Alaa was born and raised in France to Moroccan parents. He started practicing Taekwondo as a child. At the age of 18 he's a high level martial artist with several international titles, including Taekwonmudo World Champion in 2002. His acrobatic and fighting skills take him to Thailand, where he trains with a professional stunt team for two years. Back in Paris, he attends the "International Theater School of Blanche Salant & Paul Weaver". Meanwhile, he starts working as an actor and pursues a regular training, following acting and physical theater workshops (e.g. led by Jack Waltzer, and Julie Stanzak from Pina Bausch's company).
Since the age of 21, Alaa was casted for action films like "Traitor", dramas ("Pour elle", "Un baiser papillon") and romantic comedies ("Le Missionnaire", "10 jours pour s'aimer", "Nous trois ou rien", "Dare to be wild") playing with actors such as Don Cheadle, Vincent Lindon and Elsa Zylberstein. His diversified yet young experience got him to participate in the Auber opera "La Muette de Portici" directed by Emma Dante. In 2012, he gets to face his childhood's hero in a duel. He is casted as Jackie Chan's antagonist in "Chinese Zodiac 12", his latest action blockbuster that won the 2013 Hong-Kong Film Award for Best Action Choreography. He then plays The Moorish Prince in "Outcast" alongside Nicolas Cage and Hayden Christensen. More recently, he won the Best Male Actor Award for his performance in "Taureau Taureau".
Alaa speaks French, English, Arabic and Italian fluently, and also studied Spanish and Thai. He is based in Paris and has worked with French, American, Thai, Chinese, Italian, Indian, and Moroccan filmmakers and stage directors.
