... Return of the '99 Champion

Armed with a sense of optimism and the conviction that the climate in Kuwait is now more conducive to creativity and business, Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa, Professor of Psychology at the College of Medicine, Kuwait University, is launching a new phase of his professional career, with Kuwait as its foundation, after years of working in various countries, including the United States and Gulf states.

Al-Mutawa’s return, which he emphasized was not a migration from Kuwait but rather a return of his professional activities to make Kuwait their headquarters, is filled with hope and enthusiasm. It coincides with the relaunch of his most prominent work, “The 99,” on OSN channel about two weeks ago, after a 12-year hiatus caused by waves of attacks against it, despite the show’s previous successful broadcast in 22 countries with high viewership ratings, following its earlier airing in more than 60 countries in 13 languages.

Al-Mutawa, who entered his mid-40s, was honored by former U.S. President Barack Obama and by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai. He began this project at the age of 32. Forbes magazine later ranked it among the top 20 most disruptive trends globally, and he was listed among the world’s seven most influential designers. He was also honored by the late Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (may God have mercy on him), with the show’s first screening in Kuwait held under his high patronage during the tenure of Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al-Ali as Minister of Information.

In an interview with “Al-Rai,” Al-Mutawa noted that “The 99” started as a comic book series and later expanded into a company with major shareholders from the United States, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Lebanon, the UAE, and Bahrain, as well as institutions, individuals, and banks. There are also more than one academic thesis, including doctoral dissertations, discussing the project, along with academic papers presented at reputable conferences. He pointed out that “the controversy and attacks on this work began in 2012, followed by threats from extremist groups that led shareholders to call for a halt, but I was certain it would return.”

Al-Mutawa, who stated that former U.S. President Barack Obama described him as perhaps the most creative among thousands of new entrepreneurs, explained that “this work, which will soon be broadcast in India, Pakistan, and Indonesia, has evolved to be currently available in 4K technology in both Arabic and English, after being viewed in more than 13 languages.” He added that preparations are underway for the third season by the current Canadian shareholder, who invested $5 million to develop it into video games.

Al-Mutawa, who was previously placed on the assassination lists of several extremists, said that “the philosophy behind the work was based on linking Islamic teachings with positive values, unlike the interpretations promoted by extremists. My conviction is that the problem lies not in the religion itself, but in the interpretations and thinking of extremists who claim affiliation with it. For me, it was more of a philosophical vision than just cartoon characters. Our Islamic cultural heritage is rich in wisdom, love of knowledge, reading, and respect for books. The idea was to crystallize these values in an engaging way for new generations. We tried to transform religious texts into universal Islamic values, recognizing that humans are born with innate goodness. When the program aired in Australia, it became the second most-watched show there, based on the premise that we share common human values.”

Al-Mutawa, who faced accusations of sorcery and witchcraft, believes that “the environment in Kuwait is now suitable for creativity and investment. I can work in my country with peace of mind, because laws are applied to everyone.”

Al-Mutawa affirmed that he does not classify himself as liberal or non-liberal, stating, “In the end, I am Naif; I have my own thoughts, readings, and way of thinking. The major issue for me lies with those who believe they possess the truth of religion and its interpretation.”

Speaking about hypnosis, Al-Mutawa said, “When I began practicing hypnosis in my clinic, I would hear the call to prayer (Adhan) in the background. The idea later evolved, and I considered using the Quran as background audio for an app under production called ‘Taneem.’ However, a religious scholar told me it was religiously impermissible, because when the Quran is recited, listening attentively is obligatory. I therefore decided that the background audio during sessions should consist of religious supplications rather than Quranic verses, first for the Taneem app and later for the Tahon app.”

Al-Mutawa addressed the period when he sent his children away from Kuwait, saying, “My conflicts with extremists continued for 15 years, and my children were bullied on social media due to the rhetoric spread by extremists. I sent them to boarding schools in the United States. When my son asked me why I had stopped writing, I told him: ‘I stopped writing to protect you.’”

Al-Mutawa revealed that his father had asked him to name one of his sons Barack, saying, “In early January 2009, my son Rakan was born. My father asked me to name him ‘Barack,’ but I refused. President Barack Obama was set to become president in twenty days, and at that time I wrote an article titled ‘Barak Al-Mutawa,’ which I published in the Chicago Tribune (the main newspaper in the state Obama represented in the Senate). President Obama read it on January 20, 2009. This coincided with the publication of a Spider-Man book featuring Obama on the cover. I contacted DC Comics, the competing publisher of the Spider-Man series, and proposed that when former U.S. President Barack Obama extended his hand to the Islamic world, they publish books featuring my nine innovative characters, just as they had extended their hands to Batman, Superman, The Flash, and Wonder Woman. They welcomed the idea, marking a first in their history to collaborate with a novice writer like me at the time. This later led Obama to invite me and highlight my creativity and project.”

Speaking about his Arabic language skills, Al-Mutawa said, “Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid placed me on a committee to modernize Arabic language education. My Arabic is not in its best condition; English may be my first language. The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar was also a member of this committee. Neither I nor other committee members initially understood why we were included. It later became clear that what was valued was my way of thinking, not my language proficiency. My Palestinian teacher, Khadija, was surprised when she saw my news on social media, as she knew my Arabic was not strong.”

