H.E. Yousef Al Otaiba: Trust, Consistency and the Long Game

Strong relationships between nations are built over time, through consistency, trust and a clear sense of where you are going. In his first-ever podcast appearance, H.E. Yousef Al Otaiba, United Arab Emirates  Ambassador to the United States and Minister of State, joins Brian Lott, Chief Communications Officer at Mubadala, for an episode of The Exchange from Mubadala’s New York office. Reflecting on nearly two decades as Ambassador, H.E. Al Otaiba discusses how the UAE-US relationship has evolved beyond government-to-government ties into a broader partnership spanning investment, technology, healthcare, education, culture and people-to-people connections. He shares how investments such as GlobalFoundries helped turn commercial partnerships into a bridge between countries, why the UAE’s long-term economic strategy has remained anchored to a consistent North Star, and how diversification has expanded far beyond investment into tourism, culture, healthcare and services. The conversation also explores the craft of diplomacy: why there is no finish line to building relationships, why trust and respect matter across institutions, and the leadership lessons he has learned from listening, treating people with respect and understanding different perspectives. From arriving in Washington as an 18-year-old student to helping shape one of the UAE’s most important international relationships, this episode reflects on diplomacy, leadership and what it takes to build partnerships designed to endure. **Listen to the full episode here:** 🔗 Spotify - https://tr.ee/theexchangeonspotify 🔗 Apple - https://tr.ee/theexchangeonapple 🔗 YouTube - https://tr.ee/theexchangeonYT