H.E. Dr. Tariq Al Gurg

CEO, Dubai Cares

Bio Current as of August 28, 2019

HE Dr. Tariq Al Gurg was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Cares in 2009 and as a member of its Board of Directors in 2018. 

Al Gurg has been a primary driver behind the organization’s success. He has enabled Dubai Cares to contribute to the evidence-base in education, leverage funding and invest in strategic relationships and programs that support the global education agenda. His focus has been to develop Dubai Cares as a recognized best-case practitioner and a global leader in education program design and innovation that is grounded in a philosophy of continuous monitoring and evaluation and rigorous research. 

More recently, Al Gurg has been a key champion of Education in Emergencies, highlighting the critical need to provide education to children and young people living in fragile and conflict-affected situations. He is also behind Dubai Cares’ selection to become a member of the High-Level Steering Group for the global ‘Education Cannot Wait’ fund and the board of UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited.

In 2017, Al Gurg was recognized by Irina Bokova, former director of UNESCO for his role in transitioning Dubai Cares from a young philanthropic organization into a global leader in the international education arena. He also received the 2016 Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) Award in recognition of his strong and visible commitment, outstanding achievement and active advocacy for quality education in Mediterranean countries.

Al Gurg’s past experience includes 12 years at various senior management positions within the consumer and corporate banking at Emirates NBD (formerly known as National Bank of Dubai). He is a Founding Board Member and Deputy Chairman of the UAE Genetic Diseases Association (UAE GDA). He was also a member of the UAE’s National Anti-Money Laundering Committee, chaired by the Governor of the UAE Central Bank. 

In 2019, Al Gurg was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) Degree from Mangalayatan University in Aligarh, India for his contribution to global education and his outstanding leadership and tireless efforts in addressing and raising awareness about issues of philanthropy.