Updated: June 17, 2026
Origin: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Gender: Male
Religion: Islam
Nationality: Emirati
Occupation: Stand-up Comedian, Producer, MC
Genres: Stand-up Comedy
Biography & Career:
Ali Al Sayed is one of the Middle East's pioneering comic voices, an Emirati stand-up comedian widely celebrated as the UAE's King of Comedy. Based in Dubai, the performer grew up in an Arab Muslim family, where a quick wit and natural sense of timing made him the one always making everyone laugh. That gift would eventually turn into a groundbreaking career that helped put homegrown comedy on the map across the region.
A true trailblazer, Al Sayed co-founded Dubomedy Arts in 2008 alongside New York comedian and partner Mina Liccione, creating the first comedy and urban arts school in the MENA region. He is also the founder of the entertainment company Viva Arts and co-created Monday Night Funnies, the UAE's first weekly comedy and variety night. In 2015 the artist delivered his debut special, Onestly Sbeaking, at the inaugural Dubai Comedy Festival, a show praised for blending big laughs with thoughtful takes on real-life issues.
By nationality Emirati, the comic has carried his humour far beyond home, performing across Europe, the United States, Egypt, and the wider Gulf, and sharing stages with international names such as Maz Jobrani, Dean Obeidallah, and Tommy Davidson. While his exact age is not publicly confirmed, the depth of his experience speaks through a career spanning festivals, television, and live tours.
Beyond the stage, the entertainer has become a familiar face on regional television, with appearances on Abu Dhabi TV, MBC, Dubai One, OSN, and Comedy Central Arabia, plus the Stand-Up Sketch Show on Shahid. A frequent master of ceremonies for major sporting and cultural events, Ali Al Sayed continues to use comedy not just to entertain but to open up meaningful conversations across the Arab world.
Ali Al Sayed Notable Shows & Projects:
Onestly Sbeaking
Monday Night Funnies
Stand Up Expat
Boys Night Out
Funny Girls
