Yousef Al Otaiba
Profile Verified by The Marque
Last Updated: 22 Sep 2026
Minister of State
Washington, US
Profile Verified by The Marque
Last Updated: 22 Sep 2026
THE MARQUE
In Their Own Right
Biography
His Excellency Yousef Al Otaiba has served as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ambassador to the United States since 2008, leading efforts to strengthen trade, security and diplomatic cooperation between the two nations.
Under his leadership, the UAE has become the largest export market for US goods in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, supporting tens of thousands of American jobs. He played a key role in brokering the Abraham Accords, expanding regional partnerships and helping to establish the Partnership for Accelerating Clean Energy (PACE), a $100 billion UAE-US initiative focused on clean energy deployment.
Ambassador Al Otaiba continues to drive engagement on regional security, energy policy and economic cooperation. In 2025, he spoke at the World Governments Summit on public diplomacy and the UAE’s role in global problem-solving. He has also contributed to discussions on Gaza, Iran and US-UAE defense coordination, working to align policy with key regional issues.
For over four US administrations, Ambassador Al Otaiba has leveraged his role as the UAE’s most senior diplomat in Washington, DC, to advance healthcare, sustainable energy and education. His significant contributions led to his promotion to Minister of State in 2017.
Ambassador Al Otaiba is committed to philanthropy and social causes. He played a vital role in bringing the Special Olympics to the UAE in 2019, marking the first time the games were held in the Middle East. His advocacy for inclusion in sports led him to join the Special Olympics Board of Directors in 2019.
Educated at Cairo American College, Georgetown University, and the National Defense University, Ambassador Al Otaiba remains involved in technology, AI and sustainability efforts to support both the US and the UAE’s long-term growth.
The Record
Background
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2008 — Present
Ambassador of the UAE to the US
Embassy of the United Arab Emirates
Yousef Al Otaiba is the Ambassador of the UAE to the U.S. Since his appointment in 2008, Ambassador Al Otaiba has made it a priority to strengthen and broaden the alliance between the UAE and the U.S. In recognition of his efforts, he was named Ambassador of the Year by the National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce in 2010. In 2017, he was further promoted to the position of Minister of State.
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2017 — Present
Minister of State
Government of the United Arab Emirates
As Minister of State and the UAE's top diplomat in the US, the Ambassador has a unique opportunity to disseminate a forceful message of tolerance and inclusion while focusing on the shared values that bind the UAE and the US together.
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Present
Organizational Head
UAE USA United
The UAE and the United States share a vision for the future that is centered on climate action, inclusivity, gender equality, diversity, educational achievement, and the promotion of arts and culture. Inspired by Ambassador Al Otaiba’s leadership, the UAE USA United campaign was created as a joint venture between the two countries to form valuable partnerships and grow this alliance.
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Present
Non-Resident Ambassador
Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Mexico
Yousef served the UAE as the non-resident Ambassador to Mexico. A non-resident embassy is one in which the Ambassador does not live in the country to which he is accredited.
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Present
UAE Preferred
UAE Preferred is an initiative spotlighting the depth and momentum of the multi-trillion-dollar economic partnership between the UAE and the US. It highlights the newest pillar in the partnership, which involves investing in breakthrough technologies and scaling innovative businesses.
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2000 — 2008
Senior Advisor and Director of International Affairs
The Crown Prince's Court - UAE
The Crown Prince Court (CPC) was founded in 1976 with the mission of assisting HH the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi in carrying out His Highness' national and international responsibilities, as well as facilitating interaction between the Crown Prince and UAE citizens through general correspondence, hearing individual concerns and problems, and recommending solutions.
