Yousef Al Otaiba
Working to preserve and expand the five-decade relationship between the United Arab Emirates and the United States.
Diplomacy
Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba has served as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ambassador to the United States (US) since July 2008. During his tenure, he has placed significant emphasis on — and achieved substantial successes in — areas such as:
Economic Prosperity
Cultural Exchange Between the UAE & US
Political Security & Stability
Humanitarian Relief
Climate Action
AI and Advanced Technology
UAE Ambassador to the US
As the Emirati Ambassador in Washington, DC, Yousef Al Otaiba has emphasized strengthening the enduring ties between the UAE and the US.
With Ambassador Al Otaiba’s full support, the UAE and the US have achieved significant successes in advancing bilateral policies related to climate action, cultural exchange, healthcare, education, security and stability, advanced technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and trade. Moreover, Ambassador Al Otaiba has been instrumental in ensuring the UAE provides humanitarian relief following disasters in the US and around the world.
Yousef is married to Abeer Shoukry-Al Otaiba, philanthropist and founder of the luxury fashion line SemSem and the future-focused investment company, Otaiba Investments. The couple lives in Virginia with their two children.
Diplomatic Achievements
Nuclear cooperation
One of Yousef Al Otaiba’s first major accomplishments as Ambassador was the finalization of the U.S.-UAE 1-2-3 Agreement, which took effect in December 2009. The agreement has been called the “gold standard” of nonproliferation, with the UAE making voluntary commitments beyond any other country in the region.
Economic partnerships
Ambassador Al Otaiba strongly supports deepening trade ties between the UAE and the US. In 2024, US trade with the UAE totaled $34.4 billion, reflecting the UAE’s role as a regional leader in terms of economic reform, political stability and openness to international trade and investment.
Advanced technology and AI
The UAE and US economies are evolving to embrace future technologies by working with leading US companies focused on artificial intelligence (AI), cloud solutions, data infrastructure and more. Ambassador Al Otaiba strongly supports public- and private-sector partnerships between the US and the UAE to advance economic opportunity, while minimizing the potential harm and security risks that can be associated.
Climate action
The UAE and US governments are building on years of strong bilateral ties to tackle global climate challenges. Both countries recognize that a rapid, sustainable and well-managed energy transition is critical to advancing climate action and enhancing global energy security and accessibility. Initiatives like the Partnership for Accelerating Clean Energy (PACE) will accelerate efforts to fight climate change, fund clean energy technology, and support energy security and affordability.
Abraham Accords
In 2020, the UAE and Israel signed the Abraham Accords, a historic normalization agreement that enabled new levels of cooperation among Middle Eastern states. Ambassador Al Otaiba’s strong support of the Abraham Accords was instrumental in bringing this fundamental change to fruition.
Space exploration
The UAE’s space program has experienced astronomical growth since its founding a decade ago. Through close cooperation with American partners, like NASA, the UAE has launched historic space projects. These include launching a mission to explore Mars, sending the first Emirati astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS), and training a new generation of Emirati and Middle Eastern astronauts, among other successes.
Humanitarian relief
Following devastating crises like the Joplin, MO, tornado, Superstorm Sandy and Hurricane Irma, the UAE stepped in to help disaster-affected communities with rebuilding initiatives, financial support and other humanitarian aid.
UAE USA United
Instituted by the UAE Embassy and spearheaded by Ambassador Al Otaiba, the UAE USA United campaign celebrates the shared achievements of the five-decade bilateral relationship. The UAE-US relationship has thrived for more than 50 years, and through initiatives — such as UAE USA United — the two countries will continue to work together to achieve greater prosperity and address pressing global challenges.
The Al Otaiba Fund for US-UAE Understanding
The Al Otaiba Fund for US-UAE Understanding, created in honor of Ambassador Al Otaiba by the Middle East Institute (MEI), was established to strengthen ties between the US and the UAE through diplomacy, cultural exchange, education and policy initiatives. The fund supports three key programs — the US-UAE Leadership Forum, the Policy Fellowship and the Cultural Fellowship — each designed to empower future leaders and foster collaboration for a lasting partnership between the two nations.
Education and Early Career
Yousef Al Otaiba grew up in Cairo, Egypt, and received a first-in-class education at Cairo American College. After completing his primary education, he moved to the US and studied international relations at Georgetown University. While at Georgetown, he played soccer, which in 2015 earned him the Georgetown Soccer Alumni Award. He later graduated from the Industrial College of the US Armed Forces at the National Defense University through the International Fellows Program (Class of 2000). He also participated in the Georgetown Leadership Seminar at the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy (Class of 2007).
Al Otaiba began his career as a diplomat and international leader by working as the Director of International Affairs in the Court of His Highness General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who currently serves as the president of the UAE. In this role, he advanced UAE regional security and stability, supported anti-extremist and counterintelligence efforts throughout the Middle East and built strategic partnerships between the UAE, the US and other countries. For a time, he also served as a non-resident ambassador to Mexico.
Philanthropy
Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba provides personal and professional support to charitable organizations and humanitarian relief efforts in the US and around the world. His efforts have supported multiple causes, notably those focused on public health, community sports and disaster recovery.
Alongside his wife, Abeer, Ambassador Al Otaiba has been a longtime supporter of programs and institutions local to Washington, DC. Wanting to give back to the Children’s National Hospital — which provided excellent care for their daughter in a time of need — the Al Otaibas co-chaired the institution’s Children’s Ball with Bret and Amy Baier in 2014. The event raised $10.9 million to support the hospital’s mission to develop treatments for pediatric patients.
Boards, Councils and Awards
Philanthropy
- 2024 Inaugural Meridian Global Leadership Award for Space Diplomacy
- 2020 TIME 100 Most Influential People
- 2016 NYU Abu Dhabi Global Leadership Award
- 2015 Joseph E. Robert, Jr. Prize in Philanthropy - Children’s National Hospital
- 2015 Georgetown Soccer Alumni Award
- 2013 Distinguished Diplomatic Service Award - World Affairs Council of Washington
- 2010 Ambassador of the Year, National U.S. - Arab Chamber of Commerce
- National Defense University International Fellows Hall of Fame Program (Class of 2000)
Insights
