UAE's Top Diplomat Bridges Finance, Energy, and Regional Ties Across Asia-Pacific

Saeed Bin Mubarak Al Hajeri has spent decades moving between the worlds of sovereign finance, energy infrastructure, and diplomatic representation, and his current portfolio reflects exactly that range. As Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he shapes the UAE’s bilateral relationships across the Asia-Pacific region while advancing the country’s broader economic interests on the world stage.

His international responsibilities carry real weight. Al Hajeri serves as the UAE’s Sherpa to the BRICS Group and holds the position of Special Envoy for Economic Affairs to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, two roles that place him at the intersection of emerging-market diplomacy and regional economic development.

Since June 2025, he has also chaired the Emirates Drug Establishment, positioning himself at the center of efforts to strengthen the UAE’s pharmaceutical sector. The appointment adds to a leadership presence already embedded across multiple pillars of the Emirati economy.

That presence was built over years of hands-on governance. Al Hajeri served as Executive Director and Board Member of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds. He previously chaired Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, the nation’s second-largest bank by assets, and led Abu Dhabi National Energy Company, a critical player in the region’s energy infrastructure. His reach extended further still, with roles as Chairman of Salama Islamic Arab Insurance Company, Board Member of Emirates Telecommunication Corporation, and Vice Chairman of Abu Dhabi Investment Company.

Meanwhile, his engagement with education and institutional development has run parallel to his corporate career. Al Hajeri sits on the boards of Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi and INSEAD Abu Dhabi, two of the region’s most prominent higher education institutions, and serves with AlephYa Education. He is a Board Member of Zayed University and the Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination, and holds membership on the Board of Governors of the CFA Institute, a signal of his commitment to professional standards in finance and governance.

The World Economic Forum recognized that combination of breadth and impact in 2007, naming him one of its Young Global Leaders and placing him among the top 250 global figures identified for their potential at that time.

His academic foundation was laid at Lewis & Clark College, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, later supplemented by the Executive Education Program at Harvard Business School.

As the UAE deepens its engagement with emerging markets and regional partners, the question is how Al Hajeri’s accumulated experience across finance, energy, insurance, and diplomacy will be brought to bear on the country’s next phase of economic outreach.