He is a former Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the Kurdistan Regional Government[1] (2009–2012) and former professor of Medicine (Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Disease) at the University of Nottingham in the UK.

His father (Abdul-Aziz) was a primary school teacher and author of several books published in Kurdish, including "The Life of Mohammad" and "Exegesis (Tafsir) of Quran".

Ala'Aldeen met Mrs Margaret Thatcher, the former British Prime Minister, and Dr George Carey, the Archbishop of Canterbury, in April 1991 and persuaded them to put pressure on John Major (then British Prime Minister)[9] and George HW Bush (then President of the USA) to help end Saddam Hussein's attack on the Kurds, protect the fleeing civilians and ensure they return to their homes under international protection.

Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Ala'Aldeen assisted the Kurdistan Government in capacity- and nation-building projects, and supported the institution-building process, particularly in the areas of education, health and institutions of democracy.

[12] He also acted as a critical observer, advocating good governance, rule-of-law and democracy in Kurdistan, which were reflected in his extensive publications in local newspapers and international platforms.

Ala'Aldeen is the Founding President[15] of the Middle East Research Institute (MERI), an independent, grant-funded and non-profit think tank which is focused on policy-issues and governance reform in Iraq and Kurdistan Region.

From 1988 to 2014, Ala'Aldeen has worked on pathogenesis, molecular epidemiology and vaccine development of various bacterial pathogens, particularly Neisseria meningitidis (causes meningitis and sepsis) and Campylobacter jejuni (most common cause of food poisoning).

[18] He was chairman or member of a number of prestigious National learned societies and committees in the United Kingdom, which included: As a writer on policies and current affairs, Ala'Aldeen has published numerous articles on the impact of global politics on Kurdistan and on strategic issues relating to Kurdish human rights, governance, institutionalisation, rule-of-law, health and higher education [26][27] He has published several books on politics and governance including: "Lobbying for a Stateless Nation" (2007); "Nation Building and the system of self-governance in Kurdistan Region" (2013); and "State-Building: A roadmap for the rule of law and institutionalisation in Kurdistan Region" (2018).

[28] He comments regularly on local, regional, and international news channels offering his insight and analysis on current Kurdish, Iraqi, and Middle Eastern issues.