Omar Al-Qattan serves as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The A. M. Qattan Foundation, a charitable foundation established by his family in 1993. His leadership has been instrumental in various cultural initiatives, including the establishment of The Mosaic Rooms in London in late 2008 and his role as the chair of the Shubbak Festival for Contemporary Arab Culture during its second and third editions. Additionally, Omar was a member of the Palestine Museum during its establishment period from 2012 to 2017.
Omar's academic journey began with English Literature studies at Oxford University, followed by specialization in film directing at the Institut National Supérieur des Arts du Spectacles (INSAS) Institute in Brussels. He made his mark in the film industry with his documentary "Dreams & Silence" (Rêves et silences), which received the prestigious Joris Ivens Award in 1991. Known for addressing political Islam early on in his career, he continued to produce notable works such as "Tale of the Three Jewels" (1994-1995), the first feature film entirely shot in the occupied Gaza Strip. His portfolio includes several films, with "Zindeeq" (2009) as his most recent feature film.
Beyond film, Omar Al-Qattan has contributed to the literary world, with publications in both English and Arabic. He has also co-edited numerous publications in both languages.