Ali Al Sayed is a comedian based in Dubai.[1] He is the founder of the entertainment company Viva Arts and co-director of Dubomedy Arts, a comedy and urban arts training program based in the UAE.[2]
Performances and productions
editAl Sayed has performed in various live comedy events across the Middle East and internationally. He co-founded Monday Night Funnies,[3] a regular comedy and variety night in the UAE. He has appeared in regional comedy tours, including Stand Up Expat[4] and Boys Night Out,[5] and has performed at events such as the 2010 EFFIE MENA Awards and Ahlan's 'Best in Dubai' Awards.[6]
He has participated in the Edinburgh Fringe Festive, performing in the show Big In Dubai!, recognized as one of the first UAE-produced comedy show to be a part of the festival.[7] He has also performed at the New York Arab-American Comedy Festival and the Muslim Funny Fest in New York City.[8]
In addition to his stand-up work, Al Sayed co-produced the DUBOMEDY International Performing Arts Festival (DIPAF) in 2010 and 2011[9] and has been involved in producing other comedy-related projects in the region, including Funny Girls, a stand-up comedy troupe featuring female performers.[10]
Coaching and instruction
editAl Sayed has worked as a comedy coach and instructor, conducting workshops in the region and abroad. He has served as an acting coach for independent film productions,[citation needed] including the Emirati-Indian short film Mallal, which won an award at the Dubai International Film Festival. He has also been an instructor at the Theater of Changes festival in Greece.[citation needed]
Media and television
editAl Sayed has appeared on television in the UAE and wider Arab region, with segments on Abu Dhabi TV, MBC, Dubai One and OSN[citation needed]. He currently contributes as a comedy writer and commentator on Abu Dhabi Sports TV’s program The Beautiful Game.[11] He has also appeared on the Stand-Up Sketch Show on Shahid[12] and on Comedy Central Arabia.[13]
References
edit- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 18 June 2012. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ↑ Chubb, Laura (2 November 2009). "UAE comedians". Time Out Dubai. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 11 February 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ↑ Clack, David (14 June 2011). "Ali Al Sayed on comedy". Time Out Abu Dhabi. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2 July 2012. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ↑ "Theatre of Changes | Theatre School - Theatre of Changes | Theatre School". theater-school.com. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 19 January 2012. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ↑
- ↑ "Dubai Comedians head to New York for historical return of coveted Hickok Belt Award". Dubai Chronicle. 6 October 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
- ↑ "Watch Standup Sketch - Season 1". MBC Shahid. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
- ↑ "Meet the Comedians from Comedia 3al Wagef". Red Bull. Archived from the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.