From creative filmmakers and news anchors to novel writers and digital content creators, Northwestern Qatar’s Class of 2026 joins the school with dynamic experiences and several unique talents and interests.
“The Class of 2026 was selected from an impressive pool that was the largest in the school’s history,” said Marwan M. Kraidy, dean and CEO of Northwestern Qatar. “They have achieved the highest academic standing among their high school peers and come with an array of extracurricular achievements and interests that will help enliven and enrich our community of evidence-based storytellers.”
Aisha Al-Remithi is among the students from Qatar, which is represented by nearly 40 percent of the new class. An avid entrepreneur, she co-founded the first private business incubator in Qatar. As a Northwestern Qatar student, she plans to discover emerging opportunities in the media industry. “I have always been interested in the ways the media industry changes,” said Al-Remithi. “I came here to learn not only about emerging media industries but also how to contribute to the creative economy in my country.”
Also among the students making up the school’s 15th incoming class, is Isra Fejzullaj, an international student from Albania who grew up in Turkey. “It has only been a couple of weeks since I arrived in Qatar, and I’m already helping in a student film set, applying to be part of The Daily Q team, and meeting many people from different nationalities and cultures,” said Fejzullaj, underscoring how opportunities at Northwestern Qatar will help her grow as an aspiring media professional. “As someone who is passionate about media and politics, I’m excited about the possibilities here to develop myself academically and professionally.”
“The Class of 2026 was selected from an impressive pool that was the largest in the school’s history,” said Marwan M. Kraidy, dean and CEO of Northwestern Qatar. “They have achieved the highest academic standing among their high school peers and come with an array of extracurricular achievements and interests that will help enliven and enrich our community of evidence-based storytellers.”
Aisha Al-Remithi is among the students from Qatar, which is represented by nearly 40 percent of the new class. An avid entrepreneur, she co-founded the first private business incubator in Qatar. As a Northwestern Qatar student, she plans to discover emerging opportunities in the media industry. “I have always been interested in the ways the media industry changes,” said Al-Remithi. “I came here to learn not only about emerging media industries but also how to contribute to the creative economy in my country.”
Also among the students making up the school’s 15th incoming class, is Isra Fejzullaj, an international student from Albania who grew up in Turkey. “It has only been a couple of weeks since I arrived in Qatar, and I’m already helping in a student film set, applying to be part of The Daily Q team, and meeting many people from different nationalities and cultures,” said Fejzullaj, underscoring how opportunities at Northwestern Qatar will help her grow as an aspiring media professional. “As someone who is passionate about media and politics, I’m excited about the possibilities here to develop myself academically and professionally.”
“They have achieved the highest academic standing among their high school peers and come with an array of extracurricular achievements and interests that will help enliven and enrich our community of evidence-based storytellers”
- Marwan M. Kraidy, dean and CEO of Northwestern Qatar
Another international student joining as part of the Class of 2026 is Mubashir Hanif, an aspiring filmmaker who was part of the team producing the first Pakistani film to win at the Cannes International Film Festival. For the next four years as an undergraduate, he says the mentorship and other opportunities at the school will help him grow as a filmmaker.
“As someone who is passionate about filmmaking,” said Hanif, “studying at Northwestern Qatar gives me access to resources that no other place offers and allows me to benefit from Qatar’s location as a regional film hub which will help me expand my network in the industry.”
A women empowerment advocate, Hiba Sobaii joins Northwestern Qatar from Morocco, where she was co-founder and president of the female empowerment association at her high school. She plans to use the media skills she will learn as an undergraduate to empower marginalized women in the Middle East. “I have always been interested in media and committed to women empowerment advocacy,” said Sobaii. “Studying here [at Northwestern Qatar] allows me to combine both interests and focus on giving a voice to the women in our region.”
Together with their fellow Class of 2026 students, Al-Remithi, Fejzullaj, and Hanif make up one of the most diverse, competitive, and dynamic cohorts in the school’s history. They hail from all over the world, including Qatar, the U.S., Albania, Austria, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, India, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Morocco, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Rwanda, South Korea, Sudan, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Zimbabwe, and many nations and cultural backgrounds represented for the first time at Northwestern Qatar.
“As someone who is passionate about filmmaking,” said Hanif, “studying at Northwestern Qatar gives me access to resources that no other place offers and allows me to benefit from Qatar’s location as a regional film hub which will help me expand my network in the industry.”
A women empowerment advocate, Hiba Sobaii joins Northwestern Qatar from Morocco, where she was co-founder and president of the female empowerment association at her high school. She plans to use the media skills she will learn as an undergraduate to empower marginalized women in the Middle East. “I have always been interested in media and committed to women empowerment advocacy,” said Sobaii. “Studying here [at Northwestern Qatar] allows me to combine both interests and focus on giving a voice to the women in our region.”
Together with their fellow Class of 2026 students, Al-Remithi, Fejzullaj, and Hanif make up one of the most diverse, competitive, and dynamic cohorts in the school’s history. They hail from all over the world, including Qatar, the U.S., Albania, Austria, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, India, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Morocco, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Rwanda, South Korea, Sudan, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Zimbabwe, and many nations and cultural backgrounds represented for the first time at Northwestern Qatar.
