Name: Philip Silva Dias.
Where are you from? Born in Melbourne, Australia; brought up in Sydney, but my family is originally from Lisbon, Portugal.
How long have you been in Qatar? March 18 2014, 1 year here in Doha.
Why did you move to Qatar? I moved to Qatar for an opportunity to grow mentally and succeed in my dream job.
What are you passionate about? Aviation, exercise, travelling and meeting new people from all over the world.
What would you say is the biggest life lesson you have learnt since moving to Qatar? I have learnt that every person that enters your life has something to teach you; positive or negative. It's up to you to see the bigger picture and grow emotionally from those experiences with people.
Why do you want to be a part of this project? This project shows the multicultural society that Qatar is building and how each and every one of us come from far and wide to make a better future for ourselves. It also allows people of all creeds to unite in a time when people a so divided by technology and hardship that we all face, thus the true faces of Doha.
Name: Maha Khamis Al-Sulaiti.
Where are you from? Doha, Qatar.
What are you passionate about? The environment, sustainability, baking, cooking and being creative in a lot of ways.
What would you say is the biggest life lesson you have learnt? Not dwelling on the past and moving forward!
As a Qatari citizen, do you feel the diverse ethnic mix migrating to Qatar adds to Qatar's identity? Of course, it does because we can learn from each other to be better people.
Why do you want to be a part of this project? I like the arts and want to support them.
Name: Roshni Das.
Where are you from? Malappuram, a city in the state of Kerala in Southern India.
How long have you been in Qatar? Since November 2013.
Why did you move to Qatar? To be with my husband and to pursue a career that makes me proud.
What are you passionate about? I am passionate about anything that interests me. I love being creative & living every moment to the fullest.
What would you say is the biggest life lesson you have learned since moving to Qatar? Life goes by fast. Make quality time for your loved ones; good memories always last.
Why do you want to be a part of this project? I really liked the creative thought process that has gone into this project and for that reason, I would love to be a part of it.
Name: Aravind Pookkunniyil.
Where are you from? Calicut, Kerala, India.
How long have you been in Qatar? Since January 2009.
Why did you move to Qatar? I moved to Qatar to work with Petrofac Qatar.
What are you passionate about? I am passionate about reading about new things- books or on the internet.
What would you say is the biggest life lesson you have learned since moving to Qatar? Patience and hard work are always rewards.
Why do you want to be a part of this project? The uniqueness of the concept behind the project interests me.
Name: Obeng Emmanuel.
Where are you from? Accra, Ghana.
How long have you been in Qatar? Since November 2014.
Why did you move to Qatar? I came here to work and explore.
What are you passionate about? Football.
What would you say is the biggest life lesson you have learned since moving to Qatar? Believing in yourself.
Why do you want to be a part of this project? I joined this project because I want to showcase myself to the people of Qatar and the world as a whole.
Name: Andreas Neubauer.
Where are you from? I am originally from Graz, the second-largest city in Austria.
How long have you been in Qatar? I have been here since June 2014.
Why did you move to Qatar? On the one hand, the move to Doha offered me a great job opportunity, and on the other hand, I was excited to get to know a different culture. It's also quite interesting to live in a place that is constantly growing and developing. The population here is so multicultural and it's amazing to see how they all work together to achieve common goals.
What are you passionate about? Definitely travelling and broadening my horizon and therefore Qatar is probably one of the best places to be right now; not just because of the fact that it's a melting pot of nationalities, but it's also a great base to travel all over the world.
What would you say is the biggest life lesson you have learned since moving to Qatar? Tough question, but I think it's adjusting to a different way of life. I have lived abroad before like in the USA, England or Germany, but Qatar is something completely different. There is this extreme heat that forces you to do a lot of things indoors and your body needs some time to adjust. Also, I think staying here makes you become more patient and see things from a different perspective. You can definitely learn a lot from living in Qatar.
Why do you want to be a part of this project? I think it's a great project because it makes you realise how many things you have in common with people from all over the world. In the end, we are all living in Qatar, and that's something that unites us all.
Name: Mia Kara.
Where are you from? Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina.
How long have you been in Qatar? August 27th, 1991.
