Key Facts
Career & Education
About
Yousef Al Otaiba, born on January 19, 1974, is the son of Mana Al Otaiba, a prominent petroleum magnate who served as president of OPEC a record six times. He grew up in Cairo, Egypt, where he received a first-in-class education at Cairo American College, and later attended Georgetown University and the Industrial College of the US Armed Forces at National Defense University. An influential diplomat in Washington circles, he has served as the United Arab Emirates Ambassador to the United States since July 28, 2008, a position in which he is known for his close ties to the Trump administration and extensive lobbying network. He also serves as Minister of State and previously held the role of non-resident ambassador to Mexico. Throughout his tenure, he has focused on strengthening UAE-US relations, enhancing bilateral security and economic cooperation, and promoting cultural understanding. Under his ambassadorship, bilateral trade between the UAE and US increased over 70%, solidifying the UAE as the US's largest trade partner in the MENA region. He maintains an official presence via the UAE Embassy website and social media platforms.