Lead
Joe HaTTab, known as Jehad Hattab, is a famous Jordanian travel vlog creator and documentary film producer. Born in Jordan on March 18, 1990, he spent his childhood in Saudi Arabia and now lives in Dubai. Joe got his first experience working as an accountant in a local company but decided to quit his job and started his adventure vlog channel in 2016. With around 15 thousand dollars on his account, he went on a trip around Asia with a one-way ticket.
Joe uploaded his first videos about backpacking in Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore, and eventually, his content began to gain popularity. He continuously improved his skills and started making documentary films. Joe’s videos are high-quality and contain a variety of topics and places. Joe is famous for his adventure, but he also does reports from remote village homestays and ordinary city walks, exploring spectacular locations in nature. Joe has visited more than 80 countries, shooting documentaries in Asia, Africa, and America.
The vlog creator wanted to share the stories of his explorations in a language that the Arab audience would understand. He tries to find unique and stunning places to communicate with local people and immerse himself in their culture.
Today Joe HaTTab is one of the most successful Arab content creators who has more than 20 million subscribers on his YouTube channel and 34 million followers on various social networks, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and others. Moreover, his videos have been viewed billions of times. Joe HaTTab is undoubtedly a popular figure in the Arab world. In addition, many consider him the most influential documentary film producer because of his natural ability to depict the narrative’s essential moments. Joe’s films touch different topics, from traveling and adventure to communities and cultures. His reports give his viewers insight into the daily life of people in different parts of the world. Every Joe HaTTab’s video creates a sense of an adventure around the world. Joe demonstrates the beauty of the planet’s nature and shares valuable wisdom with his viewers.
From a humble office worker, Joe HaTTab has become a documentary film producer and one of the most followed people on the planet. His constant desire to improve his skills and the ability to do what he likes made him famous. Joe HaTTab continues to change the world with his content, inspiring people to learn, see, and experience the world around them differently.
Early Life & Identity
- Full Name: Jehad Hattab
- Nick Name(s): Joe HaTTab, Joe
Profession(s):
- Cinematic Travel Documentary Filmmaker
- YouTuber
- Media Producer
- Former Corporate Accountant
- Date of Birth: March 18, 1990
- Height: 5' 9" (Approx. 175 cm)
- Eye Colour: Dark Brown
- Hair Colour: Black
- Home Town: Amman, Jordan (Born in Jordan, raised in Saudi Arabia, currently headquartered in Dubai, UAE)
- School: Local schooling in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- College / University: Philadelphia University, Jordan
- Education Qualification: Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Accounting (Graduated June 2012)
- Religion: Islam
- Food Habit: Non-Vegetarian (Actively experiments with regional street food and ethnic cuisines on global expeditions)
- Relationship / Marital Status: Single / Unmarried
- Language Known: Arabic and English
- Colour: Olive Green, Khaki, and Dark Grey (Reflected heavily in his choice of tactical gear, travel backpacks, and rugged field jackets).
- Beverage: Traditional Arabic Coffee (Gahwa) and hot herbal teas discovered across his remote travel destinations.
Joe HaTTab, also known as Jehad Hattab, has built one of the most profitable independent digital media companies in the Middle East. He began his professional life as an office worker in a recognised company. He discovered his passion for storytelling and went into filmmaking. Joe is now a successful documentary filmmaker and an international personality. This young man’s experience is inspiring to thousands of people who want to leave their routine jobs and realise their potential outside the security of the office.
- Cross-Border Upbringing: Joe was born in Jordan on March 18, 1990. However, his childhood and adulthood mostly occurred in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
- Influence of the Culture: Growing up surrounded by the culture of Saudi Arabia, Joe had a different perspective on his homeland Jordan.
- The “Passport Crisis”: At the beginning of his professional music career, Joe talked about the difficulties he experienced while working with the travel industry. The primary issue was the Saudi passport and its demanding visa rules for most countries. Additionally, he resolved the Passport problem by buying another passport through economic programs, which allowed him to travel freely and reach new countries for music production.
Formal Education
Before he could find his niche in creative film making, Joe studied a very formal and rigid academic course:
- Certificate: He joined Philadelphia University in Jordan and graduated in June 2012 with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting.
- Joe had little or no formal training in video engineering or digital media marketing before he started his career. He acquired the necessary skills through self-tutorial after graduation.
Career Growth & Evolution
The Corporate Phase (2012-2016)
Joe went back to Saudi Arabia after graduation to begin his traditional professional career.
- He was employed in the Tayseer Alsheikh Factory for Phosphates Products in Yanbo as an Accounts Payable Assistant.
- After that, he became a corporate Accountant for Sela for Power, Automation & Safety Systems in Jeddah, where he worked for almost three years.
- He describes his life at that time as missing the bigger purpose, hence at 26, he decided to change the narrative and turned to his true passion – art.
The Budget Vlogging Launch (2016-2018)
Joe quit his job on July 4, 2016, purchased some cameras, and launched his YouTube channel.
- First videos were all about extreme budget travel, and Joe shared practical tips on how to survive in a foreign country.
- By following a well-thought plan, posting regularly on a daily and weekly basis, and addressing the right audience, he gained his first couple of million subscribers.
The Cinematic Documentary Empire (2019-Present)
Joe realised that the formula of a regular vlogger’s daily routine was getting old and wanted to move to the next level.
- He started investing heavily in the cinematic format, moving to Dubai, UAE, and opening an office under a registered media production company banner.
- Joe bought cinema-standard cameras, anamorphic drones, and cinema-grade audio equipment.
- Now, instead of regular travel vlogs, he was making mini-documentaries and investing heavily in the research process.
- Joe’s travel documentaries are full of thrilling adventures and unique insights into the cultures of the most remote countries in the world.
- He was the first to get an interview with the North Korean government, investigate the Everest Mountains’ Sherpas in Nepal, and get close to the tribes living in third-world countries.
- Joe’s brand’s value is now so high that they work with major international clients such as Emirates Airline, Sony, Samsung, and others, offering innovative ideas and unique content for their digital campaigns.