Mariam Nihal Saudi Gazette What you don't know about Omar Hussein, is that the young star of “3al6ayer” (pronounced Al-Tayer [On The Fly]) is not just one of Saudi Arabia's favorite comedian, but is also a chemical engineer from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals. “I have worked for about five years in different engineering and management positions. If I weren't a comedian, I would be an engineer. I loved working on the oil field and in the manufacturing industry. Would go back in a heartbeat,” Hussein said. He did not envision himself as a comedian, so we asked him if life and the show are perhaps a comedy of errors, Hussein replied “Maybe a comedy of fate.” “3al6ayer” is Saudi Arabia's most loved and leading comedy show on YouTube. According to YouTube, Saudi Arabia has the highest per capita YouTube users than any country in the world. With 167 million views a day from the Middle East region, 90 million originate from Saudi Arabia. According to recent Google KSA statistics, 44 percent of Saudis use YouTube on a daily basis. The users are connected to the Internet via smartphones with 76 percent actively watching videos on their phones. Around 80 percent of Saudi YouTube users use social media tools at least once a week. Saudi Arabia is closely followed by Egypt, Morocco and the UAE. The increase in YouTube viewership in the Kingdom is attributed to the production of local content on the video-sharing website over the past two years such as “3aal6ayer.” “I started standup comedy around two years ago. And here I am, trying to manage UTURN and learn from it at the same time,” Hussein said. Asked if he there is a message behind “3al6ayer” or is it just something to give people a laugh about. “I think trying to push viewers to think independently and have a good laugh are pretty much the key messages.” “3al6ayer” is a team game. Behind the scenes, a team compromised of a medical student, Ahmed Fathuldeen; a psychologist and writer, Lama Sabri; and economist Dima Ikhwan with a few other volunteers make the magic happen. Talking to Hussein about the team, he explained how the bright minds came together with a team and discussed some constraints. “I believe the constraints were and still are proper experience in development as we are learning as we go, which is pretty much the hard way! Scarcity of resources sometimes restricts our imagination.” In any documentary, film or an episode of a comedy series, scriptwriting is key. It is what makes or breaks the flow. We asked him if he writes the script and he said: “Everyone involved in the show! Of course, the writers do most of the writing.” In a country like Saudi Arabia where stand up comedy is a relatively new concept and while his online series is reaching out to millions of people, Hussein admits he did not expect the level of public appreciation and exposure. “Not at all, did not see it coming. Still can't believe it!” He admires the concept of YouTube shows as he talked about comedy acts and their evaluation by viewers. “The viewers love it! It's time to shift beyond comedy, to have a better segmentation of entertainment for viewers according to their interests. That is what UTURN is focusing on right now, and MashAllah it's doing well so far,” said Hussein. “Also, alhamdulilah, I have launched with Lomar Thobes a CSR campaign with a new concept for the local market. Pretty much excited for that!,” said Hussein talking about his other projects. Hussein enjoys performing live.“I did a semi-performance in Oman, but I'd love to go around the Gulf and see if it works out there.” When asked about his favorite comedian, he said: “I'm not sure if it's Chris Rock or Eddie Murphey, but George Carlin is by far the most insightful for me.” When Hussein was asked about the trend and how he thinks Saudi youth is evolving in the media sphere, he said: “They are evolving in a very independent fashion, this may lead to issues in the future as there are no clear laws for the youth to try and abide by.” With millions of expats within the country and the GCC who don't speak English and cannot understand the show which is in Arabic, Hussein said there is no other way but for them to learn the language to enjoy the show. “ ‘3al6ayer' discusses news that is relevant to Saudi and Gulf viewers, so if you can't speak the language, you better enroll in Arabic 101!” Hussein's message for his fans: “Thank you for making me, and thank you for continuing to support me, the show and UTURN.” Blackberry has also made an application for his show. The first episode of “3al6ayer” season 3 was launched last week. BlackBerry users can watch his episodes live by using their “3al6ayer” BlackBerry app, and have their questions answered by Hussein during a special segment titled “7arobNaro.” Fans can also follow him on Twitter from their BlackBerry smartphone by posting updates with the hashtag #حاروبنارو.
