About Jawdat Shammas

Futurist · Technologist · Trainer · Consultant

Jawdat Shammas — from programming on MSX in 1987 to Apple Vision Pro in 2024, nearly four decades at the forefront of technology

The Story Behind the Mission

Jawdat Shammas is a futurist, technologist, and one of the Middle East's most experienced digital marketing and AI trainers. His relationship with technology spans nearly four decades — from writing his first lines of code on an MSX computer at age 10 in 1987, to helping organizations navigate artificial intelligence in 2026.

With a career that bridges deep technical expertise, corporate leadership, and professional education, Jawdat Shammas brings a rare combination of skills to every engagement. He has served as Chief Marketing Officer at Jamalon.com (the Arab world's largest online bookstore), Chief Digital Officer at VogaCloset, Regional SEO Manager at Souq.com (the Middle East's largest e-commerce platform, now Amazon), and Digital Marketing Consultant at Zain Jordan.

Since 2000, he has trained over 500,000 professionals across eight countries in the Middle East, working with organizations ranging from Google and New Media Academy to government entities across the GCC and Fortune 500 companies. He founded Relevancy Agency in 2016 as a digital marketing consultancy and training firm, and created jawdat.ai as an AI education platform.

In 2019, Jawdat Shammas was recognized as one of the Top 100 Leaders in Education by the Global Forum for Education and Learning in Dubai — a testament to his impact on professional development in the region.

His core philosophy has remained unchanged since day one: simplify the complex.

Professional Experience

What sets Jawdat Shammas apart from most trainers is that he doesn't just teach digital marketing — he has practiced it at the highest levels. His corporate career includes C-level roles at some of the region's most significant digital companies, giving him firsthand experience with the challenges and opportunities that organizations face in their digital journeys.

At Souq.com — the Middle East's largest e-commerce platform (now Amazon) — Jawdat led the regional SEO strategy across three countries (Dubai, Riyadh, and Amman), managed enterprise-level tools like BrightEdge, conducted training for both marketing and technical teams, and coordinated app store optimization for Souq's mobile apps. This role placed him at the center of the region's e-commerce revolution, working with massive product catalogs, multi-market operations, and the scale challenges that come with a platform of that size.

As CMO at Jamalon.com, the Arab world's largest online bookstore, Jawdat oversaw the complete marketing function — from brand strategy and digital advertising to customer acquisition and revenue growth. He managed the marketing team, set strategic direction, and was responsible for driving the company's visibility and commercial performance across the Arabic-speaking world.

At VogaCloset, he served as Chief Digital Officer, leading digital strategy at the organization level. His responsibilities included overseeing the entire digital customer experience, building and leading the digital team, and identifying digital opportunities aligned with business strategy. This role required him to operate at the intersection of technology, marketing, and business leadership — a combination that now informs everything he teaches and consults on.

As a consultant at Zain Jordan — one of the region's largest telecoms — Jawdat developed and implemented digital marketing strategies, managed advertising campaigns across Google, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, and provided strategic guidance to the internal digital team. Working with a major telecom gave him insight into how large, complex organizations adopt and scale digital marketing practices.

Since 2020, Jawdat has served as both instructor and advisor at New Media Academy in Dubai, building training programs, leading digital marketing activities for the academy, and supporting projects with CreatorsHQ including the 1 Billion Followers Summit. This ongoing role keeps him at the cutting edge of digital content creation and influencer marketing — two of the fastest-evolving areas in the industry.

Career Timeline

From an MSX computer in 1987 to the AI revolution in 2026 — nearly four decades at the intersection of technology and business.

1987

First Lines of Code

At age 10, Jawdat Shammas began programming on an MSX computer — sparking a lifelong relationship with technology that would span nearly four decades.

1996

Enter the Web

Built his first websites at a time when most businesses in the Middle East had never heard of the internet. This early start gave Jawdat a front-row seat to the region's entire digital evolution.

1999

BSc in Computer Information Systems

Graduated from Applied Science University with a degree in Computer Information Systems, formalizing the technical foundation he had been building since childhood.

