In this episode of The Ajyal Show, Abdulla Al-Mosallam traces the journey from quiet fandom to full-fledged community. He talks about starting out in finance, then realising he didn't just want to watch culture grow from behind a desk, he wanted to help build the spaces where it actually happens.
Abdulla revisits the first Otaku exhibition at Ajyal, when anime fans who were used to watching shows alone suddenly found themselves shoulder to shoulder in the same room. Some came under aliases, some in low-key cosplay, but all left with the same request: "Please bring this back". From there, cosplay began to become more mainstream, craft skills levelled up year after year, and families started bringing their children along. The message was clear. This wasn't a niche; it was a community.
He explains how that early pop-up evolved into Geekdom and Geekend, and then into a dedicated space in Lusail where fandom, creativity and entrepreneurship sit at the same table. Artists sell prints, makers test new merch, game developers get instant feedback on fresh builds, and small ideas quietly turn into start-ups. One local game even travelled from a Geekdom demo to Tribeca and a major award, while Qatar's board-gamers claimed their seat at international tables.
The episode also looks at the "rules of the game" behind the scenes. The importance of respecting IP, setting fair rules for cosplay and merch, and designing events that feel safe, accessible and comfortable as the crowds grow. Teachers now arrive with students in lab coats and robots, turning Geekdom into a place where classrooms and consoles overlap.
Throughout, Abdulla speaks not as an organiser but as a fan among fans, collecting art, singing anime songs and cheering on the next generation. The episode ends with words of gratitude to the community that made Geekdom possible, and an open invitation. The story of this scene is still being written, and everyone who loves it has a role to play in its future.
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