Naif Khalaf

🎭 Naif Khalaf

Naif Khalaf Al-Atibi (1973 – )

A Saudi actor and theater director, born in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

 

📌 Personal Information

Full Name: Naif Khalaf Al-Thuqail Al-Atibi

 

Date of Birth: 1973 (Age 51–52)

 

Place of Birth: Tabuk, Saudi Arabia

 

Nationality: Saudi

 

Profession: Actor, Theater Director, Academic

 

Years Active: 1992 – Present

 

🎓 Education

🧑‍🎓 PhD in Drama – University of Exeter, UK (2014)

 

Thesis: A Historical Study in Saudi Theater

 

🎭 Master’s in Practical Theater – University of Exeter, UK (2007)

 

🎓 BA in Theater Arts - Media Department – King Saud University, Riyadh (1997)

 

🛤️ Career Journey

Started in 1992 during his studies at King Saud University, debuting in the play "My Beautiful City" directed by Rushdi Salam – won Best Actor at the College of Arts.

 

Moved from Arabic Literature to the Media Department and specialized in Theater Arts.

 

Presented several plays under Rushdi Salam’s direction:

 

The Head of the Slave Gaber (1993)

 

If the Conscience Were Alive

 

The Dream of Al-Hamadhani (Graduation project, 1995, directed by Abu Al-Hassan Salam)

 

Participated with the university team in The Killer Meteor (1995, directed by Othman Qamar Al-Anbiya)

 

📺 Early TV Work

Al-Siraj (1994, directed by Khalid Al-Tukhaym)

 

Wadi Al-Siba’ (1995, directed by Amer Al-Hamoud)

 

📚 Academic Work

Theater director at King Saud University (1997–2006)

 

Assistant Professor in the Department of Media at King Saud University since May 2015

 

🏢 Administrative Role

Served as Director General of the Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and Arts from June 2019 to July 2023

 

📺 Filmography

📽️ Television Series

1993: Tash Ma Tash

 

1994: Tash Ma Tash 2

 

1997: Lost Dreams

 

1998: Time and People

 

1999: Family Matters

 

2000: The Final Scene

 

2004: A Woman Unlike the Moon

 

2009: Perfume – as Mishaal

 

2009: Torment – as Salman

 

2009: Days of Mirage

 

2015: Al-Dhahiba

 

2016: Ramadan Kareem Family (Cartoon)

 

2018: Share Chat

 

2019: When the Moon Completes

 

2019: Blood Market

 

2019: Without Filter 2

 

2024: Al-Sharar (The Spark)

 

2025: My Aunt Nuwaire

 

2025: Um 44

 

🎭 Plays

2005: Fleihan and Tarzan

 

2008: Arandas and the Million (Directed by Naif)

 

2010: Al-Maaqil Hospital

 

2013: Al-A’sha (the blind poet)

 

2015: Sarat of Poetry and Maturity

 

🎬 Films

2005: Shadows of Silence

 

2010: Childhood Friends

 

2022: Barq (Lightning)

 

2023: Valley Road

 

🏆 Awards & Honors

🥇 1996: Best Actor – 5th GCC Theater Festival, Sharjah

 

🏆 1998: Best Director – 3rd Gulf Universities Cultural Week, Sultan Qaboos University

 

🥈 2001: Best Director (Shared with Emirati director Ahmed Al-Ansari) – 6th Doha Theater Festival, GCC