Abdulsalam Haykal
Executive Chairman
Abdulsalam Haykal
Executive Chairman
As founder and executive chairman, Abdulsalam Haykal works with the board of directors and the executive leadership team to oversee and support the implementation of Majarra's vision to provide the best Arabic content on the internet. Abdulsalam continues a family business legacy that goes back to 1939.
He is a founder and board member of Transtek Systems, an enterprise software systems company with market-leading products for fixed assets, inventory, maintenance, and AML. He is also a founder and chairman of Lableb Labs is focused on Arabic-natural language processing (NLP) products including enterprise and in-site search, consumer search, and other tools in syntax, semantics, discourse, and speech.
Abdulsalam serves on the Board of Trustees of the American University of Beirut, and on the UAE’s Arabic Language Advisory Council, chaired by the Minister of Culture. He was named as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and received the Arab Thought Foundation's Innovation Award.
Abdulsalam is a graduate of the American University of Beirut and SOAS, University of London.
Ammar Haykal
CEO and Co-founder
Ammar Haykal
CEO and Co-founder
Ammar Haykal is the CEO of Majarra. He joined the company in 2007, then Haykal Media. He's co-led the company’s restart in Abu Dhabi since 2013, and continues to lead Majarra's transformation to a tech-first content company. Ammar is a firm believer that quality content is key to human and economic growth and development. He is committed to bringing Arabic-speaking internet users the best content in their own language to help them lead prosperous lives and successful careers. He also recognized the need for a reliable source on people and organizations in Arabic. That vision produced Manhom, which has since become the go-to source for information about professionals in the region. He holds a BBA in finance from the American University of Beirut.
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Hafsa Al Ulama
Board Member
Hafsa Al Ulama
Board Member
Hafsa Al Ulama is the Ambassador of UAE to Germany. Prior to this she was the Ambassador of UAE to the Federative Republic of Brazil, Montenegro and non-resident Ambassador to Kosovo. H.E. acted as the MD of Abu Dhabi Capital Group as well as significant positions in the Ministry of Economy and Planning besides being the first VP UAE woman in Citibank. Her social achievements include receiving the UAE Pride Medal at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Government Excellence Award in 2019, named as the Federal Personality of 2017 by the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR), received the Order of Merit from Montenegro President in 2016 and on August 2002 she was the First Emirati climber of Mount Kilimanjaro. Mrs. Al Ulama holds a BA in Economics from San Diego State University and an MSc in Analysis, Design and Management of Information Systems from London School of Economics and Political Science.
Marcus Brauchli
Board Member
Marcus Brauchli
Board Member
Marcus leads strategy, advisory and fundraising for NBM. The former top editor of both The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post, Marcus has been an operating executive and advised media and technology companies in the U.S., Asia and Europe.
Hamoud Almahmoud
Chief Content Officer
Hamoud Almahmoud
Chief Content Officer
Hamoud is the editor in chief of Fortune Arabia, a Majarra brand. As chief content officer, he leads content, Hamoud is responsible for managing content production following the highest standards across all of Majarra's websites including Harvard Business Review Arabia, Popular Science Arabia, MIT Technology Review Arabia, and Nafseyati in partnership with Psychologies. Hamoud held several leadership roles including editor in chief of Harvard Business Review Arabia until 2021. An award winning journalist, he previously worked as a media trainer with BBC, Reuters and Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism (ARIJ). He also served as a judge of the Dubai-based Arab Journalism Awards, and a jury member for ARIJ Awards. He was also co-author of a verification handbook on investigative journalism with the European Journalism Center, and taking part in the Investigative Journalism Guide published by the European Media Center. Hamoud has a BA and MA in journalism and is currently completing his PhD.
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Saed Haj Ali
Head of Engineering
Saed Haj Ali
Head of Engineering
Saed leads Majarra’s engineering team across different phases of project implementation for all of Majarra’s subscriptions, websites, applications, and products from initial studying of requirements, analysis and research, problem identification, product development, to system architecture design, testing, and finally launching. An information technology engineer with a specialization in artificial intelligence, Saed brings a rich experience in executing complex projects and leading tech teams responsible for building various systems including content management systems, e-commerce, educational platforms, analysis and monitoring systems for networks and infrastructure, delivery systems, in addition to web and mobile applications. He has a degree in information engineering and computer science from Damascus University.
Dia Haykal
Director of Brand and Partnerships
Dia Haykal
Director of Brand and Partnerships
Dia is responsible for Majarra’s brand positioning, corporate marketing, external relations, and business partnerships to increase Majarra’s regional and global outreach, presence, and user base. She has previously launched the commercial content unit at Majarra acting as head of content (2015-2021) where she oversaw the creation and localization of hundreds of thousands of words every month in different sectors for third-party clients. She also led the launches of Popular Science Arabia and MIT Technology Review Arabia, serving as editor in chief and managing operations for content, events, communications, and partnerships, and leading the MIT IU35 Middle East. She holds a BA in business administration from the American University of Beirut; two Master’s degrees in corporate communication, and in visual and digital media, from IE Business School in Madrid.
