It’s not easy to write about a friend who’s suddenly gone. Abdulla Mohammed Saeed Saif AlRiyami wasn’t just a colleague, he was a part of the soul of the Khaleej Times newsroom. His passing at just 34 has left us shaken.
Abdulla joined Khaleej Times in February 2023 as UAE Editor and last served as Head of Content Strategy. In that role, he became the bridge between the editorial team and the broader ecosystem of the paper’s stakeholders, whether government entities, institutions or the community.
Before stepping into the media world, Abdulla had already built a formidable career in diplomacy and public policy. He served more than six years at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, where he held key roles, including Senior Country Supervisor for West Asia and Economic Analyst for Trade Affairs. He worked tirelessly to strengthen the UAE’s strategic ties across regions — from India to the Caribbean, navigating geopolitical challenges with clarity and conviction.
In a previous posting, he headed the Ministry’s Political, Economic and Media Section, where he helped facilitate high-level agreements. His career also spanned stints at ADCB Bank and Adnoc, where he worked in strategy and communications.
A man of impressive intellect, Abdulla held a Master’s in International Relations and Diplomacy from the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Economics, and International Studies from the University of Colorado. But beyond the accomplishments on his resume, Abdulla brought something far more valuable to our newsroom: integrity, warmth and a deep belief in the power of good journalism.
Dressed in his kandoura and flashing his familiar infectious smile, Abdullah carried himself with dignity, but never with formality. For someone who came from the structured world of diplomacy, he embraced the often chaotic world of journalism with surprising ease and sincerity.
He was proud of his heritage and deeply passionate about his country’s progress, especially in the areas of sustainability and innovation.
Personally, I often turned to him while working on sensitive investigative reports. He had an instinct for nuance and a strong sense of the local pulse. I valued his feedback not because he played it safe, but because he helped me understand what was worth standing up for. “Tell it like it is,” he’d say. “But know your ground.”
Khaleej Times Associate Editor Sahim Salim bonded with Abdulla over the shared joys and challenges of parenthood. “Abdulla became a father around the same time I did — just about six months ago. “He truly embodied Emirati hospitality, greeting everyone in the office by name and always taking the time to ask about their families. Warm, cheerful, and full of life, he loved a good laugh. He will be missed.”
Abdulla often spoke of the birth of his daughter with a sense of wonder. I remember him describing the moment he first held the baby. “Surreal,” he said. “No feeling like it.”
Ahmed Nokkari, Head of Multimedia and Social Media, described the Emirati journalist as someone who had a “diplomat’s patience, a strategist’s mind and a journalist’s heart. That made all the difference”.
He said Abdulla was known in most diplomatic circles in the UAE. “He was a respected businessman … he had a vision of changing the economic world order and I promised him that I’ll repay him by helping him doing it for free. “Today, the weight of his absence is immeasurable. I have lost not just a mentor, but a brother and a cherished friend.”
