Khalid Al Ameri visits Pakistan, meets the President

UAE-based social media sensation is currently touring the country for the first time


Sarah Price January 10, 2020
PHOTO: FILE

KARACHI: UAE-based social media sensation Khalid Al Ameri is currently touring Pakistan for the first time and says he has fallen in love with the country.

Khalid, who has over 840,000 Instagram followers, recently touched down in Islamabad and took to the social media platform to share his views on Pakistan so far, and also met the President of Pakistan, Dr. Arif Alvi.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7IuqQ8J7PR/?igshid=10nsojpaktyif

"I’ve fallen in love with Pakistan, the people and the country are incredible Masha'Allah, Pakistan Zindabad," he captioned on a photo standing in front of Faisal Mosque donning traditional attire.

PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/KHALID AL AMERI

PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/KHALID AL AMERI

Having a huge fan following in Pakistan, many rushed to Khalid's comments section, welcoming him to the country and asking about the cities he plans to visit.

Khalid shared videos from Nathia Gali, touring the mountainous regions of Pakistan. He said, in his stories, “We’re here in Nathia Gali, in the beautiful province of KP. Look at how beautiful it is.”

PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/KHALID AL AMERI PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/KHALID AL AMERI

Not only that, the video maker also enjoyed some karak chai in the freezing cold weather and made snowmen with the locals of the area. Upon returning back to Islamabad, Khalid also held a meet and greet a local café, inviting all his followers. His Instagram stories were flooded with people presenting him with gifts and welcoming him to the country.

PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/KHALID AL AMERI PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/KHALID AL AMERI

Known for his daily videos about life, usually including his wife Salama Mohamed, the Arab-American influencer sets out to 'bring the world closer.'

Last year, Khalid made a viral video during all-time nuclear tensions between Pakistan and India, using the #SayNoToWar hashtag. "The current tensions between Pakistan and India have people around the world worried about a war happening, what I know, and what I have seen, is how close Indians and Pakistanis are in the UAE and around the world, how they are able to live side by side, work together and build better lives together, this is one of those stories," he said during the clip.

PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/SALAMA MOHAMED PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/SALAMA MOHAMED

"Let's all come together and say "No To War", I pray for peace and understanding between the two countries today and always inshAllah."

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Born and raised in Abu Dhabi to an Emirati father and Scottish mother, Khalid credits his grounded nature to his upbringing. ‘My family comes from a very humble background. My mom and dad met in the UK where my dad was finishing his graduate studies. My mom worked in an old person’s home for a year to save up for tickets to visit Abu Dhabi,’ he said in an interview with Friday Magazine.

PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/KHALID AL AMERI PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/KHALID AL AMERI

Coming from different cultural backgrounds, his parents maintained their individual identities, and this had a strong impact on his life. "They raised me and my brothers to respect people and their values and beliefs," he said.

After taking up different administrative jobs, in 2011 Khalid left for the US to pursue an MBA at Stanford University. The electives he chose were digital media and publishing, and he quickly realised that making videos was his true calling. Returning to the UAE, he made small Snapchat videos on life, relationships, work and career and tasted modest success.

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