27 Facts About Zaki Nusseibeh

Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh is the Cultural Advisor to the President of the UAE and the Chancellor of UAE University.

Zaki Nusseibeh has been active in government service in the United Arab Emirates since its formation in 1971, and with the Government of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi since 1968.

Zaki Nusseibeh previously served as Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Cultural Advisor at the UAE Presidential Court, later Ministry of Presidential Affairs.

Zaki Nusseibeh then acted in the same role with his successor UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Zaki Nusseibeh then attended Queen's College, University of Cambridge, graduating with an MA degree in economics in 1967.

Many of Zaki Nusseibeh's family were displaced during the conflict that led to the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948.

Zaki Nusseibeh graduated from Cambridge at the time of the June 1967 Arab-Israeli war, and a return to Jerusalem was not a feasible option.

Zaki Nusseibeh instead settled in Abu Dhabi, where he worked as a freelance journalist for a number of British and Arab publications including The Economist, The Financial Times and the BBC Arabic Service.

Zaki Nusseibeh was asked to join the Abu Dhabi government, working briefly with the newly established Civil Service Authority, then moving to Abu Dhabi's Department of Information as Director of Research and Documentation.

Zaki Nusseibeh then became Director of Information in the newly formed UAE Federal Ministry of Information.

Zaki Nusseibeh was involved in the preparing, editing and translating of all its books and publications.

In 1975, Zaki Nusseibeh became the Director of the Press Office in the Diwan of Sheikh Zayed, subsequently becoming an Adviser while continuing his role as the President's personal interpreter.

Zaki Nusseibeh has served on several public and private bodies dealing with the development of cultural and educational strategies in the UAE.

Zaki Nusseibeh was Deputy Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage and a member of the Board of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Tourism and Culture, today the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism.

Zaki Nusseibeh's publications include translations of Gulf and Arab poetry into several European languages as well as articles in different journals and newspapers.

Zaki Nusseibeh has recently published a book in Arabic about a tribal leader who was a close companion to Sheikh Zayed, the founder of the United Arab Emirates.

Zaki Nusseibeh has served on several public and private bodies dealing with the development of cultural and educational strategies in the UAE.

Zaki Nusseibeh was appointed as the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi in 2018, having helped to establish the university in 2006.

Zaki Nusseibeh is a member of the Administrative Board of the Emirates Diplomatic Academy with oversight responsibility for its management.

Zaki Nusseibeh is a member on several other Boards including the Sheikh Zayed Book Award, the International Prize for ArabicFiction and Abu Dhabi University.

Zaki Nusseibeh was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in Washington.

Zaki Nusseibeh was the chairman of the advisory board for the Middle East Centre of the London School of Economics, as well as the President of the Alliance Francaise in Paris.

Zaki Nusseibeh was the President of the Alliance Francaise Abu Dhabi and of the UAE Chapter of the International Friends of Richard Wagner Society and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Agha Khan Museum in Toronto.

Zaki Nusseibeh is the Chancellor of the United Arab Emirates University.

Zaki Nusseibeh's Excellency has been conferred many national orders of merit in recognition of his distinguished service;.

Zaki Nusseibeh's Excellency has received notable awards for his work for the arts and cultural diplomacy:.

Zaki Nusseibeh's daughter is Lana Nusseibeh, a diplomat who serves as the United Arab Emirates Permanent Representative to the United Nations since September 2013.