Eric Dury, a British performer and educator who spent more than a quarter of a century as one of the most recognisable faces of Dubai's independent theatre scene, has died, it was announced on Sunday, October 4.
Dury lived and worked in the UAE from 1999 to 2026, teaching at the University of Sharjah and later at Zayed University, while remaining a constant presence on stage. Before moving to the Emirates, he had built an academic and performing career in Malaysia, including a role at the country's national arts academy.
He was a central figure of the Dubai Drama Group, performing with the company for decades in productions including Hamlet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, The Proposal and The Homecoming. He also appeared on screen in the 2009 Dubai-set film City of Life.
His work was recognised with the Best Actor award at Short+Sweet Dubai in 2016, and in 2025 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the inaugural DXB Theatre Awards, a tribute to his decades-long contribution to the city's arts community.
Dury is survived by his wife, Shereen, and daughter, Tash. Members of Dubai's theatre and arts community have been paying tribute to him online, remembering him as one of the pillars who helped build the emirate's independent stage over the past two decades, mentoring younger performers and educators along the way.