Meet Our Trainers - Translation and Training Center

Expert Reviser and Interpreting Trainer

Mazen Alfarhan is a graduate of Heriot-Watt University (Scotland) and the SOAS University of London. He is an experienced interpreter, translator, educator, and trainer. From 2013 to 2023, he served as Reviser and Interpreting Trainer at Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s Translation and Training Center, which he currently leads. Previously, he lectured in Simultaneous Interpreting and Translation at Damascus University from 2009 to 2013, and in English at the International University of Science and Technology, while also working as a senior interpreter and translator for the Syrian government from 2001 to 2009.

As a conference interpreter, he has worked at international conferences, ministerial meetings, and high-level dialogues involving the UN, World Bank, IMF, UNICEF, UNRWA, and OIC. From 2017 to 2019, he was Lead Interpreter for the Syria Track II Dialogue Initiative, supporting peacebuilding.

His professional and academic interests focus on interpreter training and practice. He has delivered over 1,000 training hours in note-taking, consecutive, and simultaneous interpreting; four former students now interpret for two Arab leaders. He has also contributed to university service and published translation-related articles in Qatari newspapers.

A Certified Legal Translator, Chevening and Said Foundation Scholar for master's studies, Mazen is pursuing doctoral research in Intercultural Communication at the University of Salamanca, Spain.

Expert in Translation and Mentorship

Nabeel Rashid is an experienced translator, reviser, and educator whose career spans academic, legal, healthcare, and sports translation. He holds BA and MA degrees in English from the University of Baghdad, where he also lectured, and a postgraduate diploma in Healthcare and Community Translation from Vancouver Community College.

In Vancouver, Canada, Nabeel worked as an accredited court translator and registered healthcare interpreter, providing services to the Ministry of Justice, the Provincial Health Authority, and human rights organizations, including the UN’s Vancouver Association for Survivors of Torture.

Specializing in sports translation, he has contributed to major projects for the Qatar Olympic Committee and the Doha Asian Games Organizing Committee. His portfolio includes translating and revising publications such as Vancouver Olympic Games: IOC Gathering and OG Events (2010) and The Moment of Lifetime: A Documentary on Sports History in Qatar (2007).

Nabeel currently serves as a leading Translation Reviser at Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s Translation and Training Center, where he also mentors MA Translation Studies interns. He is a member of the Society of Translators and Interpreters of British Columbia, the American Translators Association, and the Association of Canadian College and University Teachers of English.

Senior Translation Specialist and Reviser

Sayed Mohamed is a Senior Translation Specialist at Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s Translation and Training Center, where he has worked since August 2014, providing high-quality translation services and training MA Translation Studies students during their internships.

With over 15 years of professional experience, Sayed has worked across a wide range of fields, including politics, literature, fine arts, law, medicine, education, media, and publishing. Before joining Hamad Bin Khalifa University, he served as a Translation Specialist at Qatar Foundation’s Communication Directorate. Earlier, he worked at Nahdet Misr Publishing Group, where he progressed from translator to publishing executive, gaining extensive experience in the publishing industry.

Sayed holds a bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature from Ain Shams University, Egypt, and a master’s degree in Translation Studies from Hamad Bin Khalifa University. His professional development includes a six-day knowledge-transfer workshop with the Economist Group, specialized training for Arab publishers at the Goethe-Institut in Cairo, and project management training based on PMI methodology.

Drawing on his academic background and extensive professional experience, Sayed is committed to excellence in translation and translator training, sharing his expertise through workshops and professional training programs.

Expert Translator and Educator

Dr. Hisham Ali is an experienced translator and academic with over 15 years of professional experience across diverse fields, including business, finance, communication, media, tourism, and publishing. He holds a PhD in Translation Studies from the University of Leuven, Belgium, combining a strong academic background with extensive professional practice.

His professional development includes hands-on training at internationally recognized institutions, including The Economist Group in London, further strengthening his expertise in addressing industry-specific translation needs with accuracy and quality.

Alongside his professional practice, Dr. Ali is actively engaged in academia and has delivered presentations on translation at leading institutions, including the University of Leeds, the University of Leuven, the University of Nottingham, and the Institute of Culture Studies and Theatre History in Vienna. His academic contributions reflect a sustained commitment to advancing knowledge and practice in the translation field.

A sworn legal translator accredited by the UAE Ministry of Justice, Dr. Ali brings together academic expertise, professional experience, and rigorous standards of legal translation. Through his workshops and training programs, he shares this expertise with translation professionals seeking to develop their skills and deepen their understanding of professional translation practice.

Expert in Translation and Linguistic Technology

Wahba Youssef is a translation specialist with extensive experience spanning professional translation, translation technology, and project management. He began his career at Dar El Farouk Publishing House in Egypt as an English-Arabic translator specializing in IT, medicine, finance, and investment. He later joined Future Group as a Senior Translator, further developing his expertise in CAT tools. In 2007, he moved to Ernst & Young in Kuwait as a financial translator and reviewer, before relocating to London, where he spent six years providing technology-enhanced translation services to local and international clients.

Today, Wahba is a Senior Translation Specialist at the Translation and Training Center, where he oversees translation technology, promotes advanced tools and project management practices, and develops terminology databases for specialized translation tracks.

He holds an MA in Applied Linguistics from the University of Birmingham, a BA in International Business and Management from Bournemouth University, and a BA from Ain Shams University’s Faculty of Alsun. He also holds a diploma in Information Systems Analysis and Design from NCC Education and certifications in Trados Studio, Trados MultiTerm Desktop, and MemoQ Level PM.

