Al-Zain Sabah Al-Naser Al-Sabah
الشيخة الزين صباح الناصر الصباح
Ambassador of Kuwait to the United States
Assumed office
12 March 2023
Preceded bySalem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
Personal details
BornKuwait City, Kuwait
Parents
  • Sheikh Sabah Naser Al-Saud Al-Sabah (father)
  • Sheikha Shaikha Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah (mother)

Sheikha Al-Zain Sabah Al-Naser Al-Sabah also Al-Zain S. Al-Sabah (Arabic: الشيخة الزين الصباح ) is the Ambassador of Kuwait to the United States.[1]

Previously, Al-Zain occupied the roles of Chairperson and CEO at the National Creative Industries Group (NCIG) KSCC, an organization headquartered in Kuwait dedicated to fostering, incubating, and growing the creative arts and TMT-based industries within the MENA region. Before this, Al-Zain served as the Under Secretary of State in Kuwait’s Ministry for Youth Affairs, an emergent governmental body tasked with the creation of national strategies to promote innovation, civic participation, and entrepreneurship among the youth of Kuwait.[2][3] During her tenure, Kuwait received recognition as the Capital of Arab Youth, and witnessed the formulation of its inaugural national youth policy.[4]

Career and background

Sheikha Al-Zain is a pioneering social entrepreneur and film/TV producer. Her mission has centered around building equitable policies for creative communities in the larger MENA region, whilst providing a haven for talented regional storytellers to operate. The majority of her undertakings center around messages of peace and plurality.

In 2009, she co-produced Amreeka, an official selection at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.[5] The film went on to win both the Fipresci Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, and the Best Film Award at the Cairo International Film Festival.

Al-Zain also co-produced Journey to Mecca, an award-winning documentary about Islamic scholar Ibn Battuta's journey from Morocco to Saudi Arabia.[6]

In her former role as chairperson and CEO of National Creative Industries Group (NCIG) KSCC, an organization she founded to produce impact-driven content that bridges the dichotomy between the eastern and western markets, Al-Zain oversaw the completion of the company’s multi-media studio campus, the largest privately held facility of its kind in the region, and hub for a number of acclaimed regional TV shows. Alongside its production and facilitation sectors, the organization also runs a robust arm, and has partnered with Netflix to build and operate their first writers’ incubator/accelerator in the MENA region.[7]  

Prior to heading NCIG, Al-Zain served as the Undersecretary of State for Youth Affairs in Kuwait,[8] where she spearheaded a number of initiatives, including building the country’s first short film fund, drafting the first local National Youth Policy, and working with the Arab League on programs that resulted in the naming of Kuwait as the “Youth Capital of the Middle East”.[9]

A vocal proponent for inclusion and diversity in the media/entertainment sectors, Al-Zain serves on the board of several organizations including Boston University’s COM Board, the Equality Now Board, the 10 Arts Foundation at the New York Film Academy, and formerly, the OSN Board of Directors,[10] where she served as Vice-Chair.  

Prior to her ventures in the private and public sectors, Al Zain worked in Boston and in New York, where she was on staff at ABC World News Tonight with Peter Jennings.[11] She had also worked as producer on a number of Kuwaiti political talk shows.

A recipient of the Arab Woman Award for “Inspirational Woman of the Year 2015”, the Leaders Middle East “Power Women of Arabia” Award 2015,[12] the United Arab Media Council’s 2017 “Haithem Media Award”,[13] and the Boston University College of Communication's Distinguished Alumni Award for Service to Profession 2010,[14] Al-Zain is a MELI fellow at the Aspen Institute and holds a B.S. in Journalism from Boston University's Collection of Communication as well as an M.F.A. from the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts.  

References

  1. ↑ Jabr, Ahmad (13 March 2023). "Kuwait's new ambassadors to Saudi, US take constitutional oath". Kuwait Times. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  2. ↑ Chaaban, Fida (23 November 2015). "Advocating Agility: H.E. Sheikha Al-Zain Sabah Al-Naser Al-Sabah Won't Let Kuwait's Entrepreneurs Go It Alone". Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  3. ↑ touchlineadmin (21 February 2016). "Testament to youth". Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  4. ↑ "Kuwait | Factsheets | Youthpolicy.org". www.youthpolicy.org. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  5. ↑ Dabis, Cherien (17 June 2009), Amreeka, retrieved 23 July 2016
  6. ↑ "Kuwaiti royal seeks to innovate home country". 2 May 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  7. ↑ Vivarelli, Nick (2 November 2021). "Netflix Teams With Kuwait's NCIG to Launch First Scriptwriting Lab in MENA Region (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  8. ↑ Worldfolio, The. "Youth Empowerment as the Key to a Brighter Future in Kuwait". Theworldfolio. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  9. ↑ "Young & Talented - The Business Year". www.thebusinessyear.com. 23 February 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  10. ↑ Staff Reporter (1 June 2022). "OSN adds two new members to its Board of Directors". BroadcastPro ME. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  11. ↑ "Off hours: Country comes first for Kuwait's under secretary of the Ministry of State for Youth Affairs". The National. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  12. ↑ "Dubai Business Women Council to host 'Power Women of Arabia' debate - elan". Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  13. ↑ "KUNA : Sheikha Al-Zain Al-Sabah honored with Al Haitham Arab Media Award 2017 - Media - 14/05/2017". www.kuna.net.kw. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  14. ↑ "Distinguished Alumni Awards | Alumni & Friends". www.bu.edu. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
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