Dina Shihabi is a Saudi Arabian actress currently working in the United States. Born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, she spent her early years in Saudi Arabia, Beirut, and Dubai, where she developed a passion for dance at the tender age of six.
At the age of 13, Shihabi began taking dance lessons from renowned dance teacher Sharmilla Kamte at the Dubai Community Theatre and Arts Centre Chaloub Studio, affectionately known as the "dancing queen" of the United Arab Emirates. She quickly rose through the ranks to become a member of her modern professional dance team.
Shihabi's educational journey took her to various schools in Dubai, including Al Mawakeb School, Emirates International School, and Dubai American Academy. She was an active participant in numerous school plays and was encouraged by her teacher, Nancy Mock, to pursue a career in acting.
At the age of 18, Shihabi made the bold decision to move to New York City in 2007, marking the beginning of her journey towards a full-time acting career. This became a reality in 2010, and she went on to receive acceptance letters from both Juilliard and the Graduate Acting Program at NYU Tisch School for the Arts in 2011.
Although Shihabi did not complete a traditional four-year Bachelor's degree, she attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, an Acting Conservatory, from 2008 to 2010. NYU waived the requirement of a Bachelor's degree, and she graduated with her Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in 2014. Shihabi is a trailblazer, becoming the first Middle East-born woman to be accepted to both the Juilliard and NYU Graduate Acting programs.
