Board approves appointments for Secretary-General and Deputy Chairmen as council aligns global investments with national economic targets
ABU DHABI : The UAE International Investment Council has finalized its executive leadership team and established structural governance frameworks to direct Emirati capital toward key international markets, following its second board meeting in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade and Chairman of the Council, presided over the session where key executive appointments were officially approved. The restructuring completes the administrative hierarchy needed to back outward investments alongside the UAE’s broader national economic agenda.
Under the newly approved executive lineup, Abdulla Ahmed Al Suwaidi assumes the role of Secretary-General. Homaid Al Shimmari, Deputy Group CEO and Chief Corporate and Human Resources Officer at Mubadala Investment Company, steps in as First Deputy Chairman. Yusuff Ali, Chairman and Managing Director of LuLu Group, takes up the position of Second Deputy Chairman.
During the session, board members mapped out the operational distribution of responsibilities across leadership panels and working committees. Discussions focused on leveraging the United Arab Emirates’ expanding network of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs) to open commercial corridors for domestic investors.
Specific emphasis was placed on setting up execution channels and progress-tracking frameworks for cross-border investments. Council members evaluated high-priority global markets to identify immediate trade and capital deployment opportunities, establishing mechanisms for unified public-private action.
Dr. Al Zeyoudi noted that completing the senior leadership framework provides the institution with clear accountability and operational structure. He emphasized that the board’s focus remains on transitioning from overarching strategy to practical execution, linking Emirati capital to commercial projects created through CEPA deals and bilateral partnerships.
Al Suwaidi highlighted that the primary goal under the structured direction will be facilitating tangible returns for domestic companies expanding globally while safeguarding national economic interests abroad.
Founded in 2009, the UAE International Investment Council functions as the central entity linking government bodies and private enterprises to support Emirati outward foreign direct investment. The council safeguards the commercial interests of UAE-based ventures operating across more than 90 countries through intelligence sharing, policy support, and capital mobilization
