He held various prominent roles in Somalia's education and political sectors, including serving as the Director of the General Examinations Board of the Ministry of Education of Somalia from 1984 to 1991, Governor of the Nugaal Region from 1994 to 1996, and Director General of the Ministries of Interior and Security in Puntland span from 2002 to 2013.

Ali Hayan earned a bachelor's degree with a major in Arabic and a minor in geography from the faculty of education at Lafoole University.

Ali Hayan joined the Ministry of Education after graduating from Lafoole University and worked the department in charge of secondary schools.

Ali gained national recognition for this job, particularly for his well-known signature on the secondary leaving certificates.

When the civil war broke out, Ali Hayan moved to Garoowe, the Nugaal region's capital, in 1993.