In The News
Newsfeed
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10 July 2026 · Embassy of the UAE, Washington, DC
Statement by Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba: UAE Welcomes US Decision to Advance Export Control
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18 June 2026 · PR Newswire
A Field of Their Own: Bringing the Spirit of Soccer to Conestoga Park in West Philadelphia
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6 May 2026 · Embassy of the UAE, Washington, DC
Ambassador Al Otaiba in FT: OPEC Exit Reflects UAE’s Diversified Future
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25 March 2026 · Embassy of the UAE, Washington, DC
Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba Writes for The Wall Street Journal: The UAE Stands Up to Iran
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15 January 2026 · Economy Middle East
UAE strengthens global AI leadership as ninth signatory of Pax Silica
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19 November 2025 · Embassy of the UAE, Washington, DC
Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba on U.S. Commerce Dept Authorization for Export of Semiconductors to UAE
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3 November 2025 · The National News
UAE secures Nvidia GPUs: What Microsoft's AI announcement means
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24 October 2025 · The National News
UAE ambassador hosts launch event for Teddy Roosevelt biography
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25 September 2025 · Gulf News
Mohamed Bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity announces $11m grant
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24 July 2025 · The Gulf Independent
Trump’s Revolutionary AI Action Plan Strengthens Strategic UAE Partnership Worth $1.4 Trillion
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23 July 2025 · Embassy of the UAE, Washington, DC
Statement by Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba on America's AI Action Plan
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14 June 2025 · Al Ain Club
Yousef Al Otaiba: Al Ain football club is reflecting the spirit of our nation
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4 June 2025 · Fox News
UAE AMBASSADOR YOUSEF AL OTAIBA: US and UAE forge groundbreaking high-tech partnership based on AI
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3 March 2025 · ADL
Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba Honored with ADL Abraham Award
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12 February 2025 · The National
UAE to seek common ground with Trump on Gaza, envoy says
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30 April 2024 · Bloomberg
AI’s Future Is Being Forged by the US and the UAE
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25 March 2024
U.S. is ‘most important partner’ in AI, UAE envoy Al Otaiba says
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23 November 2023 · The National News
President Sheikh Mohamed meets delegation heads at COP28
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25 July 2023 · Atlantic Council
Venture funding in the UAE: Evaluating the gender gap and the role of women-specific programs
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12 June 2023 · MSNBC
A new center in Abu Dhabi focuses on coexistence
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16 May 2023 · PR Newswire
UAE, German Embassies Co-Host Event Celebrating 2023 Special Olympics World Games
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20 April 2023 · Business Wire
Bilateral Business Councils Announce Creation of I2U2 Business Coalition
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19 April 2023 · Al-Monitor
US, India, UAE, Israel announce creation of I2U2 joint business coalition
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31 March 2023 · PR Newswire
UAE Embassy in Washington, D.C. Hosts Annual Interfaith Iftar
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14 March 2023 · Jewish Insider
The UAE teams up with the ADL to launch the Manara Center in Abu Dhabi
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10 March 2023 · The National News
Dr Sultan Al Jaber meets US climate envoy John Kerry at the White House
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17 February 2023 · PR Newswire
H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan concludes visit to U.S.
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26 December 2022 · The National News
US Remains UAE's Most Important Ally, Says Ambassador Al Otaiba in End-of-Year Statement
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17 December 2022 · The Jerusalem Post
Ambassadors Herzog and Al Otaiba Meet Governor DeSantis in Florida
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9 December 2022 · Financial Times
UAE Officials Assist Biden Administration With Securing Brittney Griner’s Release
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5 December 2022 · PR Newswire
UAE Embassy in Washington, DC Celebrates Nation’s 51st National Day
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15 June 2022 · Khaleej Times
Emirati Culture Showcased at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival
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26 May 2022 · Jewish Insider
Crotona Park Welcomes New Soccer Field Courtesy of UAE Embassy Program
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1 April 2022
Liberty University hosts ambassadors for Abraham Accords discussion
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In Frame
Gallery
Formative Years
Education
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Industrial College of the US Armed Forces at the National Defense University
International Fellows program
2000
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Georgetown University
International Relations and Affairs
1994
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Cairo American College
1991
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The Eisenhower School of National Security and Resources Strategy
Areas Of Focus