Biography Of Director General Of The UAE National Library And Archives
His Excellency Dr. Abdulla Majed Al Ali
His Excellency Dr. Abdulla Majed Al Ali has served as Director-General of the National Library and Archives since August 2022, after holding the position of Acting Director-General from November 2021, and Executive Director of the same institution from December 2020 to November 2021.
Before joining the National Library and Archives, His Excellency was the Executive Director of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre since its inception in 2019. He also served as the Executive Director of the Libraries Sector at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi from 2016 to 2019, following his roles as Director of Libraries Department (2012–2016) and Director of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award (2006–2012). His professional career began in the Armed Forces (1994–1999), after which he worked as an editor in the Public Relations Department at ADGAS in 2000.
During his tenure at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, His Excellency led several major cultural projects in the UAE, most prominently, Sheikh Zayed Book Award, “Kalima” pranslation project, “Esdarat” initiative and Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, in addition to overseeing the establishment of Qasr Al Watan Library.
In May 2025, he was elected as President of the Arab Regional Branch of the International Council on Archives. He also serves on several prominent cultural and academic bodies, including the Board of the National Library and Archives, Boards of Trustees of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award and the International Prize for Arabic Fiction, the Scientific Committee of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, and the Higher Committee of the Kanz Al Jeel Award. He currently chairs the Higher Committee of the Sard Al Thahab Award.
His Excellency has completed numerous specialized programs in leadership and professional development, including: the Board Effectiveness and Good Governance Program at the GCC Board Directors Institute (October 2018) and the Senior Executive Leadership Program at Harvard Business School (April 2018) as well as the course of Certified Assessor for the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) in 2010.
Born in 1976, His Excellency holds a PhD in Arabic Language with distinction from Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities for his dissertation titled “Political Discourse Analysis in the Letters of Zayed the First: An Applied Study in Light of Text Linguistics.” He also holds a master’s degree in Humanities from Ain Shams University for a thesis titled “Changes in Lifestyle and Their Correlation with Behavioural and Cultural Changes in the Emirati Society,” as well as a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from the United Arab Emirates University.
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Brief Biography
His Excellency Dr. Abdulla Majed Al Ali has served as the Director-General of the National Library and Archives since 2021, and he was elected in May 2025 as President of the Arab Regional Branch of the International Council on Archives. He previously held several leadership positions, including Executive Director of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, Executive Director of the Libraries Sector at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, and Director of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award.
He has overseen a number of influential cultural projects that enriched the national knowledge, such as “Kalima” translation project, “Esdarat” initiative and Abu Dhabi International Book Fair in addition to the establishment of Qasr Al Watan Library. He also serves on several cultural bodies and boards, including the Boards of Trustees of Sheikh Zayed Book Award and the International Prize for Arabic Fiction, and the Scientific Committee of Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre. He currently chairs the Higher Committee of the Sard Al Thahab Award.
Dr. Al Ali holds a PhD in Arabic Language from Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities, a master’s degree in Humanities from Ain Shams University, and a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from the United Arab Emirates University.
His Excellency Dr. Abdulla Majid Al Ali
Director General of the UAE National Library and Archives
