Dr. Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi

Dr. Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi was appointed Undersecretary of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi in October 2026 by Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The appointment represents a transition from his prominent role in Abu Dhabi's private leisure and entertainment sector.

Al Zaabi joined Miral Group in 2015 as Group Chief Executive Officer, where he oversaw the management and business strategy of Miral's expanding portfolio on Yas Island Abu Dhabi. Under his leadership, Miral invested over AED 9.2 billion (USD $2.5 billion) into multiple projects on Yas Island and in Abu Dhabi, forging partnerships with world-class leisure and entertainment brands including SeaWorld Entertainment Inc and Warner Bros. By 2023, Yas Island recorded 34 million visits, reflecting 38% growth from 2022, and in May 2025, Miral announced a Disney theme park and resort on Yas Island—the seventh of its kind worldwide.

Al Zaabi holds an Executive MBA from INSEAD and an MSc in Strategic Project Planning from Heriot-Watt University, United Kingdom, and earned a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from UAE University. He was the first Emirati to receive the Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) certificate. Before joining Miral in 2015, Al Zaabi joined Aldar Properties PJSC in 2008, working across business units including Head of Integrated Technologies, Director of Estates, and Director of Strategic Investments. Prior to Aldar, he served as Head of Integrated Technologies at a subsidiary of Emirates Advanced Investment following his military service.

Career history

• Undersecretary, Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (2026–present)
• Group CEO, Miral Group (2015–2026)
• Director of Strategic Investments, Aldar Properties PJSC (2008–2015)
• Head of Integrated Technologies, Emirates Advanced Investment subsidiary

What Dr. Al Zaabi could bring to the Undersecretary role at DCT Abu Dhabi: Eleven years of executive experience transforming Yas Island from concept into a globally competitive tourism destination with award-winning attractions, deep relationships with international entertainment and hospitality brands (Ferrari, Disney, Warner Bros., SeaWorld), proven track record of delivering multi-billion dirham development portfolios, and demonstrated expertise in destination management strategy and visitor experience optimization—positioning him to strengthen DCT Abu Dhabi's leadership across strategic planning and sectoral growth aligned with Abu Dhabi Tourism Strategy 2030.