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After years at major media organizations in Doha, Omar Abdelqader, Rami Hosni, and Ali Husseini set out to build something different. They saw untapped potential in Qatar’s media sector—and knew they could contribute to filling the gap.
The result was ID8 Media: a company focused on AI-powered digital solutions, strategic branding, and media transformation. Rather than replicating traditional agency models, they launched a venture that blends technology, storytelling, and customized solutions to address emerging needs in the market.
Today, ID8 Media is a licensed company under Media City Qatar, with a growing team based in Doha and a portfolio of projects spanning local and regional clients.
From One Company to Four
After the success of ID8 Media, the founders established The 8 Group—a collective of four companies that cover key areas of the media landscape. Alongside ID8 Media’s focus on AI-powered strategy and brand transformation, the group includes Reson8 Media for broadcasting and AR/VR, Cre8 Studios for production, and Pixel8 for media training and consulting.
All four companies are now licensed under Media City Qatar, following its participation in Web Summit Qatar 2025. The decision to consolidate operations in Doha reflects both the group’s long-term regional ambitions and the supportive business environment Media City Qatar provides.
“Media City Qatar gave us the right conditions to build and scale,” says Omar Abdelqader, CEO of ID8 Media and The 8 Group. “The setup was seamless—100% foreign ownership, tax benefits, and a supportive ecosystem. It made the decision clear.”
Why Media City Qatar?
With years of experience in Qatar’s media landscape, the founders of ID8 Media had a clear sense of the market’s gaps—and how they could fill them. When it came time to launch their own venture, Media City Qatar stood out for its ease of setup, regulatory transparency, and long-term vision. Omar Abdelqader had first come across Media City Qatar during his time at Al Jazeera. Years later, it proved to be the right platform to bring their vision to life. “It wasn’t just about getting a license. It was about being part of an ecosystem built for innovation,” says Omar. “From the very first meetings with the Media City Qatar team, the support was tangible.”
Key Projects and Milestones
A standout moment was ‘Qatar ArtBeat’, a Media City Qatar initiative delivered in partnership with Google Cloud for Qatar National Day 2024. ID8 Media supported the project behind the scenes, developing the technology that collected audience responses from across social media platforms and transformed them into a dynamic, AI-generated visual. The installation set a new Guinness World Records™ title for “Most People Contributing to an AI-Generated Image”—a category created specifically for the project.
With over 5.4 million people reached and 68,000 engagements, Qatar ArtBeat demonstrated the power of technology to connect storytelling and public participation at scale, while also accelerating ID8 Media’s engagement with Google Cloud, reducing a typical six-month negotiation to just two weeks.
The Road Ahead
ID8 Media’s next phase is focused on regional growth, deeper AI integration, and long-term partnerships. Media City Qatar remains central to this growth. It provides regulatory flexibility, market credibility, and access to a strong professional network.
“Media City Qatar has been a multiplier for our business,” says Ali Husseini, Group CTO. “It gives us the structure to scale, the reputation to open doors, and the support to move fast. Being part of this ecosystem has and helped us attract the right talent.”
For media companies entering the region, the advice is clear: if you have a strong offer and clear direction, Media City Qatar gives you the conditions to build. “The possibilities here are unmatched,” adds Rami Hosni, Group CCO. “This is a place that rewards clear vision, focused execution, and the ambition to create something that lasts.”