Why did you move to Qatar? My father initially moved to Qatar in 1990, and then the family joined a year later. He saw an opportunity in Qatar and took the leap at a time when not many had the courage to leave their hometown.
What are you passionate about? I am passionate about our newest member of the family, my little sausage dog named Maple. We battle the Qatar summer heat together, and she is my co-pilot on the busy streets of Doha.
What would you say is the biggest life lesson you have learned since moving to Qatar? To have patience, stay humble, and treasure your friendships. I am lucky that all of my close friends are from different nationalities; we learn so much from each other, and it also gives us an excuse to travel to different parts of the world for catch-ups!
Why do you want to be a part of this project? Every person has their own story, and it is amazing finding out how different yet fundamentally the same we all are.
Name: Kelly Steele
Where are you from? Kilmarnock, Scotland, United Kingdom.
How long have you been in Qatar? 10 Years on and off. I first came in July 2005. I then left for university in 2007. I came back in 2009 to work, left again in 2011 and I most recently came back in January 2015. My parents have always been here so I came back to visit a lot.
Why did you move to Qatar? My dad works for ExxonMobil, so he was sent here to work in Qatar Gas to help build the ships they use to transport the LNG.
What are you passionate about? I love to bake and cook and work on my food blog. I also love to travel as it means I can eat my way around the world.
What would you say is the biggest life lesson you have learned since moving to Qatar? It’s OK to come out of your comfort zone. Doha is such a diverse and different environment from Scotland I found myself having to come out of my comfort zone to try and really appreciate living here. I learned this really early on when I started school because I had to push myself to make new friends.
Why do you want to be a part of this project? I found the concept of this project very interesting. Going to a school in Doha with about 52 nationalities I saw the benefits of having friends from different countries and how it can expand your way of thinking. I have friends from Egypt, Palestine, Bosnia, Serbia, and Qatar and I am also married to an Iraqi.
I also wanted to be involved in this project because I wanted to represent my country as you already have Ireland, Wales and England.
Name: Igor Caraji.
Where are you from? Ialoveni, Republic of Moldova.
How long have you been in Qatar? Since November 2013.
Why did you move to Qatar? I moved here first to earn money to support my family, learn a new culture and try to start a new life.
What are you passionate about? Football, tourism, cars and IT.
What would you say is the biggest life lesson you have learned since moving to Qatar? The biggest lesson that I have learned here is that it's possible to live without alcohol, stealing or doing something bad.
Why do you want to be a part of this project? I want to be a part of this project so people know there is a country in this world called Moldova - only a few people know about it.
Name: Zoi Moraiti.
Where are you from? I'm from Larisa, Greece.
How long have you been in Qatar? I moved here in November 2013.
Why did you move to Qatar? Through my work, I like to meet people from other countries. Before Qatar, I was working in South Africa.
What are you passionate about? I'm passionate about my work and also about radio. I used to work as a radio producer and I loved it!
What would you say is the biggest life lesson you have learned since moving to Qatar? I learned the value of two things: freedom and nature.
Why do you want to be a part of this project? Because of my work, I meet a lot of people from different cultures, mentalities and colours, languages, religions and professions!
Through this project, I believe people will see and understand that only the above is different! All of us have the same problems; sometimes feel alone when away from our countries, but still can connect and exchange our experiences and be friends!
Name: Alexsandr Cherkashyn.
Where are you from? I'm from Donetsk, Ukraine.
How long have you been in Qatar? I moved here on 20th May 2015.
Why did you move to Qatar? It was my dream. I always wanted to see skyscrapers and understand how it is to live in a place where it is always summer.
What are you passionate about? I love playing football and working out. I am also trying to learn other languages.
What would you say is the biggest life lesson you have learned since moving to Qatar? I understand that people can be kind, friendly and happy.
Why do you want to be a part of this project? I want to say to those who are afraid and doubtful, to come here and see for yourselves.
Name: Ramiz Al Turk.
Where are you from? Amman, The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
How long have you been in Qatar? Since June 1986.
