Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan (national security advisor)
{{short description|Emirati national security advisor}}
{{Redirect|TbZ|other uses of the initials TBZ|TBZ (disambiguation){{!}}TBZ}}
{{Family name hatnote|lang=Arabic|Al Nahyan}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix = His Highness Sheikh
| name = Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan
| image = Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan - 2025 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Sheikh Tahnoun in 2025
| native_name_lang = Arabic
| native_name = طحنون بن زايد آل نهيان
| spouse = {{marriage|Khawla bint Ahmed bin Khalifa Al Suwaidi|1997}}
Latifa bint Jamhour Al Qubaisi
| children = 2
| birth_name = Tahnoun bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan
|office = Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi
|term_start = 29 March 2023
|term_end =
| monarch = Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
| predecessor =
| successor =
| alongside = Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan
|office1 = National Security Advisor of UAE
|president1 = Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
|term_start1 = 14 February 2016
|term_end1 =
|predecessor1 =Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan
|successor1 =
| father = Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan
| mother = Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1968|12|04|df=y}}
| birth_place = United Arab Emirates
| occupation = {{unbulleted list |Chairman of G42 |Chairman of MGX|Chairman of International Holding Company}}
| module =
}}
Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan (born 4 December 1968){{cite news|title=Good brother and bad brother: how the Al-Nahyan dynasty hides its true face|url=https://dctransparency.com/good-brother-and-bad-brother-how-the-al-nahyan-dynasty-hides-its-true-face/|access-date=9 November 2022 |work=Democracy Center for Transparency}} is an Emirati politician and the National Security Advisor of United Arab Emirates since 2016. At the same time he manages a business portfolio, which supports national security interests and the UAE's opaque corporate sector. He chairs G42 and MGX.{{Cite news |last1=Mazzetti |first1=Mark |last2=Wong |first2=Edward |date=2023-11-27 |title=Inside U.S. Efforts to Untangle an A.I. Giant's Ties to China |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/27/us/politics/ai-us-uae-china-security-g42.html |access-date=2023-11-27 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=27 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231127165304/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/27/us/politics/ai-us-uae-china-security-g42.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite magazine |last=Van Zyl |first=Gareth |date=15 March 2024 |title=Abu Dhabi's MGX eyes investment in OpenAI chip venture — FT |url=https://gulfbusiness.com/abu-dhabi-openai-mgx-chip/ |magazine=Gulf Business}}
He is part of the ruling family in Abu Dhabi, brother of UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Tahnoun has been involved in numerous controversies, from violating EU sanctions against Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, spying on political opponents in Project Raven, deals to re-sell Russia's Sputnik vaccine to poor countries at substantial mark-ups, orchestrating the Qatargate bribery case, and a smear campaign against Qatar and the Muslim Brotherhood, as revealed 2023 in the Abu Dhabi Secrets.
Following the succession of Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as the ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Tahnoun was speculated by media to be a possible choice for the position of Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.{{cite news|title=A Spymaster Sheikh Controls a $1.5 Trillion Fortune. He Wants to Use It to Dominate AI |url=https://www.wired.com/story/uae-intelligence-chief-ai-money/ |newspaper=The Wired |date=14 January 2025}}{{cite news|title=The 'Spy Sheikh' Taking the AI World by Storm |url=https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/abu-dhabi-spy-sheikh-ai-c4a9d48c |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=26 February 2025}}
Early life and education
Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan was born to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi.{{Cite web |title=GWU |url=https://gwu.ae/hh_resume/?lan=ar |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=gwu.ae}}
He has five brothers: Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President and Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE's foreign minister. Tahnoon was educated in part at Hurtwood House in Holmbury St Mary, UK, from 1975 to 1977.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}
