Enterprise
01 · Executive leadership
Founder & CEO
Expo Tale Events & Production
Company strategy, commercial growth and end-to-end delivery across complex event mandates.
Doha, Qatar · Regional & International Delivery
Founder & CEO · Event Management Advisor · Certified Trainer
Strategic leadership.
Experiences that matter.
I am Ammar Anabtawi. I lead high-stakes exhibitions, conferences, public experiences and professional training programs—translating strategic intent into disciplined, memorable delivery.
28+Years in Event and Leadership
1998Event-industry career began
DohaQatar · GCC · International
Advisory · Speaking · Training
Founder & CEOExpo Tale Events & Productions
Board of Trustees ChairmanLady of the Earth Foundation
AdvisorEvent strategy and executive delivery
Certified TrainerApplied professional capability building
Executive profile
Built at the intersection of engineering, business and experience.
A civil-engineering foundation shaped my discipline: understand the system, control the variables and solve the real problem. Event management added the human dimension—story, emotion, influence and connection.
My career began in 1998 in event design and creativity. I later moved into marketing, sales and executive management, leading event businesses across Qatar and the UAE before establishing Expo Tale in 2018. Today, I apply technical rigor and creative judgment to build platforms that advance organizations, industries and communities.
Every event has a tale to tell. Leadership gives that tale structure, relevance and lasting value.
Leadership portfolio
One leadership philosophy. Four operating mandates.
Enterprise growth, institutional governance, industry platforms and capability development—connected by disciplined strategy and accountable execution.
04
Leadership
mandates
mandates
Governance
02 · Institutional direction
Board of Trustees Chairman
Lady of the Earth Foundation
Governance, mission alignment and institutional stewardship across a purpose-led platform.
Industry platform
03 · Committee leadership
Organizing Committee Chairman
QIFMCE & LEPEX 2025
Stakeholder alignment, program governance and coordinated delivery for an industry-scale platform.
Capability
04 · Advisory & learning
Advisor & Certified Trainer
Events, leadership and capability development
Practical advisory and professional training that converts expertise into organizational capability.
Core expertise
Executive judgment across the full event lifecycle.
Strategy is translated into governance, design, production and measurable delivery through a single integrated leadership framework.
Integrated leadership framework
01/ 06
Direction & control
Event Strategy & Governance
Objectives, feasibility, commercial logic, budgets, KPIs, governance structures and decision control for complex mandates.
02/ 06
Architecture & delivery
Conferences & Exhibitions
Program architecture, exhibitor and speaker management, floor planning, delegate journeys and turnkey event delivery.
03/ 06
Creative & technical
Experience Design & Production
Creative concepts, spatial experiences, stages, stands, branding systems, technical production and show execution.
04/ 06
Alignment & influence
Stakeholders, Sponsors & Protocol
Government, corporate and partner alignment; sponsorship value; VIP journeys; protocol; communications and escalation.
05/ 06
Digital & intelligence
Event Technology & AI
Registration, access control, hybrid delivery, live streaming, analytics and responsible AI for efficient, personalized experiences.
06/ 06
Learning & capability
Training & Capability Building
Executive and professional programs that convert field experience into clear frameworks, tools, exercises and applied practice.
Strategy
Design
Production
Delivery
Intelligence
Capability
Selected work
Platforms, experiences and operations delivered through Expo Tale.
Qatar International Facility Management Conference & Exhibition + LEPEX
Organizing committee leadership for a major industry platform combining facility management, renewable energy, technology and sustainability.
- 60+participating companies
- 29scientific papers
- DECClarge-scale venue
Transport Engineering Conference
Full-lifecycle conference planning covering program, promotion, registration, logistics, finance and post-event evaluation.
Environmental & Sustainability Engineering Conference
Integrated production, streaming, stage, media, delegate, speaker, signage and award-management services.
FIFA World Cup Fan Accommodation
Site setup and operational coordination for nearly 200 designed and equipped fan cabinas, including infrastructure connections and guest-support environments.