2000

Training Career Begins

Joined GCE Training Center as an IT and Web Instructor, marking the start of a professional training career that would eventually reach over 500,000 professionals.

2001–2003

Web Design & Digital Media

Took on web design and digital media roles, including international experience in New Zealand — broadening his perspective on how technology is adopted across different markets.

2005–2006

SEO Specialist at JorMall

Served as Web Designer and SEO Specialist at JorMall, one of Jordan's early e-commerce platforms — combining design and search optimization at a time when SEO was still a new concept in the region.

2006–2010

Head of E-Services at Taameer Jordan

Led the e-services and web operations for Taameer Jordan Holdings, managing digital infrastructure, web properties, and online strategy for a major holding company.

2011–2013

Entrepreneur & Startup Ecosystem

Became Entrepreneur in Residence at N2V and founded Right Pixels Inc. — immersing himself in the Middle East's emerging startup ecosystem and gaining firsthand entrepreneurial experience.

2013–2014

Online Marketing Manager at OpenSooq

Managed online marketing for OpenSooq.com, one of the largest classifieds platforms in the MENA region, scaling digital acquisition and performance marketing across multiple markets.

2014–2016

Regional SEO Manager at Souq.com

Led regional SEO strategy at Souq.com (the Middle East's largest e-commerce platform, now Amazon) across Dubai, Riyadh, and Amman. Managed enterprise-level SEO tools, trained internal teams, and coordinated app store optimization.

2016

Founded Relevancy Agency & CMO at Jamalon

Founded Relevancy Agency as a digital marketing consultancy and training firm. Simultaneously served as Chief Marketing Officer at Jamalon.com — the Arab world's largest online bookstore — overseeing brand strategy, digital advertising, customer acquisition, and revenue growth.

2016–2020

University Lecturer & Google Partnerships

Taught 14 classes as a Professional Diploma in Digital Marketing lecturer at the German-Jordanian University. Conducted dozens of workshops in cooperation with Google across Jordan and created 3 online courses in partnership with Edraak.

2019

Top 100 Leaders in Education

Recognized as one of the Top 100 Leaders in Education by the Global Forum for Education and Learning in Dubai — a testament to the impact of his work in professional development across the region.

2019–2021

Digital Marketing Consultant at Zain Jordan

Provided strategic digital marketing consulting for Zain Jordan, one of the region's largest telecoms — developing digital strategies, managing cross-platform advertising campaigns, and advising the internal digital team.

2020–Present

Instructor & Advisor at New Media Academy

Serves as Digital Marketing Instructor and Advisor at New Media Academy in Dubai, building training programs, leading digital marketing activities, and supporting projects with CreatorsHQ including the 1 Billion Followers Summit.

2021–2022

Chief Digital Officer at VogaCloset

Led digital strategy as CDO at VogaCloset — overseeing the digital customer experience, building and leading the digital team, and identifying digital opportunities aligned with business strategy.

2023–Present

Expanding Training Partnerships

Deepened training partnerships with the Crown Prince Foundation Jordan, Bank Al Etihad, and other organizations — continuing to expand the reach and impact of digital marketing and AI education across the region.

2025

Launched jawdat.ai

Created jawdat.ai, a dedicated AI education platform offering courses, tools directories, prompt libraries, and resources in English and Arabic — extending the mission of simplifying the complex to the world of artificial intelligence.

2026

The Journey Continues

Continuing to train, consult, and lead at the intersection of AI and digital transformation. With over 500,000 professionals trained and nearly four decades of technology experience, the mission remains the same: simplify the complex.

Training & Education Impact

Training has been the constant thread running through Jawdat Shammas's career. Since 2000, he has delivered workshops, courses, and programs across every format — from one-on-one coaching sessions to conferences with hundreds of attendees. His training partnerships include some of the most significant educational and development organizations in the Middle East.

