He was born in London, England and grew up around the world in countries such as Pakistan, Canada, Russia, U.A.E. and South Africa. With an interest in photography and design, he began exploring cinematography, writing, and directing in his first year of university. He graduated from the University of Toronto in 2014 with a degree in Political Science and Cinema Studies. Ammar was a member of the 2015 class of Unsung Voices where he wrote and directed Ayano In The Forest, which premiered at the 2015 Reel Asian Film Festival.