensive Guide: Preparing Dissertations and Theses.

Sheikh Jassim bin Mansour
Al Thani

His Excellency Sheikh Jassim bin Mansour bin Jabor Al Thani was appointed Director of the Government Communications Office (GCO) in 2021. As GCO Director, his main responsibilities include coordinating with ministries and other government entities to present a unified vision and stance on the State of Qatar's policies, strengthening partnerships with media and other stakeholders, and forging strategic partnerships with global communications, tech and innovation leaders to support local talent development.

H.E. Sheikh Jassim first joined the Government Communications Office in 2014, where he has been actively involved in supporting various ministries and government stakeholders with their media-related activities. Between 2017 and 2019, he served as the State of Qatar's Media Attaché in the United States, where he played a pivotal role in showcasing Qatar's achievements in US media, promoting partnerships and strengthening ties between the two nations. Between 2019 and 2021, he was appointed Deputy Director at the GCO, playing a crucial part in supporting its mission and working closely with ministries and other state entities to develop their media and communication strategies.

H.E. Sheikh Jassim currently serves as a board member of Media City Qatar. He also oversaw the launch of the annual Government Communications Forum and currently chairs the Permanent Web Summit Organising Committee.

His Excellency holds a Bachelor's degree in Communications and Media Studies from Northwestern University in Qatar.

Sheikh Ali bin Alwaleed
Al Thani

Sheikh Ali bin Alwaleed Al Thani is the Chief Executive Officer of Investment Promotion Agency Qatar (Invest Qatar). He is also a board member of Doha Venture Capital, Katara Hospitality, Media City Qatar, Qatari Diar, Qatar Financial Centre, Qatar Free Zones Authority and Qatar Science and Technology Park. He was the Deputy Commissioner-General and Chairman of the organising committee for the State of Qatar's participation in EXPO 2025 Osaka.

Previously, Sheikh Ali was appointed as Coordinator for Economic Affairs at the Prime Minister's office overseeing a broad range of activities related to Qatar's economic and investment agenda.

He has also served as Director of the State of Qatar's Office to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva, Switzerland, where he oversaw negotiations and standing committees in the WTO related to market access, agriculture, trade and investment, subsidies and other key areas. Moreover, he was elected by consensus as Chairman of the World Trade Organization's (WTO's) Trade-Related Investment Measures (TRIMS) Committee in 2017, which is responsible for one of the principal legal agreements of the WTO. In his role as Chairman, he oversaw the regular functioning of the committee and was involved in the ongoing investment facilitation working group discussions.

Sheikh Ali also served as the Commercial Attaché to Qatar's permanent mission to the United Nations, covering negotiations and standing committees in the UNCTAD and World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University, as well as an Executive Master's in International Negotiation & Policymaking from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva.

Hamad Omar
AlMannai

Hamad Omar AlMannai is the Chief Executive Officer of Media City Qatar, bringing more than 30 years of professional experience across telecommunications, infrastructure, and national communications systems. He was appointed by the Board to lead the organization as it enters a new stage of growth and development, and as its recognition and impact continue to expand across the domestic and international media landscape. AlMannai’s leadership is centered on carrying forward Media City Qatar’s existing momentum while shaping its direction in line with national priorities under Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Qatar National Development Strategy 2024–2030.

He began his career as a GSM Networks Engineer at Qtel (Ooredoo), later progressing to senior leadership roles including Head of Operations and Maintenance Networks. AlMannai subsequently served in the military sector where he held the role of Head of Wired and Wireless Networks and was later appointed Director of Communications. He also joined the Qatar Satellite Company, where he progressed through a series of senior leadership roles before assuming the position of Vice President – Commercial Affairs.

Throughout his career, AlMannai has played a key role in national-level initiatives, including membership on the Integrated System Committee, which evolved into the National Security Shield project, as well as the National Command Center establishment committee.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in General Electrical Engineering specializing in Communications, in addition to a Master’s degree in Business Administration.

Khalid Mubarak
Al Naimi

Khalid Mubarak Al Naimi is the Executive Director of Support Services at Media City Qatar, where he oversees critical business operations, including human resources, procurement, IT, and general services, aligning them with the organization’s strategic objectives.

Khalid brings over 20 years of experience across the telecom, media, and satellite industries, with expertise gained from key roles at Ooredoo, Al Jazeera Media Network, and Es’hailSat. His tenure in these sectors has solidified his expertise in driving operational efficiency, spearheading transformative strategies, and managing large, diverse teams. Khalid’s career is marked by a consistent track record of elevating organizational performance through his sharp acumen in administrative and strategic management.

He holds a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Northampton. In addition, he has completed multiple leadership and management programs, which have further honed his capacity to lead at the highest level, continually positioning him as a key figure in Qatar’s evolving media and communications landscape.

Tevfik Ergun

Tevfik Ergun serves as the Director of Strategy & Excellence at Media City Qatar, bringing over 20 years of experience in finance, auditing, and strategic leadership across the construction, manufacturing, and media sectors in Qatar, the UAE, and Türkiye.

