Writer

  • The Exchange

    Co-creator & Writer

    The Exchange is a hit Netflix series about two women who blaze a trail into the Kuwait stock exchange in the 1980s.

    Season 1 was Netflix’s most-watched Arabic series in 2023. Upon release, the show went #1 in 5 countries and made the Top 10 in 30 more, including France, Romania, Greece, Poland, Malta, and Gabon. Season 2 is due out in 2025.

    Positive reviews and recommendations from The New York Times, Le Monde, and The Guardian (among others) gave the series a tremendous international boost. And stunning coverage in Elle Arabia and Vogue Arabia gave us some love on our home turf.

    Most importantly, the conversation on social media was lively, overwhelmingly positive, and extensive. Within 24 hours, one guy on Twitter called it an ‘Arab feminist masterpiece.’ Within 48 hours, another guy called it ‘Overrated.’ Thrilling! Moreover, The Exchange has been the subject of a jaw-dropping number of memes, supercuts, and fanart.

    The Exchange has been featured in panel discussions and at conferences around the region. Our co-creator, Nadia Ahmad, described it as “kicking off a feminist revolution.” My former students from Northwestern University in Qatar—now professors themselves—have added us to their syllabus. Even more exciting, our series has been used to give financial advice to women. (A trend that I hope continues!)

    Watch the Teaser Trailer
    Watch The Exchange

  • Finding Ola

    Development Consultant

    Already a big fan of the series (and its predecessor, I Want to Get Married,) I almost fainted when Netflix asked me to consult on Season 2 of their smash hit.

    Season 2 premiered in October 2024. It racked up 800k views in its first week and joined the Global Top 10 for Non-English series.

    Watch Finding Ola

  • The Dry Kingdom

    Co-creator & Writer

    In the midst of a global water crisis, the rebellious daughter of a missing scientist must find her father and his groundbreaking discovery before it falls into the wrong hands.

    The Dry Kingdom received a generous Development Grant from the Doha Film Institute (DFI). It was also selected to participate in the Royal Jordanian Film Council's Mosalsalat Screenwriting Lab and the DFI Series Lab.

    The project is currently in development. The pilot script and series bible are available upon request.

  • Isra' & the Black Moon Pearl

    Author

    Isra’ is a Young Adult fantasy series for graphic novels, film, and television.

    The story weaves the untold history of women in the Arabian Gulf into a superhero narrative.

    The series is in collaboration with screenwriter, poet, and author Dahlia Baeshen and illustrator Hatem Aly.

  • Laish La

    Co-writer & Director

    One of the most successful films in Lipton’s ‘Why Not’ campaign, Laish La has received over 3 million views on Facebook and YouTube.

    Watch the Film

I TELL STORIES THAT STAND OUT -

There is a world of stories that have never been told. Like a magpie, I collect snippets of these tales and weave them into my work. I have a particular soft spot for women where they don’t belong, troublemakers, and deep dives into obscure fragments of history.

I believe stories should challenge and enrich, so my projects cover complex subjects in unique worlds with unexpected characters. But I also believe stories should entertain, so there’s a dash of comedy, movement, and spectacle in everything I do.

- AND MAKE AN IMPACT.

The stories we consume shape our worldviews and influence our beliefs and values. Generations are harmed by how they see themselves represented (or erased) in popular entertainment. So, I’m always interested in projects and creators from historically excluded communities.

I spent my time in West Asia using collaboration and research to write stories that bridged cultures and continents. As a result, I developed and sold scripts with rigorous cultural sensitivity and nuanced characters. You can read more about my DEI efforts here.

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Reach out if you’re interested in screenwriting, ghostwriting, or story consultation.