Doha Islamic Finance Conference
Stage design, registration operations and media coverage for a professional financial-sector conference platform.
UDC Ramadan Sports Tournaments
Complete planning, production and onsite management for football and padel tournament experiences.
Career architecture
A deliberate progression from creative practice to executive leadership.
Each phase added a distinct capability: technical discipline, creative direction, commercial understanding, operational control and organizational leadership.
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2018—Present
Founder & CEO · Expo Tale
Built an integrated events and production company serving government, corporate, association and international clients.
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2000—2018
Event-management leadership · Qatar & UAE
Advanced through marketing, sales and management roles while directing complex event businesses and projects.
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1998—2000
Design & creative foundation
Entered the event industry through design and creativity, then committed fully to the sector as a long-term profession.
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Education
DBA
College de Paris
MBA
Missouri State University
BCE
University of Damascus
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Certifications
Professional Certifications
- CEM
- EMD
- EMC
- CBAB
- LEAN EXPERT
- PMI-ACP
Training & speaking
Field-tested knowledge, converted into practical capability.
Programs are designed for executives, public-sector teams, event professionals and emerging leaders. Each course combines a clear framework with case analysis, guided exercises, decision tools and applied practice.
Discuss a program
Training Specializations
As a certified trainer, I deliver practical, results-focused training programs designed to strengthen professional capabilities, leadership effectiveness and organizational performance.
- Management & Leadership
- Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC)
- Communication & Business Writing Skills
- Human Resources & Training
- Personal Skills & Self-Development
- Public Relations, Media & Diplomacy
- Marketing & Sales
- Supply Chain & Logistics Management
- Strategic Planning & Management
- Agile Development & Scrum
- Lean Six Sigma
- Event Management
01FrameworksClear models for better decisions
02CasesReal operational scenarios
03ApplicationExercises, tools and action plans
Thought leadership
Ideas on event strategy, technology, sustainability, data and Qatar’s MICE economy.
August 2026 · Event Analytics
Why Data Analysis Has Become Essential to Event Management
From attendance counting to evidence-based design, operational control and measurable business value.
Read articleVENUESTRATEGY
August 2026 · Event Strategy
Choosing the Right Venue for Your Next Event
Why venue selection should be treated as a strategic decision rather than simply a booking exercise.
Read articleGULFEVENT RISK
July 2026 · Industry Risk
When Geopolitics Meets Events: The Gulf Events Industry
Read on my blog
August 2025 · MICE Economy
Qatar: A Premier Hub for International Events—Opportunities and Challenges
A strategic assessment of infrastructure, tourism, economic opportunity, competition, sustainability and human capital.
Read article
January 2024 · Conference Strategy
10 Rules to Rule Them All: Organizing Conferences That Matter
Read article
July 2023 · Event Technology
The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Enhancing Event Management
Read article
July 2023 · Sustainability
Organizing Sustainable Events: A Step Towards a Greener Future
Read article
Media feature
Pioneering Innovation in Event Dynamics
Business Minds Media profiled the career journey, leadership philosophy, engineering mindset and innovation agenda behind Expo Tale.
Read the profilePodcast & television coverage
Selected interviews, podcast appearances and event media coverage.
Highlights from podcast conversations and broadcast appearances covering event strategy, industry leadership and major conferences in Qatar.
Podcast
Event Planning Profitable or Disaster in 2025?
Podcast discussion by Ammar Anabtawi on profitability, operational risk and strategic decision-making in the events industry.
Watch podcast
Qatar TV interview
Qatar TV Interview — Wound Management Conference 2016
Television interview while organizing the Qatar International Conference on Wound Management 2016.
Watch interview
Event coverage
Qatar International Awareness Exhibition 2017
Television-style event coverage highlighting public engagement and leadership presence during the 2017 exhibition.
View coverageContact
For advisory, partnerships, speaking and professional training.
Based in Doha and working across Qatar, the GCC and international event markets.
Digital presence
Connect across professional and social platforms.
Follow current thinking, project updates, training content and perspectives on events, leadership and the region.