Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, born 4 December 1968, serves as Chairman of G42, the UAE's leading artificial intelligence and cloud computing company. He is also the national security advisor of the United Arab Emirates since 2016 and Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi. He is part of the ruling family in Abu Dhabi and brother of UAE president Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

At the same time he manages a $1.3 trillion business portfolio, which supports national security interests. He chairs a portfolio unrivalled in scale: Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) with $1tn in assets under management, MGX's $50bn tech-focused fund, AI powerhouse G42, Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company (ADQ), and First Abu Dhabi Bank. Under his chairmanship, G42 has secured major partnerships, including a $1.5bn investment from global tech giant Microsoft in 2024 aimed at advancing G42's cutting edge AI capabilities.

In 1992, he founded First Gulf Bank. From 2009 to 2013, he was Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Presidential Aviation Authority. In March 2013 President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan appointed him as a deputy national security advisor. In 2023, Tahnoon was named chair of the $790 billion Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, the sovereign wealth fund of the United Arab Emirates.

Career History

• National Security Advisor, UAE (2016–present)
• Deputy National Security Advisor (2013–2016)
• Chairman, Presidential Aviation Authority (2009–2013)
• Founder, First Gulf Bank (1992)

What Sheikh Tahnoon could bring to his role as Chairman of G42: With his unprecedented control of $1.3 trillion in assets, deep national security expertise since 2016, and direct access to the UAE's highest leadership, Sheikh Tahnoon is uniquely positioned to integrate G42 into both UAE strategic priorities and global AI infrastructure initiatives. His successful track record directing sovereign wealth funds and securing major international tech partnerships—notably the $1.5 billion Microsoft investment—demonstrates his ability to attract elite global capital to UAE-based AI ventures while maintaining strategic alignment with national interests.