Keynotes for Education City and Al Rayyan
Al Rayyan is home to Education City and the Qatar National Convention Centre. Paris brings The Grit Code to its universities, research teams and congresses.
Campuses and congresses
Education City, launched by Qatar Foundation in 1997, covers 12 square kilometres and hosts seven international partner universities and Hamad Bin Khalifa University.
The Qatar National Convention Centre opened in 2011 on the Qatar Foundation campus, beside Sidra Medicine and Qatar Science & Technology Park.
Al Rayyan takes its name from the Arabic for irrigation, and the 1893 Battle of Al Wajbah, seen as a founding moment for modern Qatar, was fought here. Paris has spent 17 years in the Gulf making TV shows that uncover the culture of the Middle East.
Who Paris speaks to in Al Rayyan
Universities and students
Talks for students from more than 100 countries.
Science and technology
Resilience for researchers and start-ups.
Medical and clinical
Keynotes for hospital and research teams.
Clubs and stadiums
Endurance stories for athletes and staff.
Event venues
QNCC hosts Qatar’s largest congresses; the Education City campuses host lectures and student events.
- Qatar National Convention Centre – on the Dukhan Highway in Gharrafat Al Rayyan
- Education City Stadium – a 2022 World Cup venue among the campuses
Ways to book Paris in Al Rayyan
Options: keynote, 45 to 60 minutes · workshop, 90 minutes up to half a day · virtual session, 30 to 45 minutes · host or MC for your event. Compare formats →
Tested at sea, on the ice and on stage
7 marathons, 7 continents
Antarctica, Cape Town, Perth, Dubai, Madrid, Fortaleza and Miami in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
Rowed the Pacific
4,800 km in 2023, raising more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
Paris also runs The Grit Generation, his programme for students. The Grit Generation · The Grit Code keynote · Keynote speaker Doha
Booking for Al Rayyan
Available for in-person events in Al Rayyan, or virtually in your local time zone.
Organisers in the Middle East typically book speakers one to two months ahead, so an early enquiry gives the best chance of your preferred date.
Talks are given in English; organisers can add Arabic interpretation or bilingual slides.
See also keynote speaker in Qatar, or browse all keynote speaker locations.
How a Grit Code session works
- Each booking begins with a call about the audience and what success looks like after the event.
- The talk turns the 7-marathon challenge and the Pacific row into habits teams can use on Monday morning.
- A virtual version of 30–45 minutes is available for distributed teams.
The content is shaped around Al Rayyan organisations and their goals, so the room hears examples that match its own challenges. Paris presents as an adventurer and CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, not as a theorist.
Where the talk fits in Al Rayyan
In Al Rayyan, the most common bookings fall into a few groups:
- Annual company conferences and town halls.
- Change and transformation programmes, including AI adoption.
- Safety, wellbeing and performance days for operations teams.
- Charity dinners and community events, which Paris knows well as an ambassador for Gulf for Good.
Credentials at a glance
- Past speaking clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly.
- His TV shows have been distributed in 123 countries, and Guy in Dubai has 22 million views.
- He ran 7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
- In 2023 he rowed 4,800 km across the Pacific with three teammates, raising more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
Formats, timing and next steps
Most organisers book a 45–60 minute Grit Code keynote with Q&A. Teams that want to go further add the Grit Deconstruction workshop, which runs from 90 minutes to half a day and turns the talk into habits and commitments the group can use on Monday morning.
A 30–45 minute virtual version is available for remote or hybrid audiences. Paris can also host the full day as MC, which keeps the tone consistent from the opening to the close. He is CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, so the briefing call covers both the audience’s goals and the practical run-of-show.
Past clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly. His TV shows have been distributed in 123 countries, and Guy in Dubai has 22 million views. The talk draws on the 7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes, and on the 2023 Pacific row of 4,800 km that raised more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
To book, share the date, venue or virtual platform, audience size and the outcome you want. Paris replies with a short outline tailored to your room, then joins a briefing call before the event.
Questions from Al Rayyan organisers
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in Al Rayyan?
Yes. Organisers in Al Rayyan can book him in person or for a virtual session.
Does Paris speak at university events in Education City?
Yes. Student sessions draw on his challenges and The Grit Generation programme.
Can the keynote open a large congress at QNCC?
Yes. It works as an opening or closing plenary for international audiences.
Is there a workshop option for teams in Al Rayyan?
Yes. The Grit Deconstruction workshop runs from 90 minutes to half a day and turns the keynote’s ideas into team habits and actions.
Can the keynote be delivered online for teams in Al Rayyan?
Yes. A 30–45 minute virtual version is available for remote or hybrid audiences, delivered in your local time zone.
Who has Paris spoken for?
Past clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly.
How far in advance should we book?
Most organisers book between four and twelve weeks ahead. Last-minute bookings are sometimes possible if the date is free, especially for virtual sessions.
Does Paris travel for in-person events?
Yes. He speaks at conferences and company events worldwide, in person or virtually, and shapes each talk around the local audience.
What does the briefing call cover?
Audience profile, the outcome you want, industry language to use or avoid, AV needs, and whether a workshop or MC role is part of the day.
Check a date for Al Rayyan
Send the basics and Paris’s team will reply, or book a call.