Omar Salha

Omar Salha is a Cultural Diplomat and the Founder and Chief Executive of Ramadan Tent Project, a multi-award-winning charity that brings communities together and develops the understanding of Ramadan. Ramadan Tent Project are the organisers behind the annual Ramadan Festival, which is a collection of artistic, cultural, creative events to inspire and engage audiences from all backgrounds. To date, over 1,000,000 people have been convened and connected across the globe in over 20+ cities and 4 continents.

Omar is also an Academic and Lecturer in Global Diplomacy and Soft Power and was awarded the PhD Nohoudh Scholarship at SOAS University of London for the study of ‘Integration of Muslims in British Society’ (SOAS 2014). Omar is an MA graduate in International Studies and Diplomacy (SOAS 2011) and read BA Economics, Politics and Public Policy (Goldsmiths 2009). His research interests include Public Diplomacy, Soft Power, Cultural Diplomacy, Belonging, Sports Diplomacy, and International Relations.

Omar is a Research Fellow at UC Berkeley, California and contributor to the Othering & Belonging Institute focusing on faith bridging and inclusion, Islamophobia, and Cultural Studies. Omar previously served as the Programmes Manager at the Humanitarian Forum, the Arab British Chamber of Commerce, and the Aziz Foundation. He is a published writer and taught at SOAS University of London and Foundation for International Education. Omar regularly delivers lectures and workshops at leading academic, professional institutions and conferences across the globe, including headlining TEDxBradford in 2019 and the inaugural Global Soft Power Summit alongside Lord Sebastian Coe and Former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in 2020.

Omar is considered a pioneer of Islamic Cultural Diplomacy and Soft Power and the inspiration behind activating public and multi-faith events in Ramadan. Through Omar’s leadership and vision, he has grown Ramadan Tent Project into a pillar of Britain’s rich cultural ecology and Open Iftar to become the UK’s largest cultural and community event in Ramadan and the UK’s Best Live Event 2023. With unprecedented events taking place for the very first time at some of Britain’s most loved and iconic cultural landmarks and spaces, including: Wembley Stadium, Westminster Abbey, the Royal Albert Hall, the British Library, the V&A Museum, Guildhall, Tate Britain, Coventry Cathedral, Baltic Museum, Manchester Cathedral, Shakespeare’s Globe, Battersea Power Station, Bradford City Park, Trafalgar Square and many more.

Elsewhere, Omar was one of the first respondents working with the Grenfell Muslim Response Unit (GMRU) on June 14th 2017 during the Grenfell Tower Fire Tragedy. GMRU was awarded the Pride of Britain Special Recognition Award and London Evening Standard Progress 1000. Omar featured and played in the ‘Game 4 Grenfell’ Charity Match at QPR’s stadium at Loftus Road in which he scored a penalty against Portuguese football manager Jose Mourinho.

Omar was named HalalTrip's 40 most inspiring and influential Muslims across the globe in 2022 and awarded the Points of Light Award by 10 Downing Street in 2019. Omar was also nominated as ‘Man of The Year 2024’ by the British Muslim Awards. Omar sits on the Advisory Board for the Mayor of London’s annual ‘Eid in the Square’ and is a Fellow at the Royal Society of Arts.

Politics of the Lebanon, Turkey and the Levant, Orientalism, MENA, Soft Power, Public Diplomacy, Islam and the West, Islamic Diplomacy, Sport and Development, International Relations.