Veteran Emirati actor Ahmed Al Jasmi honoured for contribution to UAE arts

Ahmed Al Jasmi is one of the most respected figures in Emirati performing arts, with a career spanning nearly five decades was honoured recently at the Omar Mohammed Zubair Al Marzouqi in Dubai.

Omar Al Zubair is well known for hosting weekly majlis gatherings that aim to strengthen community ties and celebrate achievement. These gatherings often bring together athletes, sports leaders, and members of the community to honour accomplishments.

His majlis has been used as a platform to honour former UAE soccer stars, sports council members, coaches, and emerging talents, fostering social cohesion and community dialogue around sport and youth empowerment.

A versatile actor, writer, director, and producer, Ahmed Al Jasmi began his artistic journey in 1975 and quickly became a key presence in theatre, television, radio, and film in the UAE and the broader Arab world.

He has not only performed on stage and screen but also played significant leadership roles in shaping the Emirati cultural scene.

Throughout his career, Ahmed Al Jasmi has held many administrative and leadership positions including serving as General Supervisor of Drama and Production at Abu Dhabi Television, membership on the permanent committee of the GCC theatre festival, and executive roles within Arab and Gulf theatre organisations. Today, he continues to serve as Chairman of Sharjah National Theatre, and Vice‑Chairman of the Emirates Association for Theatre Artists.

Omar Al Zubair, a major in Dubai Police, is celebrated for breaking barriers as the first Emirati, Arab, and Asian referee to officiate in a Handball World Cup final, and he’s been involved in major tournaments including the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympics.

Throughout his refereeing and sports leadership career, he has participated in hundreds of international and local matches and has been awarded national honors such as the Sheikh Mohammed BVin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Sports Creativity and the Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Award for Sports Excellence.