A letter from the managing director

It is with great enthusiasm that I announce the return of our flagship series, Doha Debates, with several significant and invigorating changes: Acclaimed Arab American comedian and actor Mo Amer will serve as host, and award-winning production company Film 45 will partner with us to produce the series.

We’re honored to work with Mo, who comes to us at a high point in his already extensive and fruitful career—his Netflix comedy Mo debuted in 2022 to great acclaim; he’s also a regular on the Hulu original series Ramy and stars alongside Dwayne Johnson in the 2022 film Black Adam. A Palestinian refugee who grew up in Houston, Texas, Mo is a pioneer in Arab American stand-up comedy, deftly weaving autobiographical stories, observational humor and improvisation. His freewheeling, forthright conversational style will bring a dynamic spark to our marquee series, while his ability to authentically and honestly connect with people from all walks of life furthers our mission to foster open, thoughtful discussions and enables us to reach new audiences around the globe.

We have found an exceptional producing partner in Endeavor’s Film 45. Renowned for its non-scripted entertainment for film, TV and digital platforms, Film 45 tells human stories with authenticity, soulfulness, and grit—a great match for Doha Debates and our continuing commitment to create space for people with diverse viewpoints to share, listen and seek common ground.

We are in excellent hands with showrunner and executive producer Katy Davis, an Emmy Award winner and veteran TV executive with 20 years of experience creating and producing The Oprah Winfrey Show. An expert in launching innovative and impactful programs around the world, Katy brings a global perspective and visionary spirit that will complement and further fortify an exceptional production team.

We are especially pleased to film the series in Qatar Foundation’s Education City, a global center of learning and solutions-focused dialogue. Each episode will be filmed in front of a live studio audience in Education City, featuring a monologue followed by our trademark discussions of timely events and global issues with expert guests, journalists, professors and celebrities.

At Doha Debates, we believe that positive, meaningful change only happens when we build bridges among a diversity of viewpoints; when we make welcoming spaces for people to listen to and understand all sides of an issue and seek consensus together. Our flagship debate series has always modeled this type of space, and we are excited for its next iteration.

Buoyed by the immense talent, passion, and creativity of Mo Amer, Film 45 and our production team, the Doha Debates series continues to evolve and expand, tackling new challenges, welcoming new perspectives, and forging new understandings for the greater good. I look forward to the new season with pride and anticipation, and I hope you will tune in and join the conversation.

Amjad Atallah
Managing director