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HE Dr Ali bin Tamim
HE Dr Ali bin Tamim holds the position of Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre. In parallel to his current role, he serves as Secretary-General of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award, and Editor-in-Chief of Al-Markaz: Majallat al-Dirāsāt al-ʿArabiyya (The Centre: Journal of Arabic Studies), the first peer-reviewed journal that is completely published in Arabic by Brill publishing house.
Prior to his current role, HE bin Tamim held various positions related to the cultural and heritage sectors in the UAE. He served as Chairperson of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre, Member of the Jury for the "Prince of Poets" television programme, and jury member in several prominent cultural awards in the UAE, most notably the Dubai Culture Award and the Khalifa Award for Education.
HE bin Tamim also managed the Kalima Project for Translation, he was the General Manager of Abu Dhabi Media Company from 2016 to 2019, as well as Chairman of the Executive Committee and Member of the Board of Directors of the National Library and Archives from 2015 to 2018.
Dr Ali bin Tamim received his Doctorate Degree in Literary Critique from Yarmouk University in Jordan in 2005, as well as a Master’s Degree in Arabic Language and Literature from the University of Jordan in 2001. HE contributed to a range of media and cultural initiatives in the United Arab Emirates.HE Saeed Hamdan Al Tunaiji
Saeed Al Tunaiji has extensive experience in managing projects and initiatives related to the book and publishing industry, as well as cultural and literary events. He has led many pioneering projects since 2003 that serve Abu Dhabi's ambition to achieve leadership of the Arabic language in the cultural, creative, and educational fields, and aim to strengthen Abu Dhabi's cultural position at the local, regional, and global levels under the umbrella of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi, including the Sheikh Zayed Book Award, the Kalima Project for Translation, the Esdarat Publications Project, the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, as well as Al Ain and Al Dhafra Book Festivals.
Al Tunaiji assumed his duties of executive management of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre in 2022 with the aim of supporting the centre's strategic programmes, directing the centre’s work within those programmes’ strategic framework, and achieving the centre’s goals. The centre has been able to accomplish many achievements under his leadership, most notably doubling the number of visitors at the 2022 Abu Dhabi International Book Fair compared to previous editions, and the presentation of the Al Ain and Al Dhafra Book Festivals in a revamped look and presence that helped drive a literary and cultural movement by registering a 50% increase in the number of visitors to both events. He also helped launch the first edition of the Kanz Al Jeel (Treasured Sayings) Award that supports the rich Nabatean poetry heritage.
Al Tunaiji moved up the administrative ladder and gained excellent expertise. He started his career as a journalist, working in several Emirati newspapers and held many positions at the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi, the most important of which was the Director of Media and Public Relations. He has published several books including "From and to the Depths of the Nation", "Mosaic", "Her Majesty’s Mistakes", "Inspired by Emirati Poetry", and "Immortal Despite Being Absent".