Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) at the Department of Culture and Tourism, as well as the Secretary General of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award. He is also the Editor-in-Chief of Al-Markaz, Majallat al-Dirasat al-Arabiyya, as well as the leading online news platform 24.ae.
Bin Tamim held various positions related to the cultural and heritage sectors in the UAE. He served as a chairperson of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre, Chairman of the Executive Committee and as a member of the board of directors of National Archives from 2015-2018. Bin Tamim also managed the Kalima Translation Project and was the General Manager of Abu Dhabi Media Company from 2016 to 2019.
Bin Tamim was selected as a Jury member for several prominent cultural awards in the UAE, most notably the Prince of Poets Program, Dubai Cultural Award, and the Khalifa Educational Award. He also served as a member of the Supreme Committee of the State Appreciation Award.
Bin Tamim received his Doctorate Degree in Literary Critique from Yarmouk University in Jordan in 2005 and a master's degree in Arabic language and literature from the University of Jordan in 2001. He also contributed to many media and cultural initiatives in the United Arab Emirates.
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Saeed Al-Tunaiji has extensive experience in managing projects and initiatives related to the book and publishing industry, 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. These projects include the Sheikh Zayed Book Award, the Kalima Project for Translation, the Esdarat Publications Project, the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, Al Ain and Al Dhafra Book Festivals. Mr. Saeed assumed his duties of executive management of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre in 2022 with the aim of supporting the centre's strategic programs, directing the centre’s work within those programs’ strategic framework, and achieving the centre’s goals.
The centre has been able to accomplish many achievements under his leadership, most notably doubling 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 over the past 20 years. 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”.
