With his father from Dubai, and mother from London, Ali grew up in the UAE.

Film has always been a central part of his life since his childhood and grew up to pursue a Masters degree in Filmmaking from the London Film School.

Ali set up his own production company AFM Films in 2006. It was established to have the creative freedom to produce and write cutting edge work. AFM Films produces all kinds of film work such as shorts, documentaries, corporates, and commercials.

In 2009 His and the UAE’s biggest achievement in film to date was released - City of Life. Breaking box office records for an Emirati film, Ali’s first big budget feature captured the hearts and minds of a nation.

One of the pioneers in the Emirati film industry he has received a number of accolades during his years in film. His short film 'Under the Sun' won 'Best Emirates Film 2006' at the Emirates Film Competition, Dubai International Film Festival named him ‘Best Emirati Filmmaker’, while Digital Studio magazine awarded him ‘2010 Young Filmmaker of the Year’

While expanding his activities into brand ambassadorships, in 2011 Ali was asked to develop the first ever online series in the region for a brand – Classified - as part of his partnership with Range Rover.

In the meantime, the journey for Ali continues as he works on his next feature film projects, which are set to take his directorial career to yet another level.