Born in Lebanon in 1961. Obtained his Bachelors in Business Administration at the American University of Beirut before obtaining his Master's in Communications.
Ali joined the Fine Arts Faculty of Beirut University College, where he helped to set up their Broadcasting Department and delivered several courses in television production.
Between 1987 to 1999, Ali worked as a Journalist covering the war in Lebanon and Iraq, as he was the German Press Agency Chief reporter in Lebanon and Syria and a reporter for New York Times and The Times of London between 1989 and 1994.
In 2008, he was instructed to set up the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Communication (MBRSC) at the American University of Dubai. In July 2008, Ali was named Dean of MBRSC.
In 2011, he became the General Director of MBC Group. He serves on the Dubai Government Council for Design and Fashion, he also works on the Advisory Board of American University of Beirut, Ali currently spearheads the Dubai government initiative to set up the Dubai School of Design.