Through Google's Maharat min Google initiative, Jawdat conducted dozens of workshops across Jordan and created 3 online courses in partnership with Edraak (the Queen Rania Foundation's e-learning platform), extending his reach to Arabic-speaking learners worldwide. At New Media Academy in Dubai, he builds and delivers training programs while advising on the academy's own digital marketing strategy.

In the university space, Jawdat taught 14 classes as a Professional Diploma in Digital Marketing lecturer at the German-Jordanian University (JGU), and has also taught or delivered programs at PSUT's Advanced MiniMBA, University of Petra, Talal Abu Ghazaleh University, and SAE Institute. Other training partnerships include the Crown Prince Foundation Jordan, Bank Al Etihad, ZINC Academy, and TechCamp Kuwait.

Jawdat's training experience extends beyond the region. He has attended and participated in programs at Google HQ in Dublin, Facebook Dublin, BrightEdge Share15 in San Francisco, and SMX Advanced in Seattle — experiences that keep his training content informed by global best practices and the latest industry developments.

Mentorship & Startup Ecosystem

Jawdat Shammas is an active mentor in the Middle East's startup ecosystem, supporting entrepreneurs through Oasis500, Flat6Labs, BRINC, and JUSOOR mentor networks. Having been an entrepreneur himself — as Entrepreneur in Residence at N2V and founder of Right Pixels Inc. — he understands the challenges that startups face from the inside.

This mentorship work reflects his belief that the next generation of innovators in the Arab world needs both technical skills and strategic guidance. Whether advising a first-time founder on go-to-market strategy or helping an established startup scale its digital marketing, Jawdat brings the same practical, no-nonsense approach that defines all of his work.

Certifications & Education

Continuous learning has always been central to Jawdat Shammas's approach. From his university degree to industry certifications, each credential reflects a commitment to mastering the tools and technologies he teaches.

  • BSc Computer Information Systems — Applied Science University (1999)
  • Certified Google Trainer
  • Google Ads Certified
  • Google Analytics Certified
  • Certified Internet Webmaster (CIW)
  • Certified CIW Instructor
  • Certified SEO Professional
  • Zend Certified Engineer (ZCE)
  • BrightEdge Certified Professional
  • Digital Transformation — University of Virginia (2020)

Regions Served

Jawdat Shammas delivers training and consulting services across the Middle East, with a physical presence in Jordan and the UAE. Programs are also available online to reach professionals worldwide.

Jordan United Arab Emirates Saudi Arabia Kuwait Qatar Oman Iraq Palestine

Areas of Expertise

Nearly four decades of technology experience — constantly evolving as new technologies and platforms emerge.

Digital Marketing Strategy

End-to-end digital marketing planning, execution, and measurement for organizations of all sizes across the MENA region.

Search Engine Optimization

Technical SEO, on-page optimization, international SEO for Arabic and English markets, and enterprise SEO using tools like BrightEdge.

Search Engine Marketing

Google Ads, Meta Ads, and cross-platform paid media strategy — from campaign setup to advanced bidding and attribution.

AI & Generative AI

AI-powered content creation, prompt engineering, AI tool integration, and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). Explore more at jawdat.ai.

Digital Transformation

Strategic digital transformation for enterprises — informed by C-level experience at Souq.com, Jamalon.com, and VogaCloset.

E-Commerce Strategy

E-commerce optimization, marketplace strategy, and digital retail — built on years of hands-on experience at the region's largest platforms.

Data Analytics & Visualization

Google Analytics, data interpretation, attribution modeling, and turning data into actionable business decisions.

Startup Mentoring & Leadership

Mentoring entrepreneurs through Oasis500, Flat6Labs, BRINC, and JUSOOR. Team building and digital leadership at scale.

Also by Jawdat Shammas

Jawdat Shammas is also the creator of jawdat.ai — an AI education platform offering courses, tools directories, prompt libraries, and resources in English and Arabic. It represents the next chapter in a career defined by simplifying the complex.

Visit jawdat.ai

Work with Jawdat Shammas

Whether you need corporate training, a strategic consultation, or a keynote speaker for your next event — let's connect.