Al-Mutawa called for “using colloquial Arabic in writing composition essays. We say that as Arabs, we once led Europe in science, but then Europe surpassed us. Today, the language taught in schools differs from the language spoken at home and on the street, creating a rift. When we require students to write essays in Modern Standard Arabic, we are asking them to replicate the templates used by our ancestors. This involves memorization rather than creativity, because creativity cannot thrive under constraints. This does not mean abolishing Modern Standard Arabic.”

Al-Mutawa recounted a humorous incident with his mother, who worked as a philosophy teacher, saying, “I came home with a copy of Abdulrahman Munif’s ‘Cities of Salt’ in English. My mother got angry and asked, ‘You are Arab, and he is Arab; why do you place a mediator between you and him?’ She forced me to read it in Arabic. Afterward, I became fascinated by it, as well as by the works of Taha Hussein and Naguib Mahfouz. In my twenties, I had to choose between continuing in Arabic or pursuing English. I chose to continue my professional career in English.”

Al-Mutawa confirmed that he will focus his professional work in the coming period on psychiatry, choosing Kuwait as his base following changes in the regulations. Previously, his license was commercial, issued by the Ministry of Commerce; now, the sector is regulated and supervised by the Ministry of Health, which closes the door to claimants and non-specialists.

Al-Mutawa said, “I never expected to become a doctor. I wanted to be a writer, and my father used to tell me, ‘Enjoy it as a hobby, but don’t think of it as a career.’ I am a good reader, which is why people say I am a good writer. And if thinking has a language, it is likely that my thinking is in English.”

Regarding his use of religious heritage in his professional work, Al-Mutawa said, “I try to provide a humanistic perspective rather than a religious call. For this reason, I have sought to present the lenient aspects of Islamic teachings, away from the hijacked interpretations by some.”

- Founder of “Sukoon Clinic for Psychotherapy and Professional Assessment” (the leading platform in Kuwait offering a wide range of specialized psychological services), and founder of “Neuropsychcare” Clinic, the first integrated center for neuropsychological assessments and treatments in Kuwait.

- Founded “Tanweem” (the first Arabic hypnotherapy app), and co-founded “Tahoun,” a startup specializing in mental health technology.

- Licensed as a psychologist in New York State, Dubai, Bahrain, Qatar, the Sultanate of Oman, and the State of Kuwait, with extensive clinical experience working with adolescents, adults, couples, and families.

- As a clinical hypnotherapist, he received his training at the Milton H. Erickson Foundation for Psychotherapy and Hypnosis in New York (NYSEPH). He is a certified member of both the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis and the National Guild of Hypnotists.

- He serves on the Board of Directors of the Albert Ellis Institute in New York City and is a certified supervisor there in Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (REBT/CBT).

- His specialized clinical qualifications include certification as a sex therapist from AASECT, a certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy from the Mind Medicine Australia Institute, and a certificate in Perinatal Mood Disorders from the International Perinatal Association (PSI).

- He serves as an Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology at the Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, where he has been teaching clinical psychology, communication skills, and cognitive behavioral therapy since 2005.

- He holds both a Master’s and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Long Island University, which later awarded him a second honorary doctorate in May 2019.

- He obtained a third doctorate in Clinical Sexology from the Modern Sex Therapy Institute in 2021.

- He holds a Master’s degree in Organizational Psychology from Columbia University’s Teachers College, an MBA from Columbia Business School, as well as a specialized certificate in conflict resolution from Columbia University.

- He completed his undergraduate studies at Tufts University, where he earned a triple-major Bachelor’s degree in Clinical Psychology, English Literature, and History.

- His early clinical career was marked by profound humanitarian and psychological work with former prisoners of war in Kuwait and with the “Political Torture Survivor” unit at Bellevue Hospital in New York. Through his direct experience of the devastating impact of extremism on societies, he was inspired to write a purpose-driven children’s story that won UNESCO’s Global Prize for Children’s Literature in Service of Tolerance.

- In terms of leadership and creativity, Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa is the creator of “The 99,” the first comic book series of superheroes inspired by Islamic culture. “The 99” received widespread attention and acclaim from global media, and Forbes magazine ranked it among the “Top 20 Global Phenomena.” Forbes also named Dr. Naif as one of the seven most influential designers in the world. Dr. Naif and his project received special recognition from former U.S. President Barack Obama, who described the project as possibly the most innovative among thousands of entrepreneurial ventures participating in the Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship.

- He is a sought-after global keynote speaker at international forums addressing topics ranging from mental health to global entrepreneurship. He regularly conducts specialized workshops for corporations and government entities in areas such as creative problem-solving, attention management, stress management, conflict resolution, and anger management.

- In addition to his clinical and creative achievements, he has served on several high-level advisory boards. He previously served on the Investment Committee of the National Fund for the Care and Development of Small and Medium Enterprises in Kuwait (a fund dedicated to supporting entrepreneurship with a capital of $7 billion), on Kuwait’s Supreme Council for Education, and on the board of directors of Future Kids (listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange) and Al Jazeera Entertainment.

- His community and development efforts were crowned with his selection by the World Economic Forum to receive the Schwab Foundation’s Social Entrepreneurship Award in 2009, and his designation as a Young Global Leader in 2011.