Yousef Al Otaiba

For more than 15 years, Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba has helped transform the relationship between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the United States (US) from a strategic alliance to a multi-dimensional partnership.

Strengthening Longstanding Bilateral Ties

Ambassador Al Otaiba’s efforts have been instrumental in advancing historic agreements, such as the 2025 UAE–US AI and technology partnership, the UAE-US 123 Agreement on peaceful nuclear cooperation and the Abraham Accords.

Appointed Ambassador to the US in 2008 and Minister of State in 2017, Ambassador Al Otaiba draws on his previous years of experience working as Senior Advisor and Director of International Affairs to His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan — now President of the UAE — to shape a modern bilateral relationship that spans security, innovation, trade and cultural diplomacy.

Innovation, Diplomacy and Social Impact

Ambassador Al Otaiba’s work has consistently bridged diplomacy with innovation. In 2025, he supported the launch of a landmark $1.4 trillion UAE investment framework in the US, which includes a $25 billion agreement between ADQ and Energy Capital Partners (ECP) to power AI-driven infrastructure. He continues to support emerging technologies and space collaboration through initiatives like the Artemis Accords and backs UAE engagement on climate action via the PACE (Partnership for Accelerating Clean Energy) platform.

In honor of the 50th anniversary of the UAE and Ambassador Al Otaiba’s leadership relationship, the Middle East Institute (MEI) launched the Al Otaiba Fund for US-UAE Understanding. This will support a sustained initiative to build cooperation across multiple sectors and lifelong ties between young leaders from both countries.

Committed to social impact, education and public diplomacy, Ambassador Al Otaiba has been a key supporter of partnerships with top US institutions, including the Harvard Kennedy School, NYU Abu Dhabi, Children’s National Hospital, the Cleveland Clinic and NASA. He helped launch the UAE Preferred initiative to strengthen UAE-US ties, was pivotal in bringing the Special Olympics World Games to Abu Dhabi — the first time the event was hosted in the Middle East — and currently serves on the Special Olympics Board of Directors.

Education

Educated at Cairo American College, Georgetown University and the National Defense University, Ambassador Al Otaiba combines academic insight with diplomatic pragmatism. Today, he continues to shape the UAE’s evolving global role — one defined by shared security interests and by shared investment in a more sustainable, inclusive and innovative future.