Why did you move to Qatar? I was born and raised in Qatar, but I think that Qatar offers great job & business opportunities, while developing in all fields and sectors. Being the most known country in the region to offer that, plus the comfortable lifestyle would have attracted me if I were living in another country.
What are you passionate about? I really like music (singing and listening to all types of music). I do like cooking, sports like; tennis, swimming, football (playing, not watching it) and going to the gym. I am most passionate and obsessed with Batman movies, animations and video games.
What would you say is the biggest life lesson you have learned since moving to Qatar? Sometimes you can consider a country that you’re living in as your home country - with all my love for Jordan of course - but living here all my life has made me used to everything here - even the hot weather. But at the same time, I think it's important to remember your roots and to always remain connected to them!
Why do you want to be a part of this project? I wanted to be included in this cool project to represent my country which I am very proud of and because I really like to participate in such projects!
Name: Ashiq Khan.
Where are you from? Islamabad, Pakistan.
How long have you been in Qatar? I was born (in June 1989) and raised in Doha.
Why did you move to Qatar? My parents are from Peshawar, Pakistan. They moved to Doha in the late 60s and have been living here ever since.
What are you passionate about? I'm passionate about making films, photography, documenting old Doha and making people happy.
What would you say is the biggest life lesson you have learned since moving to Qatar? I was born in Doha and I consider Qatar my home - I've learned so much by living here. I studied, worked and interacted with people from different backgrounds, which helps me learn different things about day-to-day life. The biggest life lesson learnt would be to struggle and be passionate for a living.
Why do you want to be a part of this project? It's a great opportunity to reach out to different people and tell them about those living in Doha.
Name: Ammar Khaled Alqamash.
Where are you from? I'm from the beautiful Hajjaj, Yemen.
How long have you been in Qatar? Well, I was born here, so let me count that... 1, 2, 3... yeah 26 years now.
Why did you move to Qatar? It wasn't my choice to be here, but it will always be my choice to stay here. Qatar to me is like a second home. I can never think of it as just another country. Simply, it is my home.
What are you passionate about? I'm passionate about life and living it through artistic creation and design because to me, it is not only a passion - it’s more like a way of life. It’s equally significant to me as air, water and.. coffee.
I believe art is every bit as important as other fields, and I also think that every individual must be receptive and ready for any experience and pursuits to enjoy life. In general, I believe that when passion becomes a way of life, that is when we call life, beautiful.
What would you say is the biggest life lesson you have learned since moving to Qatar? Most of my life lessons have been in Qatar. I have learned so many things, but if I was to talk about my biggest life lesson it’s that anything is achievable. If you lived in Qatar in the early 90s, you could never have imagined it would become what it is today. So yeah, whether it is big or small, nothing is inconceivable.
Why do you want to be a part of this project? I loved this project since finding out about it. It helps bring people with different cultures and backgrounds together and helps show the great diversity of this community. Besides, its a manner of documenting the history and composing it in an intelligible manner.
I want to be part of this project because I believe this project can make a difference and make a positive change in society. And honestly, I want to be part of this change.
Name: Maha Al-Sulaiti.
Where are you from? I'm from Doha, Qatar.
What are you passionate about? I'm passionate about life, nature, animals, art, languages and culture - I guess what makes life beautiful.
What would you say is the biggest life lesson you have learned since moving to Qatar? I come from the heart of Doha, yet both my parents are hybrids. To be honest, it was very hard, yet I'm feeling blessed because coming from different backgrounds expanded my understanding and appreciation for life and who I am today is because of my parents.
As a Qatari citizen, do you feel the diverse ethnic mix migrating to Qatar adds to its identity? Well yeah. Cultural diversity makes life more exciting and it shapes our identity. The mixture of different nationalities and cultures is what makes Qatar develop and open to the world.
Why do you want to be a part of this project? I love the aim of this project and I believe that diversity is very healthy for the mind and soul.
Name: Mosab A. Abulkhair.
Where are you from? I'm from Amman, Jordan - The Land Of Nashama (Brave & Generous).
How long have you been in Qatar? Since the 10th of June 2013. I actually visited Qatar a few times in 2010, 2011 and in 2012, attending a number of international conferences as a student.
