who is khatib?

Ibrahim Khatib is my given name, but you can call me Brian. I was born in Kuwait, but am now living and working in Phuket, Thailand - the Land of Smiles.

Originally, I dreamt of becoming a lawyer whilst studying in Kuwait and in 1990, after finishing high school, I was accepted to study International Law at the University of Iraq.

However, in August 1990, Iraqi forces invaded Kuwait and changed everything. Not only was my dream of becoming a lawyer fading fast, but due family sickness and the minor issue of war, my family and I were forced to flee back to Jordan, leaving everything, and I mean EVERYTHING behind.

As if that wasn’t enough, I was then asked to join the Jordanian army through the gulf war. It was my time during the conflict that has left the biggest marks in my heart and mind – and I certainly look at things differently now.

After the first Gulf War, I ended my military service and faced another big challenge - finding a job. It wasn't easy. I had no experience, no career and little prospects, but I knew I had to do something, anything, to earn some money.

I found a job in a local market which meant a 5km walk everyday, in the early hours of the morning, dodging wild dogs and thieves, to get to work. Carrying vegetables in the market though, was never going to provide enough money to fill the family needs, so I started looking for a second job. After sourcing around, I eventually applied for a job in a private health club, training the Jordanian wrestling team.

However, the whole time, I still felt that I was not going anywhere and I really wanted to build a serious career. So, after a while I decided for a complete change in direction and became a painter - taking on jobs as wide and varied as redecorations and painting large VIP houses.

Of course, it takes time to build a reputation, so I still needed other work to help pay the bills. So for a while I worked as a life guard for two hotels in Aqaba, Jordan until the painting started to, literally, take off when I was offered a position with an international aircraft maintenance company to paint their aircraft.

One of the benefits of being an aircraft painter, is not only being able to work on practically every type of aircraft – but being able to travel! So, in 2002, I was requested to come to Thailand to paint a private jet of a well known Thai VIP. This proved to be a huge turning point in my life as it here in Thailand, where I met my wife and three years later, I became a father.

Now that my life is more settled, I have been able to get back to my lifelong hobby of writing. I have actually already written three books in Arabic and a further one in English. Currently, I have turned my attention to screen plays – most of which are displayed on this website.

I am, without question, a highly self motivated individual and I love writing – both books and screen plays. I have faced a number of challenges in my life – family illness, war and the 2004 Thailand Tsunami for starters.

When I was 32 I suffered a heart attack, brought on from stress. When I came too I realised that death is always closer than we expect. For me, the heart attack, perversely was a wake up call.

We all have choices, we all make them - we can't change the past But through all that, I feel I have only grown stronger and more determined to succeed.

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Ibrahim “Brian” Khatib, 2007