Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba

His Excellency Yousef Al Otaiba

Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the United States of America
United States and Minister of State.

H.E. Yousef Al Otaiba is the Ambassador of the UAE to the US and Minister of State.

As the UAE's top envoy in Washington, DC, Ambassador Al Otaiba has led the UAE Embassy's efforts to build and strengthen UAE-US collaboration. Over the years, he has used his platform to speak out on international issues surrounding foreign policy, humanitarian relief, climate action and more.

The Ambassador’s time in Washington, DC has been marked by several accomplishments in fields such as security, economics, civil nuclear energy, health, education and culture. During his tenure, bilateral trade has grown significantly, making the UAE the largest export market for US goods in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region for over a decade.

Among the Ambassador’s biggest accomplishments are his involvement in the landmark 2009 US-UAE 123 Agreement and the 2020 Abraham Accords normalization pact. Following the Abraham Accords, TIME Magazine named him among the world’s 100 Most Influential People.

Roles Outside of Yousef Al Otaiba’s Ambassadorship

A positive role model for youth worldwide, the Ambassador not only serves on the AUC Board of Trustees but is also an active member of Harvard Kennedy School’s Center for Public Leadership. He is also a member of the Board of Directors for the Special Olympics, where he’s worked to develop new opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities worldwide. He was instrumental in bringing the 2019 Special Olympics games to the UAE, making this the first time the event was held in the Middle East.

His philanthropic endeavors include supporting organizations and programs that improve health, wellness and advancements in pediatric medical care, such as Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC. He also leads an initiative to build youth soccer fields and provide soccer training in underserved neighborhoods across the US.

Previous Work and Recognitions

Previously, Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba was the senior advisor and director of international affairs for the Court of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, current president of the UAE. He graduated from Cairo American College in Egypt and later attended Georgetown University and the National Defense University in Washington, DC.

Since 2008, Ambassador Al Otaiba has earned several distinguished awards including Ambassador of the Year (2010) and the Joseph E. Robert, Jr. Prize in Philanthropy (2015). He was promoted to minister of state by the Emirati government in 2017.