Susie Iliyan

We are excited to introduce Susan Ebrahim Said Iliyan, known professionally as Susie. She is a host, producer, and MC with extensive experience across the Middle East, Canada, the United States, and Nigeria.

About Susie

Currently, Susie anchors Arise America, a live daily news program for the international network Arise News TV. Born and raised in Saudi Arabia on the American compound of Aramco, she is of Palestinian descent. The Aramco compound resembled a utopian American suburb, where many strict Islamic rules were suspended, allowing women to drive within the compound and walk without the traditional Islamic hijab and abaya.

As stateless Palestinians, her parents sent her to Canada in the 8th grade to continue her Western education and apply for Canadian citizenship. During high school and college, she became fluent in French, adding a third language to her Arabic and English skills.

In 1998, during her college years, she discovered break-dancing and soon created the first all-female break-dance crew in Montreal, Ellementale 5, which evolved into a 15-member crew called Solid State. They performed and competed throughout Canada and the U.S. to sold-out shows. In 2003, a shoulder injury from break-dancing led her to pivot her career to Dubai, UAE.

Career Highlights

• Hosted programs for City 7 TV, the first English-speaking channel producing content entirely in English, including live daily talk shows, nightlife programs, cooking shows, fashion programs, and red-carpet events.
• Original VJ for a music show on MTV Europe aired through Showtime Middle East.
• Hosted the red carpet for the Dubai International Film Festival on E! Entertainment and interviewed celebrities such as Morgan Freeman, DJ Tiesto, David Guetta, Incubus, and David Morales.
• Graced the covers of magazines including Vanity Fair and OK! Magazine, and appeared in print campaigns for Dove Real Beauty.
• Served as master of ceremony for high-profile events, including the launch of the Rolex Tower, Mini Cooper Film Festival, Heineken, Dubai Desert Rock Festival (60,000 attendees), VIVA Beauty Awards, and the Emirates International Dubai Rugby 7s.

After four years in Dubai, she moved to the U.S., where she became a regular on BET, Magic Johnson’s Aspire network, and Up TV (formerly The Gospel Music Channel). She interviewed celebrities such as Amy Landecker, Boris Kodjoe, Katrina Bowden, Robert Townsend, Kenya Moore, Mark Indelicato, Nigel Barker, Melissa Leo, Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin), Duran Duran, and 112. She also appeared in two episodes of Sesame Street, acted in a Def Jam commercial, voiced cartoons and radio ad campaigns, and compered an event for Nelson Mandela’s family during Mandela Day 2009.

Recent Work

• Interned in the media department of the United Nations and worked as a live news producer for Sky News Arabia Abu Dhabi at the UN in NYC.
• In 2015, she was recommended as an anchor to launch an international network funded by the ex-Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar. She moved to Nigeria, anchoring live breakfast programs and producing news reports from Adamawa and Abuja.
• After her contract expired, she remained in Abuja, committing to philanthropic work and charity projects benefiting women and children. She documented untold stories across Nigeria, covering events like the Calabar Carnival and the Annual Ososo Carnival in Edo State.

Skills and Attributes

• Engaging storyteller with a witty and risk-taking approach.
• Extensive on-camera and production experience.
• Cultural sophistication and international experience, with a unique perspective as a Palestinian Canadian.
• Culturally sensitive and able to relate to diverse audiences globally.