H.E. Faisal Al Bannai

H.E. Faisal Al Bannai is an Emirati business executive who serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of EDGE Group, a cutting-edge technology and defence organisation based in the UAE focusing on autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, and cyber technologies. Al Bannai was appointed as chairman of the board of directors of EDGE Group in January 2022, after previously serving as CEO and Managing Director. In April 2024, Al Bannai was appointed as Advisor to the UAE President for Strategic Research and Advanced Technology Affairs, with the rank of Minister. Alongside his position at EDGE, Al Bannai is Secretary-General of the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC) in Abu Dhabi.

Al Bannai holds a bachelor's degree in Finance from Boston University and a master's degree in Shipping Trade and Finance from City University in the UK. Al Bannai first made his mark as the founder of Axiom Telecom, which grew into one of the Middle East's largest and most successful mobile device distributors. Prior to this, he founded DarkMatter, a global cyber security service provider, which he expanded into a US$400 million business.

Career History

• CEO and Managing Director of EDGE Group (2019–2022)
• Founder and CEO/Managing Director of DarkMatter (2014–2019)
• Founder and CEO of Axiom Telecom (1997–2015)
• Board Member of Axiom Telecom (since 2005)

By early 2025, EDGE Group reported annual revenue of approximately $5 billion, with more than 20% generated from exports. Al Bannai was included in Time's 2024 list of the '100 Most Influential People in AI'. He ranked number 20 on Forbes's Top CEOs in the Middle East 2021 list and was cited in the Arabian Business's Arab Power List for 2018, 2019, and 2021.

What H.E. Faisal Al Bannai could bring to EDGE Group Chairman: Al Bannai's strategic oversight would leverage his proven track record of scaling technology enterprises—from building Axiom Telecom into a $2.5 billion regional powerhouse to establishing DarkMatter as a $400 million cybersecurity leader. His expertise in emerging technologies, coupled with his experience navigating geopolitical security challenges and building sovereign technological capabilities, positions EDGE for accelerated export growth and innovation leadership in autonomous systems, AI-integrated defense platforms, and advanced research ecosystems across multiple continents.