Why did you move to Qatar? I was looking for new challenges. I wanted to increase my exposure and see how far I could go! Qatar is an opportune market and you can deal with many global players here.
What are you passionate about? I'm passionate about Life. I try to enjoy it as much as I can. I love music (Jazz & Blues is my favourite, and rock comes second but I hear everything else anyway). I love reading books, joining intelligentsia discussions, watching documentaries, and listening to podcasts; you'd be surprised how far that gets you! I love sports (not been a regular practitioner for the last three years), but whenever there is an opportunity I go for it! I really enjoy activities such as kayaking, fishing, climbing, sailing, jogging, kitesurfing and any new activity that might arise.
What would you say is the biggest life lesson you have learned since moving to Qatar? I consider myself a warrior, Spartan, gladiator, and a Merovingian - I don't accept half answers or unfinished challenges. I've learned and ensured that no matter how big the challenge is - it may sound hard or even impossible - but it can still be done. I've learned to be patient; a skill I've needed for a long time. Finally, I've realised how fortunate I am to have the things I have - things I used to take for granted, but now truly appreciate.
Why do you want to be a part of this project? It's a nice idea - simple, and authentic - why not be a part of it? And one more thing, to let people know that there are cool Jordanians in town "Rock On".
Name: Tatjana Martinoska Kobb.
Where are you from? Skopje, Macedonia.
How long have you been in Qatar? Since December 2012.
Why did you move to Qatar? I had always worked in an international setting but had not experienced the Middle East before. The open opportunity to contribute to the development of a country and the world given in Doha, added to the lack of possibilities in my homeland drove my enthusiastic and always optimistic personality to move to a place where I can make a difference.
What are you passionate about? Bringing positive change in the lives of people on a daily bases and making an impact on the next generations.
As a medical doctor who has committed their career to development work, I strive to see the UN Sustainable Development Goals that are adopted this year be achieved before 2030 for all countries.
Respect for different cultures and building a society for all the nations globally is one part of the actions I am committed to and this has been given to me to integrate with and work in Qatar.
I have not run a marathon before, but I believe that committing to a good cause will make us work toward the needed accomplishments. This April, I signed up to run for UNICEF in the New York City Marathon 2015 and raise funds. We can all make commitments and it will be just the hard work that is left toward accomplishing them. This is in every field of life.
What would you say is the biggest life lesson you have learnt since moving to Qatar? What I already believe has been confirmed to me: to never give up on anything you are passionate about and to sincerely work towards achieving it with all your heart. Keep the beliefs and values that will lead you through the hard times and bring out the best in you too.
I have met the love of my life in Doha and I am the first Macedonian employed by Qatar Petroleum in 40 years. Just two things that made my life different by taking the opportunity to come here.
Why do you want to be a part of this project? To take an active part in representing the variety that exists in the multinational, multiethnic, multicultural and multilingual world we live in and which is present in Qatar. It is a place where we can stand for the diversity and respect of all cultures. We can make a difference and present that home is where you are and where you feel welcomed. People need to be able to move globally and contribute toward sustainable growth and a better tomorrow for the generations to come.
Name: Nasser Alnaama.
Where are you from? Doha, Qatar.
What are you passionate about? Everything! I want to travel everywhere and explore every single crevice of this beautiful big world we live in and always challenge myself to do something new and learn a new skill! We live such short lives that one can only scratch the surface of the wonders this world has to offer for those of us that have a burning desire to discover it.
What would you say is the biggest life lesson you have learnt? I'm still learning & evolving, but till now, the biggest lesson I probably learned is that many people are fickle and very selfish. I really believe I'm a selfless & generous person - to an extreme degree - but no matter how much I give away to others, especially to people I cherish the most, they inevitably start to take advantage, without really any remorse in the end. In that regard, I saw an interview online with a relationship expert and this person said something very powerful that resonates with me to this day, which is "When you give yourself to others to the degree that you sacrifice yourself you make the other person a thief because they're stealing from you what you need most and they don't even know it! "
So, through all the ups and downs, I feel like I'm finally starting to figure out how to put myself first, but still without putting others last!
