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National Security Advisor & Chairman, G42
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Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan (born December 4, 1968) is a prominent Emirati statesman, member of the Abu Dhabi royal family, and a central figure in the United Arab Emirates’ political and economic landscape. As the son of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE, and Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi, he belongs to the Al Nahyan ruling family. He is a brother of the UAE President, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Sheikh Tahnoon’s career has been defined by his dual influence in national security and economic strategy. He entered the security apparatus in the early 2000s, building on the leadership principles instilled by his father. His formal entry into high-level government service began on March 19, 2013, when he was appointed Deputy National Security Advisor. On February 17, 2016, he was appointed National Security Advisor, a position in which he has overseen the UAE’s intelligence, regional security, and foreign policy interests. In this capacity, he played a pivotal role in critical geopolitical developments, including the negotiations surrounding the 2020 Abraham Accords and the management of regional security relations with global powers. Beyond his security portfolio, Sheikh Tahnoon is widely recognized for his role as one of the primary architects of the UAE’s economic diversification and technological modernization. He holds chairmanship roles at several of the world’s most significant financial and industrial institutions. He is the Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), one of the world's largest sovereign wealth funds. His portfolio also includes the chairmanship of the Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company (ADQ), First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), the International Holding Company (IHC), and the artificial intelligence conglomerate G42. Under his leadership, these entities have played an essential role in positioning the UAE as a global hub for artificial intelligence, advanced technology, and high-stakes international investment. In March 2023, his political standing was further elevated when he was named Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi. Sheikh Tahnoon is noted for his personal interests, which have also left an imprint on Emirati culture and sports. He is a prominent practitioner and proponent of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, having founded the Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) and the ADCC World Submission Fighting Championships, which have made Abu Dhabi a global center for the sport. Known for a pragmatic and analytical approach to governance and business, he is often described by observers as a "technocrat" of the ruling family, focused on securing the UAE's long-term prosperity through technological advancement and institutional development. His multifaceted roles—spanning from intelligence to the management of trillions in assets—place him at the intersection of the UAE's foreign policy and its transition into a post-oil, innovation-led economy.
AI-powered civic intelligence rating
Chairman of G42, successfully securing a monumental, US-backed $1.5 billion investment from Microsoft, firmly aligning the UAE's AI infrastructure with the American ecosystem
Controls a sprawling sovereign wealth portfolio estimated to exceed $1.5 Trillion, directing the ADQ, ADIA, and First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB)
Orchestrated the UAE's highly complex foreign policy, maintaining deep, lucrative trade relations with Russia and India while securing advanced military and tech partnerships with the United States
Under intense, ongoing scrutiny from US Congressional committees regarding G42's historical, deeply embedded ties to Chinese state-linked firms and the potential leakage of advanced US semiconductor technology to Beijing
His unprecedented concentration of both national security and economic power frequently blurs the line between state assets and the private wealth of the Al Nahyan royal family, sparking concerns over monopolistic corporate governance in the Gulf
Implicated in orchestrating highly aggressive regional proxy conflicts and surveillance operations, particularly regarding the UAE's involvement in the Libyan and Sudanese civil wars
Played a highly classified, critical role in negotiating the historic 2020 Abraham Accords with Israel
Founded First Gulf Bank in 1992.
Established the Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) in 1998, pioneering the growth of submission fighting and Brazilian jiu-jitsu in the UAE.
Appointed as a member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council in 2004.
Served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Presidential Aviation Authority from 2009 to 2013.
Appointed Deputy National Security Advisor of the UAE on March 19, 2013.
Appointed as National Security Advisor of the UAE on February 17, 2016.
Became Chairman of the newly formed First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) in 2017, following the merger of First Gulf Bank and National Bank of Abu Dhabi.
Assumed the role of Chairman of the International Holding Company (IHC) in 2020.
Became Chairman of the artificial intelligence and cloud computing company G42 in 2021.
Appointed Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi in March 2023.
Appointed Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) in March 2023.
Included in TIME magazine's 2025 list of the 100 most influential figures in artificial intelligence.
Since 2016, Sheikh Tahnoon has been linked to 'Project Raven,' a UAE-led surveillance operation that utilized former U.S. intelligence operatives to monitor journalists, activists, and foreign government officials, including the targeting of Emirati human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor.
In 2023 and 2024, G42, the AI firm chaired by Sheikh Tahnoon, faced intense scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers and intelligence agencies due to its extensive technological and commercial ties with blacklisted Chinese entities such as Huawei, raising concerns about potential technology transfers and national security risks.
In 2021, the Pandora Papers revealed that Sheikh Tahnoon utilized offshore shell companies in the British Virgin Islands to hold significant assets, raising questions regarding financial transparency and the use of offshore entities by high-ranking officials.
Reports from 2020 suggested that Sheikh Tahnoon deposited funds into bank accounts linked to Aniseh Shawkat, the niece of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, leading to allegations of potential violations of international sanctions imposed on the Syrian regime.
In 2025, Sheikh Tahnoon faced an ethics and diplomatic scandal in the United States involving a $500 million investment by his firm in a cryptocurrency venture linked to the Trump family, with reports identifying him as a key figure in influencing U.S. tech and foreign policy.
Following the 2016 Thomas Barrack indictment in the U.S., Sheikh Tahnoon was identified as one of the 'high-level Emirati' officials involved in a lobbying campaign to covertly sway U.S. foreign policy toward the UAE during the 2016 presidential transition.
In 2025, reports surfaced alleging that in 2022, G42—under Sheikh Tahnoon's chairmanship—may have facilitated the transfer of sensitive flight software technology to the Chinese firm Huawei, which was purportedly used to enhance People's Liberation Army missile systems, though the report remains a subject of ongoing concern.