Career
In 1992, he founded First Gulf Bank.{{Cite web |url=https://www.ft.com/content/ce09911b-041d-4651-9bbb-d2a16d39ede7 |title=The Abu Dhabi royal at the nexus of UAE business and national security |access-date=19 July 2021 |archive-date=25 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230925002326/https://www.ft.com/content/ce09911b-041d-4651-9bbb-d2a16d39ede7 |url-status=live }}
From 2009 to 2013, he was Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Presidential Aviation Authority. In March 2013 President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan appointed him as a deputy national security advisor.{{Cite web |date=nd |title=President names Tahnoun bin Zayed as National Security Advisor |url=https://uaecabinet.ae/en/details/news/president-names-tahnoun-bin-zayed-as-national-security-advisor |access-date=2023-08-02 |website=uaecabinet.ae}}{{Cite web |date=2013-03-19 |title=President appoints Tahnoun bin Zayed as Deputy National Security Adviser |url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/government/president-appoints-tahnoun-bin-zayed-as-deputy-national-security-adviser |access-date=5 January 2020 |website=Khaleej Times |archive-date=1 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701122905/https://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/government/president-appoints-tahnoun-bin-zayed-as-deputy-national-security-adviser |url-status=live }}
In February 2016 he was appointed as national security advisor.{{Cite web|last1=England|first1=Andrew|last2=Kerr|first2=Simeon|date=25 January 2021|title=The Abu Dhabi royal at the nexus of UAE business and national security|url=https://www.ft.com/content/ce09911b-041d-4651-9bbb-d2a16d39ede7|access-date=19 July 2021|website=www.ft.com|archive-date=25 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230925002326/https://www.ft.com/content/ce09911b-041d-4651-9bbb-d2a16d39ede7|url-status=live}} On 18 August 2020 Sheikh Tahnoun received Yossi Cohen, the Head of Israeli Intelligence Agency, Mossad after the UAE–Israel peace accord.{{cite web|url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/abu-dhabi/UAEs-National-Security-Advisor-receives-Head-of-Mossad-1|title=UAE's National Security Advisor receives Head of Mossad|access-date=18 August 2020|work=Khaleej Times}}
As of 2021, Tahnoun was chairman of Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company (ADQ), a state holding company worth $110 billion,{{Cite web |date=2021-10-02 |title=Power Players - Tahnoon bin Zayed |url=https://www.icij.org/investigations/pandora-papers/power-players/ |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=ICIJ |language=en-US |archive-date=4 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211004065628/https://www.icij.org/investigations/pandora-papers/power-players/ |url-status=live }} First Abu Dhabi Bank, the UAE's largest lender, Royal Group (a conglomerate) and International Holding Company. He chairs G42, an artificial intelligence company founded 2018.
In 2023, Tahnoun's IHC established an investment unit, Lunate, which took over the management of G42's China-focused fund, 42X Fund. Lunate formed a small team of more than 160 people, and was overseen by TbZ. However, the fund became questionable due to G42's assurance to the US that it will divest from China.{{cite news|title=Abu Dhabi Investment Firm Lunate Takes On AI Firm G42's China Fund|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-08/abu-dhabi-investment-firm-lunate-takes-on-ai-firm-g42-s-china-fund |access-date=8 July 2024 |work=Bloomberg}}{{cite news|title=Abu Dhabi's Lunate Weighs Raising $5 Billion to Hunt for Deals|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-03/abu-dhabi-s-lunate-weighs-raising-5-billion-to-hunt-for-deals|access-date=3 July 2024|work=Bloomberg|archive-date=7 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240907125624/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-03/abu-dhabi-s-lunate-weighs-raising-5-billion-to-hunt-for-deals|url-status=live}}
Personal life
Tahnoun is married to Khawla Ahmed Khalifa Alsuwaidi, a poet and master calligrapher. Like her husband she uses shell companies to own real estate in affluent parts of London.{{Cite news |last=ICIJ |date=2021-10-03 |title=United Arab Emirates National Security Adviser Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan.The most expansive leak of tax haven files in history reveals the secret offshore holdings of some of the most powerful political figures in the world. |language=en |url=https://projects.icij.org/investigations/pandora-papers/power-players/ |access-date=2023-07-25 |archive-date=23 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123105849/https://projects.icij.org/investigations/pandora-papers/power-players/ |url-status=live }}
