Mohammed Al Marri

Mohammed Rashid Al Marri is a Qatari journalist and broadcaster whose career has included Sawt Al Khaleej Radio, Al Jazeera and communications work with Qatar Red Crescent. Across nearly thirty years, he developed a distinctive approach to talk programmes despite the difficulties that accompanied his early life.

His childhood differed sharply from that of many peers. As the eldest grandson of the family’s eldest son, he lived in the desert with his grandparents and helped care for them and their livestock. His grandfather believed that responsibility and hard work should begin early, while his father insisted that education offered the surest path to a stable future. He therefore spent summers working with his grandparents and the school year studying, rarely travelling or playing like his classmates. Balancing those two expectations shaped his discipline and independence.

His strict grandfather taught him to drive before he entered school, at the age of five. Although the experience was imposed on him, Mohammed managed to meet the expectations of his father, grandfather and himself. He never missed a day of school, yet daily contact with adults also made him independent and comfortable in their company. Receiving guests in his grandfather’s majlis taught respectful confidence and helped develop early leadership.

His entry into media came by chance. After he completed his third year of preparatory school at fourteen, the Labour Administration directed him to spend the summer at Al Sharq newspaper. Abdullah bin Nasser Al Khalifa, then Director of the Labour Administration and later Secretary-General of the Family Council, gave him a letter addressed to the newspaper’s Qatari editor-in-chief. At Dar Al Sharq, he met Nasser Al Othman, a leading figure in Gulf journalism, alongside another young applicant. Al Othman assigned Mohammed to the local-news desk and the other applicant to the archive, telling him that he saw the makings of a journalist. The words and the decision changed the course of his life. He trained in local reporting, learned quickly and gained practical field experience.

When the summer placement ended, he stepped away from media. The following year, between the first and second secondary years, he completed a short placement with the telecommunications company then called Qtel, now Ooredoo. He finished secondary school in 1995 and subsequently worked at the Ministry of Endowments until the end of 2005.

A chance conversation with a young Saudi journalist at Al Sharq revived his interest in reporting. Mohammed was then secretary to His Excellency Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud, President of Qatar’s Sharia Courts and Chairman of Dar Al Sharq. Those circumstances helped him return to the newspaper as a freelance journalist for six months.

Less than six months later, he investigated an issue troubling the public. When the responsible official refused to cooperate and treated the newspaper poorly, Mohammed requested an explanation or apology. The official complained to the recently appointed managing editor and demanded the reporter’s removal. The editor agreed and terminated Mohammed’s work at the newspaper.

The decision shocked him but strengthened rather than ended his ambition. Confronting the editor, he argued that freedom must be defended by those who practise it and promised to work towards a higher ceiling of expression in Qatar. He left feeling deeply wronged and unable to hold back his tears.

He immediately sought a platform willing to support a more independent voice. Al Watan had recently begun publication under editor-in-chief Ahmed Ali and had established a strong editorial line. Mohammed, who admired Ali’s approach, telephoned despite not knowing him personally and explained that imitation of his example had helped cause the dispute at Al Sharq. Al Watan hired him, and his substantive career began in its local department alongside Jaber Al Harmi. He remained until 2001.

He found his vocation in journalism and progressed from local news to the economics and commercial desks. He also produced special publications, developing their concepts, directing designers, marketing the finished work and selling advertising space. The role combined editing, marketing, production and payment collection.

Abdulrahman Al Maadadi, Vice-President of the General Authority for Radio and Television, became an important influence. They met at a candidate’s tent during the 1998 municipal elections, and Al Maadadi offered him an opportunity to present a programme. Mohammed accepted immediately and later visited the radio after Al Maadadi contacted Talal Al Sada, then Head of Presenters. Although he did not take up the position, the visit removed his fear of broadcasting.

When Sawt Al Khaleej Radio launched in 2002, it actively invited young Qataris into media. Mohammed followed its youth output and contacted presenter Abdul Salam Jadallah, who directed him to the station’s management. After several tests, he joined a group selected for training. He was initially cautious because of his conservative family and sensitive work at the Sharia courts. Meeting other trainees revealed shared values, a similar wish for balance and a common desire to serve the country.

When his manager at the Sharia courts learned of the radio work, he regarded the two roles as incompatible and asked Mohammed to choose. Mohammed selected broadcasting, seeing it as a platform for challenging destructive ideas and communicating constructive messages through responsible content.

His achievements span print, radio and television before, during and after his degree in mass communication. He entered journalism unusually young and helped open the field to other Qataris. Among the programmes most important to him was “The Decision Is Yours”, in both recorded and live forms. He also became the first young Qatari presenter to read news bulletins on Al Jazeera.

At every stage, colleagues recognised his ability and helped him progress. Among the most significant was Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer Al Thani, Chairman of Al Jazeera, who supported and encouraged him from his first day at the network.