Our Team… The Beating Heart

Behind every performance and every event stands a diverse team of creators who form the beating heart of our activities. We take pride in our team bringing together theatrical talents from various nationalities and cultures, united by a passion for the arts and a desire to serve the cultural scene in the United Arab Emirates.

Yasser Ali Al Qargawi

Chairman of the Board

With a vision inspired by the guidance of our wise leadership, and following the approach of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State – may God protect and preserve him – who has made culture a fundamental pillar in building individuals and society, we at Dubai National Theatre draw our inspiration from the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai – may God protect and preserve him – who has placed creativity and innovation at the forefront of Dubai’s journey toward the future.

Our work at Dubai National Theatre is not merely a cultural activity, but a national message and responsibility through which we strive to keep the theatre a beacon of creativity, a place that embodies the UAE’s identity and reflects Dubai’s spirit in combining authenticity and modernity, remaining an inspiration for generations.

Board of Directors

Yasser Ali Al Qargawi

Chairman of the Board

Abdullah Saleh Al Rumaithi

Vice Chairman

Al Hanouf Mohammed

General Secretary

Adel Ibrahim bin Saifan

Financial Director

Abdullah Al Muhairi

Member

Ibrahim Astadi

Member

Hamad Al Hammadi

Member

Yasser Ali Al Qargawi

Chairman of the Board

Abdullah Saleh Al Rumaithi

Vice Chairman

Al Hanouf Mohammed

General Secretary

Adel Ibrahim bin Saifan

Financial Director

Abdullah Al Muhairi

Member

Ibrahim Astadi

Member

Hamad Al Hammadi

Member

Archive of Dubai National Theatre performances from 1976–2025:

Play Author Adaptor Director Year Category
Born PoorFouad ObaidIsmail Mohammed1976-1977Adults
The Slapped One Doesn’t ForgetHussein Abu Al-MakaremHussein Abu Al Makarem1977-1978Seniors
A Lesson from TimeKhamis SaeedIsmail Mohammed1978-1979Adults
Judge Model 80Tawfiq Al-HakimAl-Reeh AbdulqaderAl-Reeh Abdulqader1979-1980Adults
People and PeopleTawfiq Al-HakimAl-Reeh AbdulqaderAl-Reeh Abdulqader1981-1982
Name Under TrialFouad ObaidMohsen MohammedMohsen Mohammed1982-1983Adults
The Secret of the TreasureDaen JumaAhmed Jalal1983Seniors
Maid Needed ImmediatelyMohammed Saeed Al-SaltiAhmed Al Ansari1984-1985Seniors
If the Opportunity is MissedAbdullah Saleh - Mohammed Saeed Al SultiAhmed Al Ansari1985-1986Seniors
Repentance This TimeIssa LootahDhaen JumaDhaen Juma1986-1987Adults
The DeceivedIssa LootahAhmed Al AnsariAhmed Al Ansari1987-1988Adults
Hanzala’s JourneySaadallah WannousMohammed Saeed Al-SaltiAbdulilah Abdulqader1988-1989Adults
Bu Mahyous in PattayaYousef YaqoubMohammed Saeed Al-SaltiMohammed Saeed Al-Salti1989-1990Adults
Very LazyNour Al-Din Al-HashemiAbdullah SalehAhmed Al Ansari1990-1991Children
Faltoh 1Hassan RajabHassan Rajab1990-1991Seniors
Dr. Fas Has Arrived from TexasYousef YaqoubAhmed Al Ansari1991Seniors
With Regards to AdultsYousef Yaqoub – Ghanem Al-SalehAhmed Al Ansari1991-1992Seniors
Bu Mahyous in TroubleJamal SalemMohammed Saeed1992Seniors
Al-Khanfaroosh VillageAhmed Al AnsariAhmed Al Ansari1993Seniors
PinsYousef YaqoubAhmed Al Ansari1993Seniors
The Secret of the Blue NeighborhoodAbdullah Al-MuhairiHamad Al-Hammadi2025Children
Radio One CityAbdullah Al-MuhairiAbdullah Al-Muhairi2025Adults
Love Is PassionAbdullah Al-MuhairiAbdullah Al-Muhairi2025Adults

His Excellency Yasser Ali Al Qurqawi

A leadership figure specialized in cultural management, His professional career spans the sectors of culture, national identity, and innovation, We summarize his key milestones in the following points:

Al Qurqawi possesses a strategic vision for enhancing the Emirati theatrical landscape, This stems from the beginning of his artistic career in 1998 at Dubai Folk Arts and Theatre Association, And progressed through various theatrical fields until he became Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dubai National Theatre, And previously (Member of the Board of Directors of the UAE Theatrical Association). He studied radio and television directing at the Higher Colleges of Technology, And holds an Advanced Cinematography Directing Certificate, And participated in directing and producing short films that were screened at Emirati, Arab, and international film festivals.
Alongside his professional career, He published the book “Cultural Management,” which received the Al Owais Award for Creativity, And authored other works addressing topics of creative industries and sustainable development, Making him one of the prominent names in the fields of culture and creativity in the United Arab Emirates.

Abdullah Mohammed Saleh Al Rumaithee (Vice President)

He was not merely an artist performing roles; he was a maker of stances, choosing his words with precision and charting his path with unyielding will. He was patriotic in all his actions, and so passionate about his art that audiences recognised that every work of his was not just a performance but a message, and that his presence on stage, on television, and on radio had a distinctive character unlike any other. He shaped the features of Emirati art with determination, sparing no effort in building a national artistic culture that withstands the storms of time and inertia.