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David G. Bradley
Chairman Emeritus of Atlantic Media
David G. Bradley
Chairman Emeritus of Atlantic Media
David G. Bradley is the chairman of the National Journal Group and Chairman Emeritus of Atlantic Media (a company that included The Atlantic, Quartz and Government Executive Media Group). Earlier in his career, he founded The Advisory Board Company and the Corporate Executive Board (now Gartner), membership organizations that grew to serve the world's largest corporations, health systems, and financial institutions. During his early 20s, Mr. Bradley was a Fulbright Scholar in the Philippines. He graduated from Swarthmore College, holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, and a JD from Georgetown University. He is the recipient of Lifetime Achievement Awards from Harvard Business School and the Fulbright Association. Mr. Bradley is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and board memberships include Swarthmore College, KIPP DC, American University of Beirut and the Manila-based Child Protection Network. He and his family live in Washington, DC.
Norman Pearlstine
Media Consultant
Norman Pearlstine
Media Consultant
Norman Pearlstine is a media consultant who serves on the boards of Blue Ocean, a special purpose acquisition company, the Committee to Protect Journalists, the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, and the Center for Communication, Leadership and Policy. After graduating from Haverford and the University of Pennsylvania law school, he worked at The Wall Street Journal as a reporter in Dallas, Detroit, and Los Angeles; as North Asia bureau chief in Tokyo; The Asian Wall Street Journal's first Managing Editor in Hong Kong; as the founding Editor and Publisher of The Wall Street Journal/Europe in Brussels; and as the Journal's Managing Editor and then Executive Editor in New York. He was then Time Inc.'s Editor-in-Chief for eleven years, responsible for as many as 150 magazines. He was The Carlyle Group's Senior Advisor for telecommunications and media group for two years before moving to Bloomberg LP as Chief Content Officer in 2008. He returned to Time Inc. in 2013 as its Chief Content Officer before becoming Executive Editor of the Los Angeles Times from 2018 through 2020. He is the author of OFF THE RECORD: The Press, the Government, and the War over Anonymous Sources.
Abdulsalam Haykal
Executive Chairman
Abdulsalam Haykal
Executive Chairman
As founder and executive chairman, Abdulsalam Haykal works with the board of directors and the executive leadership team to oversee and support the implementation of Majarra's vision to provide the best Arabic content on the internet. Abdulsalam continues a family business legacy that goes back to 1939.
He is a founder and board member of Transtek Systems, an enterprise software systems company with market-leading products for fixed assets, inventory, maintenance, and AML. He is also a founder and chairman of Lableb Labs is focused on Arabic-natural language processing (NLP) products including enterprise and in-site search, consumer search, and other tools in syntax, semantics, discourse, and speech.
Abdulsalam serves on the Board of Trustees of the American University of Beirut, and on the UAE’s Arabic Language Advisory Council, chaired by the Minister of Culture. He was named as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and received the Arab Thought Foundation's Innovation Award.
Abdulsalam is a graduate of the American University of Beirut and SOAS, University of London.
Ammar Haykal
CEO and Co-founder
Ammar Haykal
CEO and Co-founder
Ammar Haykal is the CEO of Majarra. He joined the company in 2007, then Haykal Media. He's co-led the company’s restart in Abu Dhabi since 2013, and continues to lead Majarra's transformation to a tech-first content company. Ammar is a firm believer that quality content is key to human and economic growth and development. He is committed to bringing Arabic-speaking internet users the best content in their own language to help them lead prosperous lives and successful careers. He also recognized the need for a reliable source on people and organizations in Arabic. That vision produced Manhom, which has since become the go-to source for information about professionals in the region. He holds a BBA in finance from the American University of Beirut.
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Hafsa Al Ulama
Board Member
Hafsa Al Ulama
Board Member
Hafsa Al Ulama is the Ambassador of UAE to Germany. Prior to this she was the Ambassador of UAE to the Federative Republic of Brazil, Montenegro and non-resident Ambassador to Kosovo. H.E. acted as the MD of Abu Dhabi Capital Group as well as significant positions in the Ministry of Economy and Planning besides being the first VP UAE woman in Citibank. Her social achievements include receiving the UAE Pride Medal at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Government Excellence Award in 2019, named as the Federal Personality of 2017 by the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR), received the Order of Merit from Montenegro President in 2016 and on August 2002 she was the First Emirati climber of Mount Kilimanjaro. Mrs. Al Ulama holds a BA in Economics from San Diego State University and an MSc in Analysis, Design and Management of Information Systems from London School of Economics and Political Science.
