Atallah Said
Early life, education & work
1947 born in Palestine
1948 family exiled as refugees to Beirut, Lebanon
1953-1964 attended UN primary & secondary schools in Beirut, living in Bourj al-Barajneh refugee camp
1964-1967 joined family in Qatar, studied at Doha secondary school
1968-1970 returned to Lebanon, Joined the Democratic Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
1970-1973 studied at Chelsea College, London, awarded Diploma in Aeronautical Engineering
1973-1975 Joined Peters Aviation, aircraft engineer Norwich UK
1975-1990 JoinedHABA construction company, Qatar, becoming Managing Director in 1978, after which it became one of the leading companies in Qatar
1987 M Sc in Engineering Management from Beverly Hills University, California, by correspondence
1990 forced to leave Qatar as a result of deportations of prominent Palestinians following Arafat’s support for Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait
returned to UK as a refugee, with wife & three children, awaited outcome of asylum application
1994 granted leave to remain in UK
1995-present working as business consultant to engineering firms in the Middle East
2000 awarded UK citizenship
2001 period of six months as Managing Director of Redco engineering firm, Abu Dhabi
Political life
1960 joined Arab National Movement (Nationalist political party created under the colonial system)
1968 Member of Democratic Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DPFLP)
1970-1974 as a student in London, founder member of the Arab Section of the Fourth International, also Vice Chair of the Palestinian Student Union in London
1978 elected member of Executive Committee of Palestinian Engineering Union in Qatar
1986 elected President of Palestinian Engineering Union in Qatar
1987 elected to General Committee of Arab Engineering Union, represented Palestinian and Arab Engineering Unions at conferences throughout Middle East
1980-1990 member of Executive Committee of Palestinian Association in Qatar
1990-1994 no political activity, awaiting outcome of asylum application
1996 elected to Executive Committee of UK Palestinian Association
1997 joined Labour Party in March, campaigning actively in all elections since
1997 elected Vice Chair of the Ealing Arab Association
1998 Vice Chair of UK Palestinian Association
2000 founded Arab Labour Group (Arab Labour Party members & supporters)
2003 elected Chair of Arab Labour Group
2003 elected Vice Chair of Arab-Jewish Forum (representatives of Jewish & Arab community members & organisations in Britain), was instrumental in setting up with Clive Soley MP
2003 member of Steering Committee of Muslims for Labour (Muslim members of the Labour Party working to promote the Party)
Labour Party activity
General
1997 joined the Labour Party, Ealing Acton & Shepherds Bush Constituency, campaigned in all elections since
1998 elected CLP Ethnic Minorities Officer
1999 elected CLP Treasurer
2002-present elected CLP Secretary
2002 elected LGC Chair
2003 elected LGC Treasurer
2003 elected constituency delegate to Labour Party Conference
Related to Middle East
2002-2003 contributed to consultation on Britain in the World
2000-present continued involvement in the Arab Labour Group, promoting the Labour Party and increasing membership
2003 continued involvement in the Arab-Jewish Forum and Muslims for Labour
Community & local
1997-present increasingly involved in community activity, helping many Arabic-speakers to bring their cases to local MPs & Councillors
1999-present active and valued member of the Governing Body of Derwentwater Primary School in Acton, frequently consulted by the Headteacher on the requirements of the Arab & Muslim communities
2003 elected member of the Executive Committee of Acton Community Forum
Other activities
- key fundraiser & team worker in the CLP, organising successful, well-attended events that raise money, building good relationships within the party and getting people to work together
- published articles on behalf of the Arab Labour Group, promoting the Labour Party in Arab newspapers
- respected commentator on Labour Party affairs in the Arabic-speaking media.
Personal & contact details
- married to Wafa, a high school teacher of Arabic, French & Islamic Studies
- three children aged thirty, twenty-six, and twenty-two
Postal address 16 Montague Gardens, London W3 9PT
Phone 020 8992 0383 (home)
07939 028123 (mobile)
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