Abdalla was born in Glasgow, Scotland, to Egyptian parents, and was brought up in London. Abdalla's father and grandfather were well-known anti-regime activists in Egypt. His parents were both physicians who immigr… See more

In 2003, Abdalla played the title role in Christopher Marlowe's Tamburlaine the Great at the Rose Theatrein Kingston, London. This was the inaugural production of Peter Hall's Canon's Mouth Theatre Company, … See more

In January–February 2011, Abdalla was among protesters in Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt in the major protests against the Hosni Mubarak regime. He also appeared on The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer show on CNN on … See more