Marcus Brauchli
Board Member
Marcus Brauchli
Board Member
Marcus leads strategy, advisory and fundraising for NBM. The former top editor of both The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post, Marcus has been an operating executive and advised media and technology companies in the U.S., Asia and Europe.
Hamoud Almahmoud
Chief Content Officer
Hamoud Almahmoud
Chief Content Officer
Hamoud is the editor in chief of Fortune Arabia, a Majarra brand. As chief content officer, he leads content, Hamoud is responsible for managing content production following the highest standards across all of Majarra's websites including Harvard Business Review Arabia, Popular Science Arabia, MIT Technology Review Arabia, and Nafseyati in partnership with Psychologies. Hamoud held several leadership roles including editor in chief of Harvard Business Review Arabia until 2021. An award winning journalist, he previously worked as a media trainer with BBC, Reuters and Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism (ARIJ). He also served as a judge of the Dubai-based Arab Journalism Awards, and a jury member for ARIJ Awards. He was also co-author of a verification handbook on investigative journalism with the European Journalism Center, and taking part in the Investigative Journalism Guide published by the European Media Center. Hamoud has a BA and MA in journalism and is currently completing his PhD.
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Saed Haj Ali
Head of Engineering
Saed Haj Ali
Head of Engineering
Saed leads Majarra’s engineering team across different phases of project implementation for all of Majarra’s subscriptions, websites, applications, and products from initial studying of requirements, analysis and research, problem identification, product development, to system architecture design, testing, and finally launching. An information technology engineer with a specialization in artificial intelligence, Saed brings a rich experience in executing complex projects and leading tech teams responsible for building various systems including content management systems, e-commerce, educational platforms, analysis and monitoring systems for networks and infrastructure, delivery systems, in addition to web and mobile applications. He has a degree in information engineering and computer science from Damascus University.
Dia Haykal
Director of Brand and Partnerships
Dia Haykal
Director of Brand and Partnerships
Dia is responsible for Majarra’s brand positioning, corporate marketing, external relations, and business partnerships to increase Majarra’s regional and global outreach, presence, and user base. She has previously launched the commercial content unit at Majarra acting as head of content (2015-2021) where she oversaw the creation and localization of hundreds of thousands of words every month in different sectors for third-party clients. She also led the launches of Popular Science Arabia and MIT Technology Review Arabia, serving as editor in chief and managing operations for content, events, communications, and partnerships, and leading the MIT IU35 Middle East. She holds a BA in business administration from the American University of Beirut; two Master’s degrees in corporate communication, and in visual and digital media, from IE Business School in Madrid.
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David G. Bradley
Chairman Emeritus of Atlantic Media
David G. Bradley
Chairman Emeritus of Atlantic Media
David G. Bradley is the chairman of the National Journal Group and Chairman Emeritus of Atlantic Media (a company that included The Atlantic, Quartz and Government Executive Media Group). Earlier in his career, he founded The Advisory Board Company and the Corporate Executive Board (now Gartner), membership organizations that grew to serve the world's largest corporations, health systems, and financial institutions. During his early 20s, Mr. Bradley was a Fulbright Scholar in the Philippines. He graduated from Swarthmore College, holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, and a JD from Georgetown University. He is the recipient of Lifetime Achievement Awards from Harvard Business School and the Fulbright Association. Mr. Bradley is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and board memberships include Swarthmore College, KIPP DC, American University of Beirut and the Manila-based Child Protection Network. He and his family live in Washington, DC.
Norman Pearlstine
Media Consultant
Norman Pearlstine
Media Consultant
Norman Pearlstine is a media consultant who serves on the boards of Blue Ocean, a special purpose acquisition company, the Committee to Protect Journalists, the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, and the Center for Communication, Leadership and Policy. After graduating from Haverford and the University of Pennsylvania law school, he worked at The Wall Street Journal as a reporter in Dallas, Detroit, and Los Angeles; as North Asia bureau chief in Tokyo; The Asian Wall Street Journal's first Managing Editor in Hong Kong; as the founding Editor and Publisher of The Wall Street Journal/Europe in Brussels; and as the Journal's Managing Editor and then Executive Editor in New York. He was then Time Inc.'s Editor-in-Chief for eleven years, responsible for as many as 150 magazines. He was The Carlyle Group's Senior Advisor for telecommunications and media group for two years before moving to Bloomberg LP as Chief Content Officer in 2008. He returned to Time Inc. in 2013 as its Chief Content Officer before becoming Executive Editor of the Los Angeles Times from 2018 through 2020. He is the author of OFF THE RECORD: The Press, the Government, and the War over Anonymous Sources.