Abdullah Saleh is not regarded only as an actor richly seasoned with experience and a presence spanning both the older and newer generations, but also as a teacher and an inspiration. Generations of young artists were mentored by him, and he, in turn, listened to the experience of those who came before him—becoming a bridge between past and present, between tradition and renewal. Despite challenges, he remained steadfast, never settling for the superficial or the fleeting, but always seeking deeper meaning in the role, sincerity in the voice, and humanity in performance. This holistic art that brings together singing, theatre, drama, and writing reflects the spirit of an artist whose creativity knows no bounds—seeing it as vast as the nation’s sky, and as lofty as one of its stars.

Al Henouf Mohammed (General Secretary)

Al Henouf Mohammed represents a radiant model of contemporary Emirati poetic thought, for she is not merely a voice that writes, but a spirit that translates the echo of reality with a delicate sensibility and carefully chosen words that captivate the reader with both calmness and boldness. Her cultural participation inside and outside the UAE proves that she is not a writer who is content with what is written alone, but a poet who enacts the word—making it life, an experience, a reflection of a changing nature, a human moment, and the colour of feelings that quietly knock within us with an indelible silence. Her cultural presence is not measured only by the number of publications, but by the extent of her impact on freedom of expression and self-reflection, as she is among the first Emirati women to leave a distinctive mark on the poetic scene, through the sincerity of the text, and a rejection of the superficial and the counterfeit.

Adel Ibrahim bin Saifan (Chief Financial Officer)

His name shines among generations of artistic excellence thanks to his diverse contributions to the stage, drama, and the celebration of local artistic heritage. Throughout his years of theatrical practice, he established, alongside his colleagues, solid foundations for Dubai National Theatre, and participated in revitalizing the theatrical movement with visions that express society’s concerns and aspirations, while maintaining simplicity and sincerity in performance. What distinguishes him is that his love of giving and loyalty to art have not diminished with the passage of time, but rather he continues to stand with complete conviction when honored, considering it a responsibility to continue rather than an achievement to rest upon.

Abdullah Mohammed Saleh Al Rumaithee (Vice President)

He was not merely an artist performing roles; he was a maker of stances, choosing his words with precision and charting his path with unyielding will. He was patriotic in all his actions, and so passionate about his art that audiences recognised that every work of his was not just a performance but a message, and that his presence on stage, on television, and on radio had a distinctive character unlike any other. He shaped the features of Emirati art with determination, sparing no effort in building a national artistic culture that withstands the storms of time and inertia.

Abdullah Saleh is not regarded only as an actor richly seasoned with experience and a presence spanning both the older and newer generations, but also as a teacher and an inspiration. Generations of young artists were mentored by him, and he, in turn, listened to the experience of those who came before him—becoming a bridge between past and present, between tradition and renewal. Despite challenges, he remained steadfast, never settling for the superficial or the fleeting, but always seeking deeper meaning in the role, sincerity in the voice, and humanity in performance. This holistic art that brings together singing, theatre, drama, and writing reflects the spirit of an artist whose creativity knows no bounds—seeing it as vast as the nation’s sky, and as lofty as one of its stars.

Al Henouf Mohammed (General Secretary)

Al Henouf Mohammed represents a radiant model of contemporary Emirati poetic thought, for she is not merely a voice that writes, but a spirit that translates the echo of reality with a delicate sensibility and carefully chosen words that captivate the reader with both calmness and boldness. Her cultural participation inside and outside the UAE proves that she is not a writer who is content with what is written alone, but a poet who enacts the word—making it life, an experience, a reflection of a changing nature, a human moment, and the colour of feelings that quietly knock within us with an indelible silence. Her cultural presence is not measured only by the number of publications, but by the extent of her impact on freedom of expression and self-reflection, as she is among the first Emirati women to leave a distinctive mark on the poetic scene, through the sincerity of the text, and a rejection of the superficial and the counterfeit.

Hamad Al Hammadi (Member)

A dedicated artist who combines creativity and professionalism, and knows how to leave a clear mark in every work he presents. His theatrical and media presence highlights the balance between talent and artistic vision, making him a model of an artist who works sincerely to develop the UAE artistic scene.

His Excellency Yasser Ali Al Qurqawi

A leadership figure specialized in cultural management, His professional career spans the sectors of culture, national identity, and innovation, We summarize his key milestones in the following points:

Al Qurqawi possesses a strategic vision for enhancing the Emirati theatrical landscape, This stems from the beginning of his artistic career in 1998 at Dubai Folk Arts and Theatre Association, And progressed through various theatrical fields until he became Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dubai National Theatre, And previously (Member of the Board of Directors of the UAE Theatrical Association). He studied radio and television directing at the Higher Colleges of Technology, And holds an Advanced Cinematography Directing Certificate, And participated in directing and producing short films that were screened at Emirati, Arab, and international film festivals.
Alongside his professional career, He published the book “Cultural Management,” which received the Al Owais Award for Creativity, And authored other works addressing topics of creative industries and sustainable development, Making him one of the prominent names in the fields of culture and creativity in the United Arab Emirates.

Adel Ibrahim bin Saifan (Chief Financial Officer)

His name shines among generations of artistic excellence thanks to his diverse contributions to the stage, drama, and the celebration of local artistic heritage. Throughout his years of theatrical practice, he established, alongside his colleagues, solid foundations for Dubai National Theatre, and participated in revitalizing the theatrical movement with visions that express society’s concerns and aspirations, while maintaining simplicity and sincerity in performance. What distinguishes him is that his love of giving and loyalty to art have not diminished with the passage of time, but rather he continues to stand with complete conviction when honored, considering it a responsibility to continue rather than an achievement to rest upon.

Hamad Al Hammadi (Member)

A dedicated artist who combines creativity and professionalism, and knows how to leave a clear mark in every work he presents. His theatrical and media presence highlights the balance between talent and artistic vision, making him a model of an artist who works sincerely to develop the UAE artistic scene.