Areej Mohammed

Areej Mohammed is a media professional and programme producer at Al Kass Sports Channels, as well as a television presenter.

Born in Qatar to a Qatari father and a foreign mother, she spent her childhood in a large residential community. Her father was a paediatric surgeon, consultant and professor of international medical education. Growing up among neighbours and friends from different nationalities and cultures gave her lasting memories, strengthened her character and taught her awareness, tolerance and respect for difference.

Her parents separated and her mother returned to her country, leaving her father to care for two daughters and a son while maintaining a demanding medical career. The absence of her mother created loneliness, but also made her mature, cautious and sensitive to other people’s needs. Her grandfather, an educator and legal adviser on Islamic affairs to the Amiri Diwan, joined her father in modelling persistence, public service and generosity.

A serious traffic accident at a young age almost ended her life. Recovery required lengthy physical and psychological treatment and changed her understanding of health, relationships and time. The experience strengthened her ability to face crisis and encouraged a more deliberate examination of the people and priorities around her.

Her schooling moved between government, independent and international systems. Childhood friendships made English natural, and she later spent a year in Manchester studying international politics and law. Loneliness, the climate and the demands of the discipline led her to reconsider. In 2010, she moved to Dubai, changed to media and journalism at Middlesex University and graduated in 2014, while remaining close enough to visit her family in Qatar.

At Al Kass Sports Channels, she began as an assistant programme producer and advanced to become a principal producer. Although she initially preferred work behind the scenes, colleagues encouraged her to present. Training in breathing, vocal tone and live delivery prepared her for the transition, despite reservations from her grandfather and elder brother about the scrutiny that public work would bring.

Her first programme, ‘Two and a Half’, combined daily social and sporting subjects. Moving on screen required a more formal public presence than her spontaneous private character, narrowed her social circle and made her increasingly selective about the people and institutions she represented, while leaving room for rest away from work.

She hosted events for international brands and major Qatari organisations. A defining assignment was presenting the ceremony unveiling the countdown clock for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at Al Shuyoukh Square, broadcast live to millions and recorded by international channels.

Work on Qatar Creates with Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani became another major professional step. The project required presenting precise Arabic information on museums, contemporary art and international exhibitions during the World Cup period and brought interviews with internationally influential artists and cultural figures.

Humanitarian initiatives accompanied media work. During Ramadan, she and friends collected funds, bought essential supplies and visited workers in the Industrial Area to understand their circumstances and recognise their contribution. She also routinely carried food for stray cats and supported animal welfare, treating care for people and animals as part of the same sense of responsibility.

The deaths of her grandfather and grandmother within one week brought a period of profound grief and reinforced her belief that public success mattered less than the reputation and kindness a person left behind.

Broadcasting required her to appear composed despite private pain, competitive pressure and periods of lost confidence. In 2022, a serious illness led to intensive care and a temporary absence from the screen. Recovery returned her to television with a stronger sense of resilience and purpose.