In his role, Tevfik collaborates closely with leadership to execute strategies, enhance corporate performance, and foster government and institutional partnerships that support Media City Qatar’s long-term mission. His contributions have strengthened business offerings, led research initiatives, and advanced digital innovation and infrastructure, ensuring alignment with national development goals and international best practices.​

Tevfik is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) registered with the Chamber of Certified Public Accountants of Ankara. He holds a master’s degree in accounting, graduating with honors from Qatar University, and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Marmara University.​

Nadim El Khoury

Nadim El Khoury holds the position of Director of Marketing & Communications. He brings around 20+ years of experience leading high-profile brands in marketing and operational excellence across MENA.

His experience spans across the different sides of the communication business – both at the operational and management levels. He is also recognized for an unrelenting tenacity to resolve communication, commercial, operational, and financial obstacles in complex markets.

During these years, he devised, implemented and led clients’ marketing plans in addition to optimizing structures with the aim to create consistency, quality, and margin improvement. He successfully managed cross-functional teams to push growth initiatives – to optimize resource allocation and minimize duplication.

His passion for technology has helped drive innovation and the rollout of tools as part of a continuous digital transformation. He supported many brands to grow and thrive in the digital age using the power of data and artificial intelligence in addition to capitalizing on new technology and automated solutions.

Nadim held different senior positions within WPP leadership team: CEO @ Grey Group; Executive Director @ VML and Regional Director Global Clients @ WPP, in addition to different board positions at Group M and the Int’l Advertising Association.

He is fluent in English, Arabic, and French which facilitates easy engagement, in addition to building long-term relationships in the international and local business community.

Zeyad Al Obaidi

Zeyad Al Obaidi serves as the Director of Operations and Services at Media City Qatar, bringing over 20 years of experience in technical broadcast facilities and operations management across the media industry. He plays a central role in ensuring the reliability, efficiency, and scalability of Media City Qatar’s technical and operational infrastructure.

In his role, Zeyad oversees complex broadcast facilities and service operations, working closely with internal teams and partners to deliver resilient, future-ready systems that support Media City Qatar’s growing ecosystem. His expertise spans engineering consultancy, data center operations, and large-scale infrastructure project delivery, with a strong focus on operational excellence and continuity.

Zeyad has held senior leadership positions at leading regional broadcasters, including MBC Group and Al Araby Television Network, where he led critical technical operations across Qatar, the UAE, and the UK. His professional experience also includes business continuity and disaster recovery planning, contract negotiation, SLA management, and the integration of building management systems to ensure seamless service delivery.

Zeyad holds a BSc in Electrical Engineering and has completed internationally recognized professional training, reflecting his strong technical foundation and commitment to global best practices.

Laura Miccoli

Laura Miccoli is the Legal Affairs and Contracts at Media City Qatar, where she leads the organization’s legal function and oversees all aspects of legal affairs, including contracts, regulatory matters, compliance, governance, and legal strategy. She serves as strategic advisor to the CEO and executive leadership, supporting Media City Qatar’s long‑term vision.

A qualified lawyer with over 20 years of international experience, Laura brings deep expertise across the media, broadcasting, production, and digital sectors. She advises on complex regulatory, commercial, and business matters and leads the negotiation of high strategic partnerships with regional and global media organizations. She also provides legal oversight for major national and international events, ensuring robust legal, regulatory, and risk‑management frameworks.

Prior to joining Media City Qatar, Laura held senior legal positions at BBC World Service Group and Warner Bros. Discovery, as well as at leading international production and distribution companies including FremantleMedia and Zodiak Media Group. Her career spans senior-level positions across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, where she worked with leading global broadcasters and media organizations.

Laura holds a Law Degree from La Sapienza University of Rome and a Master’s degree in Corporate Law from LUISS Guido Carli University, along with additional professional certifications in Music Law and International Television Formats.

Jarod Lopez

Jarod Lopez serves as Operational Advisor to the CEO & Acting Business Development Director at Media City Qatar, bringing more than 30 years of senior leadership experience across the music, pay TV, and satellite industries. Throughout his career, he has developed extensive expertise in aligning business functions with long-term strategic goals, establishing high-value partnerships, and accelerating commercial growth across diverse international markets.

Jarod began his career with EMI Tape in Malaysia, where he managed technical operations and maintenance. He subsequently spent more than 11 years with Astro, a satellite pay television operator, as part of the core team responsible for establishing its broadcast station and supporting the company’s early operational development.

He later joined MEASAT Satellite Systems, initially leading the technical operations team before transitioning into a commercial leadership role overseeing global sales and marketing. Prior to joining Media City Qatar, Jarod served as Executive Director of Marketing and Business Development at Es’hailSat, where he contributed to the organization’s commercial development and market expansion.

Jarod holds a Bachelor of Engineering with Honors in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Northumbria. He has also completed executive education programs conducted by Harvard Business School ACM and the Indian Institute of Management, in addition to other professional programs.