As a Qatari citizen, do you feel the diverse ethnic mix migrating to Qatar adds to Qatar's identity? As a Qatari citizen, and more importantly, as a global citizen, I think the diverse cultural melting pot that exists in Qatar is imperative to Qatar's identity and growth! We are all people at the end of the day, and our shared experiences define who we are as people and make us understand that we don't live isolated from each other, but rather it’s a constant ebb and flow of cultures and nationalities interacting with each other where we gain knowledge and skills from one another in the process. Qatar today isn't the Qatar of yesteryear, and although I as a Qatari account for the minority in our country, I feel like my desire and need to meet people from outside my ethnic community has made me all the richer for it.
Why do you want to be part of this project? Why not? although I don't have a clear answer to this question, I always want to try something new and be a part of something bigger than myself! I truly define myself as a global citizen, meaning I'm part of a much bigger interconnected web of people everywhere. Qatar is my country of origin and where my ancestral roots are but I belong to a generation that feels we don't just identify with a community within the geographical confines of our country and that we strive to be more active and prominent on the global stage. Yes, I am Qatari but I am also an individual with my own distinct character and I want to feel like there's not one customary way of being a Qatari since we all have a stake in our country and we can't compartmentalize ourselves to being the same in a world that is becoming ever more globalised and connected. I want to represent people like myself whilst simultaneously reaching out to them and saying it's okay to be different without compromising on who you are!
Name: Ambe Divine.
Where are you from? Douala, Cameroon.
How long have you been in Qatar? Since 23rd August 2011.
Why did you move to Qatar? In search of greener pastures.
What are you passionate about? Well, I am a lover of football, and so watching and playing football is a favourite pass time activity of mine. I also like to read and listen to R&B.
What would you say is the biggest life lesson you have learned since moving to Qatar? In a sentence, he who fights and runs away today lives to fight another day. The beginning for me was indeed tough as I was lured by a clandestine company into coming to Qatar and on arrival, nothing that was said initially was true. So, from there I had to go my own way until I established myself. I could have given up, but I held on and fought as a man.
Why do you want to be a part of this project? My story might move others not only in Qatar but around the world.
Name: Sebastian Delogu.
Where are you from? Sardinia, Italy. I was born and bred on the Island.
How long have you been in Qatar? I have been living in Qatar for almost 1 year now, though I have visited before.
Why did you move to Qatar? More than choosing to move here, I’d rather say Qatar chose me. I have been living in many different cities before, but most recently I was living in Dubai. I have been shifting between jobs and I have found a great opportunity for professional growth here in Doha. Sometimes you choose where to go, sometimes the places choose you. I fall in this second category.
What are you passionate about? Travelling. I have wanderlust all over me and it has been like this since I was a little boy, eager to go to new places. Travelling, to me, is an expression of freedom itself and it is the best investment somebody could do in his/her personal growth. I take planes as easily as you’d take a bus and I strongly believe people should embrace the idea of travelling as a way to understand different cultures, societies and lifestyles.
Connected to this is my passion for languages: I am a bit of a language freak and I enjoy studying and getting to learn different languages. Currently at about 6, but there is lots of room for improvement.
Both of these passions are connected to cultures, which is something I am extremely keen on. The idea is that I feel the need to understand and learn about world cultures, as much as I can, by speaking other people’s languages and seeing how they live with my own eyes.
What would you say is the biggest life lesson you have learnt since moving to Qatar? Life is the sort of thing where you can never say you have arrived. Embracing change is the best way to truly spend the time we are given. I would say that because of travelling, I think I got exposed to people from very different walks of life. The more I wander, the more I realise that humanity is united in diversity and that people from across the continents smile for similar reasons, love their families and children the same way you would, and will likely be more than happy to share food with you. We need to understand that we should cherish our diversity and instead of denying it or simplifying it, we should rather embrace it. Similar to a beautiful painting: you would never say all the colours are the same, yet art comes from their harmony.
Why do you want to be part of this project? Faces of Qatar seeks to portray the diversity of people residing in Doha to the world. Being part of such an ambitious yet genuine project perfectly goes along with my thrill for travelling and world cultures. Also, I do enjoy having my picture taken, I have to admit that.