Yousef Al Otaiba

Since being appointed Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to the United States(US) in 2008, Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba has been a driving force behind transforming the UAE-US relationship into a global model for economic cooperation, innovation and shared prosperity.

As Ambassador and Minister of State, Al Otaiba works closely with his government counterparts and business leaders to promote bilateral trade, investment opportunities and commercial ties. During his tenure, the UAE has invested over $1 trillion in the US, with $1.4 trillion more committed over the next decade. The UAE has also become the US’s largest trading partner in the Middle East. His work has positioned the UAE as a strategic base for American companies seeking to grow in the $8 trillion Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) economy.

The Ambassador is also a champion of the UAE-US technology partnership, overseeing landmark deals in AI, data centers and sustainable energy. He played a central role in launching the US-UAE AI Acceleration Partnership and the UAE-US 5GW AI cluster in Abu Dhabi, the largest AI infrastructure project outside the US, and joining the US-led Pax Silica. These initiatives have supported the expansion of US technology firms, including Microsoft, Cisco, OpenAI, Oracle and NVIDIA, in the UAE.

Ambassador Al Otaiba’s work has been recognized with honors such as the 2024 Inaugural Meridian Global Leadership Award for Space Diplomacy, Ambassador of the Year (2010) and inclusion on TIME’s 100 Most Influential People list (2020). His leadership continues to shape the future of UAE-US economic relations and delivers tangible benefits for communities across both nations.

Learn more about the Ambassador’s work with the Embassy and his philanthropic efforts by visiting his website.