Throughout his career as Ambassador of the UAE, Ambassador Al Otaiba has focused on making a positive impact on UAE-US relations, strengthening bilateral security and economic cooperation, and increasing cultural understanding between the two countries.
The Ambassador's diplomatic efforts with this bilateral relationship have focused on promoting regional security, creating economic prosperity and addressing global challenges.
Regional Security and International Peace
As Emirati Ambassador, Al Otaiba has led UAE efforts to increase defense and counterterrorism cooperation with the US and other allied nations. He played a critical role in facilitating the landmark US-UAE 123 Agreement for Peaceful Civilian Nuclear Energy Cooperation in 2009.
As a major advocate for the region’s ongoing peace process, the Ambassador helped lay the groundwork for the historic Abraham Accord agreement, marking the first step towards normalization of diplomatic relations between Israel and an Arab state in over 25 years.
Trade, Culture and Innovation
The Ambassador also works closely with his counterparts in government and business to promote greater UAE and US economic, trade and commercial ties. Since his appointment, bilateral trade has increased significantly, solidifying the UAE’s position as the US’ largest trading partner in the MENA region. In March 2025, the UAE committed $1.4 trillion in investments between the US and UAE over the next ten years, highlighted as part of the UAE Preferred initiative.
He has also helped to expand UAE investments in the US, and establish partnerships with prominent US healthcare, education and cultural institutions, such as the Cleveland Clinic, New York University and the Guggenheim. The UAE has funded several advanced academic programs, including the Emirates Leadership Initiative at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, where the Ambassador currently serves as a Leadership Council member. In addition, he has strongly supported various Emirati-American partnerships, including the UAE–U.S. AI Acceleration Partnership in 2025. This partnership and others enable both countries to make new strides in developing and safeguarding advanced technology and artificial intelligence (AI).
The Ambassador also championed the UAE’s expanding role in space exploration, which includes sending two astronauts to the International Space Station and the UAE Mars Hope Probe. For his work in space diplomacy, he was honored with the Meridian International Center’s inaugural Global Leadership Award for Space Diplomacy.
Religious Tolerance and Inclusion
Ambassador Al Otaiba champions inclusion and religious tolerance worldwide. On behalf of the UAE Embassy, he supported 2019’s “Year of Tolerance” movement, which encouraged peace, respect and acceptance across all cultures and backgrounds. That same year, Ambassador Al Otaiba joined the Board of Directors for the Special Olympics and played a key role in the initiative to host the World Games in the UAE capital, the first Special Olympics Games held in the MENA region.
In February 2019, he supported Pope Francis’ three-day visit to the UAE to promote interfaith cooperation and foster peace and goodwill among the followers of the world’s religions. As the first-ever pontiff to set foot on the Arabian Peninsula, Pope Francis joined the Grand Imam of Al Azhar in signing the Human Fraternity document for World Peace and Living Together and unveiled future plans to build the now completed Abrahamic Family House in the UAE capital.
Philanthropy and Community Development
Ambassador Al Otaiba has also led the UAE’s commitment to support philanthropic activities in the US. These programs are predicated on preserving and advancing the strong relationship between the UAE and the US. He has continued to build the partnership between the UAE and Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., helping to create the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation and the Children’s National Research & Innovation Campus and sponsored three endowed professorships. His passion for sports inspired the UAE Embassy’s Community Soccer program, which has facilitated the construction of 12 all-weather soccer fields around the US to benefit kids in underserved communities.
Under the Ambassador’s leadership, the UAE Embassy also provided significant humanitarian relief throughout Washington, D.C. and across the US. Outside of his diplomatic endeavors, he and his wife, Abeer Al Otaiba, stepped forward to sponsor the Children’s National Hospital’s first drive-up COVID-19 test site and donated to local organizations delivering emergency food relief. He also provided assistance to aid in the reconstruction and recovery of US communities following natural disasters in 2011 and 2012.
Public Leadership
As a public figure and ambassador, Al Otaiba has also been a voice for positive change across the globe. As a respected voice for the Middle East community, he’s published op-eds in major publications, including CNN, The Wall Street Journal, Politico Magazine, The Washington Institute, Bloomberg, Financial Times and The New York Times, among others. His writings have covered a wide range of topics, including the importance of tolerance and inclusiveness, counterterrorism efforts in the Middle East, cultural and technological partnerships around the world, and other policy matters and diplomatic endeavors. The Ambassador has also spoken on these topics at conferences and events around the world, including with the Milken Institute.
In 2016, the Ambassador addressed NYU Abu Dhabi's graduating class and was presented with the university's Leadership Award for excellence in supporting the university and his dedication to advancing toward a responsible, just and peaceful world. Additionally, in recognition of his loyal service to the UAE and leadership in building closer ties with the US, he was honored by the National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce as Ambassador of the Year in 2010, promoted to Minister of State in 2017 and named among TIME's 100 Most Influential People of 2020.
Recently, the Middle East Institute honored his work with the launch of The Al Otaiba Fund for US-UAE Understanding, a sustained initiative to build understanding and cooperation and lifelong ties between young leaders from both countries.
Al Otaiba’s Background and Education
Before taking his current post, Al Otaiba served for eight years as the Director of International Affairs for the current UAE President, His Highness General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The focus of his portfolio during this time was to strengthen the UAE’s security and economic relations throughout the MENA region, with the US and other nations.
Ambassador Al Otaiba studied international relations at Georgetown University, after graduating from Cairo American College. He also attended the Industrial College of the US Armed Forces at the National Defense University as an International Fellow.