Ali Al Saloom
Cultural Intelligence.
Powerful Stories.
Meaningful Impact.
International keynote speaker, cultural consultant, author, and creator of Duroob and Ask Ali.
Trusted by leading organisations
Keynote SpeakingCultural ConsultancyExecutive & One-to-One AdvisoryCultural Experiences
Keynote SpeakingCultural ConsultancyExecutive & One-to-One AdvisoryCultural Experiences
Keynote SpeakingCultural ConsultancyExecutive & One-to-One AdvisoryCultural Experiences
Keynote SpeakingCultural ConsultancyExecutive & One-to-One AdvisoryCultural Experiences
Years of cultural storytelling
Destinations
Duroob episodes
Seasons
Services
Work with Ali
Whether on stage, inside an organisation or in a private advisory session, Ali brings more than two decades of cultural experience, storytelling and practical insight into every engagement.
01
Keynote Speaking
Stories, experiences and cultural insights designed to inspire audiences, challenge assumptions and help people see the world differently.
02
Cultural Consultancy
Practical cultural intelligence and advisory for organisations, leaders and teams working in the UAE or across cultures.
03
One-to-One Advisory
Private, tailored sessions for executives, entrepreneurs and individuals seeking practical guidance on culture, communication and navigating the UAE environment.
04
Cultural Experiences & Programmes
Interactive Ask Ali cultural sessions, orientation programmes and tailored experiences for corporations, universities, government entities and visiting delegations.
“I no longer work, I create!”
Ali Al Saloom
The Ali story
Curiosity became a journey
For more than two decades, Ali Al Saloom has dedicated his work to one simple idea: to understand people, we must first understand their culture.
From helping international audiences understand Emirati culture through Ask Ali, to travelling the world through Duroob, Ali’s work explores the traditions, beliefs, behaviours and human stories that shape how people live, communicate and connect.
Mission
Passionately bridging cultures
Vision
A world connected through understanding
Duroob
دروب
The world, through the stories of its people
Across 14 seasons and hundreds of episodes, Duroob has taken audiences beyond destinations and into the lives, traditions and knowledge of communities around the world. The series explores what people inherit, preserve, adapt and pass on — revealing both what makes cultures distinctive and what connects us as human beings.
14
Seasons
300+
Episodes
200+
Destinations
Awarded Best Cultural Program
Keynotes
Stories that make people see the world differently
Ali’s keynotes combine lived experience, cultural intelligence, personal transformation and powerful storytelling. Each talk can be adapted to the audience, event theme and organisational objective.
No. 01
Choose the Door Wisely
A talk about choices, turning points and how the decisions we make shape the person we become.
No. 02
The Gorilla That Changed My Life
A personal story about perspective, fear, discovery and the encounters that can permanently change how we see ourselves and the world.
No. 03
Make an Impact
A journey on how to go green but reasonable at the same time.
No. 04
Ask Ali Live Cultural Session
An interactive cultural experience that helps audiences understand Emirati culture, etiquette, social codes and the thinking behind them.
Cultural consultancy · 17+ years
Culture is not a checklist. It is how people think, communicate and build trust.
Ali works with organisations, leaders and teams that need more than basic etiquette training. His programmes connect cultural knowledge with practical situations — helping participants understand behaviours, expectations, communication styles and the social context of working and living in the UAE.
Possible formats
Executive briefingsTeam workshopsUAE orientationIntercultural communicationLeadership advisoryCustomised cultural programmesPrivate consultation
Signature workshop
Embrace Arabia — Inter-Cultural Awareness
Full-day or half-day. From the Gulf’s four cultures — sea, oasis, desert, mountains — to business etiquette, indirect communication and Emiratisation.
Ask Ali · UAE roots اسأل علي
It started here — the United Arab Emirates
Before taking cultural stories around the world, Ali spent years helping the world understand his own. Through Ask Ali, books, television, lectures and live cultural sessions, he has answered the questions visitors, residents and organisations often have about Emirati culture, traditions and social life.
The book
The Answers
A practical cultural guide born from years of questions about the UAE, its people, traditions and everyday social codes. The book turns frequently asked questions into accessible cultural knowledge for visitors, residents and anyone who wants to understand Emirati society more deeply.
Conservation & Environmental Ambassador
Protecting the places and traditions that the stories come from.
What the press & readers say
A true cultural bridge
It’s the only opportunity to read something about this country and automatically make a friend with a real person, called Ali.
Time Out Abu Dhabi
“Making Friends Through Pages”
Ali answers real-life questions from expats with honesty and warmth. His insights help remove the fear of getting it wrong, and replace it with confidence and connection.
Gulf News
“A True Cultural Bridge”
When you’re finished reading it, you’ll feel like you have a friend in the UAE — which is exactly how Ali invites you to feel.
Samuel Snoek-Brown
“Cultural author & reviewer”
Time Out Abu DhabiGulf NewsTEDxTaaleemZayed University
Time Out Abu DhabiGulf NewsTEDxTaaleemZayed University
Time Out Abu DhabiGulf NewsTEDxTaaleemZayed University
Time Out Abu DhabiGulf NewsTEDxTaaleemZayed University
Every great connection starts with a conversation.
Whether you are looking for a keynote speaker, cultural consultant, private advisory session, organisational programme or media collaboration, tell us what you are planning and Ali’s team will respond with the most suitable next step.