Zaki Nusseibeh

Born in Jerusalem, Nusseibeh graduated from Queens' College, University of Cambridge with a master's degree in economics. He emigrated to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates and began his career as a journalist in 1967 while also working for the newly established Government of Abu Dhabi Civil Service Department. He then became director of information first in Abu Dhabi and, after 1971, the UAE Ministry of Information and Tourism. In this capacity he edited the first English newspaper to be published by the Abu Dhabi Government and participated in establishing its first Arabic newspaper. He also worked as a broadcaster and program producer, and helped in developing Abu Dhabi's broadcasting and media services.

In 1975, Nusseibeh became the director of the press office for then UAE President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and subsequently an advisor to Sheikh Zayed while continuing his role as the president’s personal interpreter [a role he continues to serve in]. He was actively involved during that period in the preparation of official state visits and in the formulation of government briefs.

Nusseibeh has served on several public and private bodies dealing with the development of cultural and educational strategies in Abu Dhabi. He was Deputy Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Culture and Heritage Authority from 2006 until the authority was incorporated into the new Abu Dhabi Authority for Tourism and Culture in 2012, at which time he became a member of the board on the new authority 2012-2018, which contributed to the development of some of Abu Dhabi’s major cultural and art initiatives. He is also a member on several Boards including the Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi that he helped establish in 2006, and the Board of Trustees for Abu Dhabi University.

Married, with three children. His daughter, Lana Nusseibeh, is the UAE Permanent Representative at the UN in New York.

Other positions of responsibility included serving as a trustee of the Sheikh Zayed Award and the International Prize for Arab Fiction (IPAF, sometimes referred to as the Arab Booker Literary Prize) since its foundation. He was the Chairman of the London School of Economics LSE Middle East Centre Advisory Board and member of London School of Oriental and African Studies SOAS Middle East Centre Advisory Board, and a board member of the Alliance Française Foundation in Paris. He was also the President of the Alliance Francaise Abu Dhabi and the UAE chapter of the International 'Friends of Richard Wagner' society. He helped in founding the Abu Dhabi Classics program in Abu Dhabi and the Al Ain Music Festival in Al Ain. In 2014 he was also asked to chair the Wagner Foundation in Leipzig, Germany and is a member on the Board of Trustees of the Agha Khan Museum in Toronto and of the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris.

He has published translations of Gulf and Arab poetry into several European languages and contributed a series of articles to journals and newspapers. He has received a number of prestigious Arab and International Awards that include:

• Personality of the Year 2018 Emirates Literary Festival (2018)
• Cultural Diplomat of the Year 2017, Abu Dhabi Cultural Summit (2017)
• Officer of the French Legion d’Honneur (2015)
• The Golden Medal of Arts 2014 from the Kennedy Centre Washington (2014)
• Commander of the Order of British Empire CBE (2013)
• Commander’s Cross of the German Order of Merit (2013)
• The Cultural Foundation Pro-Europe European Arab Culture Prize in Leipzig (2013)
• Oweis Cultural Award UAE (2013)
• The European Academy of Science and Arts Ring of Tolerance in Frankfurt (2012)
• Abu Dhabi Awards (2007) [1]
• Grand Officer Star of Italian Solidarity (2007)
• Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold for Services to the Republic of Austria (2007)
• Chevalier of the French Legion d’Honneur (2001)
• Commander of the British Victorian Order (CVO) (1989)
• Officer of the Spanish Order of Merit (1999)
• Commander of the Italian Order of Merit (1983)
• Officer of the French Order of Merit (1980)
• Officer of the Jordanian Order of Independence (1969)

• https://uaecabinet.ae/en/details/cabinet-members/his-excellency-zaki-anwar-nusseibeh