Chancellor of the United Arab Emirates University and as Adviser for Cultural Affairs at the UAE Ministry of Presidential Affairs.

His Excellency Dr. Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh serves as Chancellor of the United Arab Emirates University and as Adviser for Cultural Affairs at the UAE Ministry of Presidential Affairs. His continuous government service began in 1968, prior to the foundation of the UAE. From the late 1960s, His Excellency acted as the personal interpreter and adviser to His Highness the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan, founder and first President of the UAE. He continues to perform this role for His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the current President of the UAE. His Excellency was appointed inaugural Director of the UAE Federal Ministry of Information and established and led the Office of Public and Cultural Diplomacy in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. As Deputy Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, and as member of the Board of the [now] Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism, His Excellency developed strategies that promulgate understanding of Emirati culture and values, and advance international political, economic, and societal cooperation.

His Excellency enabled the establishment of the Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi in 2006 and is the Chairman of its Board of Trustees.  He chairs the UAE National Rhodes Scholarship Selection Committee and is a member of the Board of the Emirates Diplomatic Academy, the Sheikh Zayed Book Award, the Board of the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris, the Board of the International Prize for Arab Fiction, and the Board of Abu Dhabi University. He has also held Board roles at the Middle East Center at the London School of Economics, the Alliance Française in Paris, the Wagner Society in Leipzig and Abu Dhabi, and the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto.

His Excellency holds a master’s degree in economics from Queens’ College, University of Cambridge, and a PhD in Human Sciences (Hon. Causa) from the Al Quds Arab University in Jerusalem.

His Excellency has been conferred many national orders of merit in recognition of his distinguished service:

• The UAE Order of the Union medal (2021)
• Officer of the French Legion of Honour (2015)
• Commander of the Order of the British Empire (2013)
• Commander’s Cross of the German Order of Merit (2013)
• Medal for Merit to Culture - ‘Gloria Artis’, Republic of Poland (2010)
• Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters, France (2008)
• Commander of the Order of Academic Palms, France (2007)
• Grand Officer of the Star of Italian Solidarity (2007)
• Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold for Services to the Republic of Austria (2007)
• Chevalier of the French Legion of Honour (May 2001)
• Officer’s Cross of the Order of Civil Merit, Spain (1999)
• Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, United Kingdom (1989)
• Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (1983)
• Officer of the National Order of Merit, France (1980)
• Officer of the Order of Independence, Jordan (1969)

His Excellency has received notable awards for his work for the arts and cultural diplomacy:

• Exceptional Excellence Award, Beirut Institute (2019)
• Personality of the Year, Emirates Literary Festival (2018)
• Cultural Diplomat of the Year, Abu Dhabi Cultural Summit (2017)
• Kennedy Center Gold Medal in the Arts, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (2014)
• Europe-Arab Prize for Culture, The European Foundation for Culture, Leipzig (2013)
• Cultural Personality of the Year, The Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Foundation (2013)
• Ring of Tolerance, The European Academy of Science and Arts, Frankfurt (2012)
• The Abu Dhabi Award (2007)