About His Excellency

Yousef Al Otaiba

Yousef Al Otaiba is working to preserve and expand the decades-long relationship between the United Arab Emirates and the United States. In his many roles, he has focused on expanding diplomacy, trade and innovation between the two nations. The Ambassador also extends his reach to those who need it most, including expanding opportunities in healthcare and community engagement.

Diplomacy

Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba has served as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ambassador to the United States (US) since July 2008 and as Minister of State since 2017. During his tenure, he has placed significant emphasis on — and achieved substantial successes in — areas such as:

Economic Prosperity

Cultural Exchange

Regional Security & Stability

Philanthropy and Community Development

Sustainability and Innovation

AI and Advanced Technology

UAE Ambassador to the US

As the Emirati Ambassador in Washington, D.C., Ambassador Al Otaiba emphasizes strengthening the enduring ties between the UAE and the US. With the Ambassador’s full support, the UAE and the US have achieved significant successes in advancing trade and investment, security and stability and advanced technology and artificial intelligence (AI). Moreover, Ambassador Al Otaiba has been instrumental in ensuring the UAE’s commitment to cultural exchange with the US, sustainability and innovation and philanthropy that focuses on developing disadvantaged communities. He has spoken about his many policies and partnerships with the US at many events, conferences and briefs hosted by The Washington Institute, the US Chamber of Commerce, the Arab Gulf States Institute, Milken Institute and more.

Yousef is married to Abeer Al Otaiba, philanthropist, global investor, CEO of Otaiba Investments and founder of the luxury fashion line SemSem. The couple lives in Virginia with their two children.

Diplomatic Achievements

Economic partnerships

Ambassador Al Otaiba strongly supports deepening trade ties between the UAE and the US. In 2025, US trade with the UAE totaled $39 billion, and the UAE’s total direct investment in the US now exceeds $1.4 trillion. The UAE is also on track to invest an additional $1.4 trillion in the US over the next decade. This relationship has been highlighted in UAE Preferred, a platform that uses digital storytelling to show how the UAE’s investment in the US is helping to create jobs and drive economic prosperity for both countries.

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 has been a key driver of the UAE–U.S. AI and Technology Partnership and the UAE’s joining of the Pax Silica which 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.

Energy innovation

The UAE and US governments are building on years of strong bilateral ties to tackle energy innovation. Both countries recognize that a rapid, sustainable and well-managed energy transition is critical to enhancing global energy security and accessibility. Initiatives like the UAE 2050 Energy Goals will accelerate efforts to fund clean energy technology and support energy security and affordability.

Healthcare

Working with the Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C, Ambassador Al Otaiba has driven the UAE’s investments in innovative pediatric care. This special partnership has led to the creation of the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, the Children’s National Research & Innovation Campus and three endowed professorships in prenatal care, bioengineering and neonatal and maternal research and care, among others.

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.

Community soccer program

As a former college soccer player, Ambassador Al Otaiba knows how participating in team sports can help foster community and provide young people a safe place to stay active while developing teamwork and leadership skills. Working with local partners throughout the US, the Ambassador and the UAE Embassy in Washington, D.C., have built over a dozen all-weather soccer fields and provide free coaching for youth in underserved communities.

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.

Nuclear cooperation

One of Yousef Al Otaiba’s first major accomplishments as Ambassador was the finalization of the US-UAE 123 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.

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 earned him the Georgetown Soccer Alumni Award. He later graduated from the Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy (formerly 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-extremism and counterintelligence efforts throughout the Middle East and built strategic partnerships among 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 and community sports.

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

Current Memberships