Leading Expert in Translation and Pedagogy

Dr. Ahmed Alaoui is a graduate of the University of Wales, UK. From December 2013 to August 2021, he served as Associate Professor of Translation Studies at the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS), Hamad Bin Khalifa University. Previously, he was Professor of Translation and Head of the Professional BA Translation Program at Ibn Tufayl University in Morocco.

His research centers on translation pedagogy, translator training, and the interface between theory and practice. His book, Translation: A Practical Guide for English-Arabic Translators, draws on more than 20 years of teaching translation at the graduate and postgraduate levels. He has also held visiting scholar positions at the University of Massachusetts, USA, and the University of Nantes, France.

Dr. Alaoui is a certified professional translator accredited by the United Nations (Roster), the Ministry of Justice of the Kingdom of Morocco, and OTTIAQ, Canada. He currently serves as a consultant to the World Bank and has led workshops on legal translation, revision, and quality assurance for over 25 years.

Media and Medical Translation Expert

Dr. Ashraf Abdel Fattah is a media, translation, and interpreting specialist with extensive professional and academic experience. A qualified medical doctor, he also holds a PhD in Translation Studies from the University of Manchester, bringing a distinctive combination of medical knowledge and translation expertise to his work.

His media career includes 13 years in London as Middle East Bulletin Editor at Associated Press Television News (APTN), where he developed extensive expertise in journalism, media, and communication. He later worked in Doha as a Senior Live Broadcast Interpreter for Al Jazeera Media Network and Al Araby TV, interpreting in demanding live-broadcast environments.

Dr. Abdel Fattah also served as Assistant Professor at Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s Translation and Interpreting Institute, where he taught and mentored future translators and interpreters. Alongside his media and academic work, he has extensive experience in medical translation and interpreting, as well as teaching medical translation. His background as both a medical doctor and translation scholar enables him to bridge specialized medical knowledge with professional translation and interpreting practice.

Expert in Translation, Editing, and Content Development

Abdullah Zaki has over 15 years of professional experience in strategic communication, digital media, translation, and content development. Combining advisory and hands-on experience, he has contributed to the development and delivery of major communication initiatives for prominent organizations in Qatar, including Qatar Foundation, Qatar Museums, and the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy.

His expertise encompasses strategic communication advisory, content strategy, institutional messaging, and the management of editorial and digital content.

Abdullah brings this extensive industry experience into his training, delivering programmes that combine practical knowledge with emerging approaches to translation, content development, and artificial intelligence. His training emphasizes skills relevant to professional practice and the evolving demands of language and communication industries.

His professional and research interests focus on AI applications in translation and audiovisual media, particularly the impact of emerging technologies on language, society, and cross-cultural communication.

He holds an MA in Audiovisual Translation Studies from Hamad Bin Khalifa University, a BA with honors in Languages and Translation from Al-Azhar University, and a Diploma in Digital Media from the American University in Cairo.

Expert Academic and Professional Translator

Dr. Hossam Al-Sharkawy is an academic and professional translator with over 17 years of experience. He currently serves as Assistant Professor of Translation and Linguistics at Al-Azhar University’s Faculty of Languages and Translation in Cairo.

His professional career includes senior translation and revision roles at institutions across and beyond the Gulf region. As Translation Manager at Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council, he translated key government documents, including the Abu Dhabi Urban Street Design Manual and Safety and Security Planning Manual. His portfolio also includes published works and projects for Jarir Publications, Telegraph, Foundation Magazine, and QF Documentary Books, as well as Qatar Foundation entities, including Education City universities, Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar Museums, SIDRA, and others.

Dr. Al-Sharkawy has also worked as a certified translator for international companies and translation providers across the USA and Gulf region, including OTAK International, KEO International Consultants, Switch Media, and Tarjama.

He holds a PhD and MA in Translation and Linguistics and a BA in Simultaneous Interpreting from Al-Azhar University. His professional training includes programs at the American University in Cairo, Amideast, and the British Council.

Writer, editor, and translator

ElSayed Gewely is Senior Account Director – Content at BLJ Worldwide, with 20 years of experience as a writer, editor, and translator working in Arabic and English. His work spans education, media, and government communications. He combines precision with expressive writing, paying particular attention to Arabic style and the effect of words on readers.

His experience includes content work for Qatar Foundation, Al Jazeera Media Network, and Qatar’s Ministry of Education and Higher Education. He has contributed to editorial style guides and delivered professional translation and editing workshops, helping dozens of translators and editors develop more precise and fluent writing.

He believes good writing begins with clear understanding: words are chosen for the meaning they convey and reviewed for the effect they have. Participants in his workshops examine texts from both the writer’s and the reader’s perspective, compare alternative phrasings, and explain their editorial choices.

Sign language expert

Murad Al-Sous is a sign language expert, interpreter, trainer, educator, and accessibility advocate. Born to Deaf parents, he works as a Sign Language Expert at Mada – Qatar Assistive Technology Center, and as a Physical Education Teacher, Trainer, and Sign Language Interpreter at Qatar’s Audio Education Complex.

Murad is also a sign language presenter with beIN SPORTS and a freelance presenter with Qatar Television, as well as a freelance interpreter for the Qatar Center for the Deaf and a sign language trainer with the Qatar Society for Rehabilitation of Special Needs.

A committed advocate for Deaf and disability rights, Murad is Vice Chairman and a founding member of SILA, the Arab Organization of Sign Language Interpreters, and a founding member of JUSOOR, Jordan’s first association for sign language interpreters. He is also Co-Founder, CEO, and Sign Language Expert at QSign, a software company developing a dedicated sign language video-calling application for Deaf users.

Murad also works as an audio describer for blind and visually impaired audiences, contributing to the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, and AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023. A former footballer, he played for Jordan’s Al-Wehdat Club and represented Jordan at youth, U-20, and Olympic levels.