Basil El Haj

About

Travel and foodie vlogger known for his incredibly successful eponymous, Arab-language YouTube channel that has amassed more than 3.3 million followers. His videos often cover the cuisine of the Middle East and Arabic countries and cultures, but he also travels the world to sample everything the globe has to offer in the terms of delicious meals. 

Before Fame

Born in the United Arab Emirates and invested in good cuisine since he was a child of Jordanian parents. However, he would first study Mechanical Engineering at the American University of Sharjah, graduating in 2010 with his Bachelor's. He grew unsatisfied with the idea of a career as an engineer, so he quickly packed up and moved to London. He completed a Master's degree in Media and Communication at Kingston University in 2013. He used the degree towards a passion project to increase representation in an industry of heavily white-washed travel and food shows. He started his YouTube channel in 2017.

Trivia

He and his family resided in London for 9 years before deciding to return to the UAE in October 2020. His resume includes three very successful shows: The Best Food in the World, Eat and Travel, and My Belly is My Guide. He and his wife work together to produce every episode through their co-owned production studio Twenty30 Media Company, founded in 2014.

Family Life

He met his wife, Mona Abdullah, while completing his degree in Sharjah. They have two children together: Ryan and Zaid. 

Associated With

Fellow YouTube sensation Hussain Sallam has appeared in a number of his all-day eating challenge videos.