He has two children, Sheikha Fatima{{Cite web |date=2020-10-28 |title=UAE leaders congratulate Mohammed Bin Sultan Bin Khalifa on his wedding |url=https://www.gulftoday.ae/news/2020/10/28/uae-leaders-congratulate-mohammed-bin-sultan-bin-khalifa-on-his-wedding |access-date=2023-08-02 |website=www.gulftoday.ae |archive-date=19 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230219134342/https://www.gulftoday.ae/news/2020/10/28/uae-leaders-congratulate-mohammed-bin-sultan-bin-khalifa-on-his-wedding |url-status=live }} and Sheikh Zayed.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}
Tahnoun is a practitioner and patron of martial arts, especially Brazilian jiu-jitsu.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bjjee.com/articles/the-black-belt-sheikh-the-incredible-journey-of-tahnoon-the-godfather-of-jiu-jitsu/|title=The Black Belt Sheikh: The Incredible Journey of Tahnoon the Godfather of Jiu-Jitsu|last=BJJEE|date=4 September 2019|website=Bjj Eastern Europe|language=en-US|access-date=5 January 2020}}{{Dead link|date=January 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} In 1998, he created the ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship alongside his BJJ instructor Nelson Monteiro.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/mma/post/_/id/959/prince-of-a-guy-qatari-royalty-to-fight|title=Prince of a guy: Qatari royalty to fight|work=ESPN.com|date=27 May 2009|access-date=17 July 2024|archive-date=9 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230309045225/https://www.espn.com/blog/mma/post/_/id/959/prince-of-a-guy-qatari-royalty-to-fight|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://adcombat.com/abu-dhabi-combat-club|title=Abu Dhabi Combat Club|work=adcombat.com|access-date=13 September 2022|archive-date=20 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020114823/http://www.adcombat.com/abu-dhabi-combat-club|url-status=live}}
Controversies
=Violation of EU sanctions against Assad =
In August 2020, The Wall Street Journal reported about the Donald Trump administration of imposing sanctions against the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, targeting financial-support networks aiding the President from outside the country, to coerce Damascus into peace talks. According to financial records reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, Sheikh Tahnoun deposited about $200,000 into the bank accounts held by the niece of Syrian President Assad, Aniseh Shawkat, over a period of several years as her sponsor. The UK authorities seized several of these bank accounts in 2019, claiming that hundreds of thousands of dollars deposited into her accounts helped circumvent European Union’s sanctions against the Syrian government funds. Sheikh Tahnoun, Aniseh Shawkat and her attorney Zubair Ahmad did not respond when reached out for comment.{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-administration-eyes-new-phase-of-syria-sanctions-11597570216|title=Trump Administration Eyes New Phase of Syria Sanctions|access-date=16 August 2020|website=The Wall Street Journal|date=16 August 2020|archive-date=2 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102225119/https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-administration-eyes-new-phase-of-syria-sanctions-11597570216|url-status=live}}
=Project Raven=
The Central Intelligence Agency of the United States was condemned for spying on all nations in the Arab world and Middle East region, except the UAE, despite the Gulf nation having hired former CIA officials for its Project Raven to spy on political targets, including several Americans in 2014. Sheikh Tahnoun was the Deputy National Security Advisor of UAE at the time.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-spying-raven/index.html|title=Inside the UAE's secret hacking team of American mercenaries|access-date=30 January 2019|website=Reuters|archive-date=31 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190131190124/https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-spying-raven/index.html|url-status=live}}
Multiple ex-CIA officials told Reuters that the agency does not gather "human intelligence" from the UAE informant because it shares common enemies with the United States. Retired CIA official "Norman Roule" defended the US for not spying on the Emirates, stating that the actions committed by Abu Dhabi have "contributed to the war on terror, particularly against al-Queda [Qaeda] in Yemen."{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-emirates-spying-insight/why-the-cia-doesnt-spy-on-the-uae-idUSKCN1VG0V3|title=Why the CIA doesn't spy on the UAE|access-date=26 August 2019|website=Reuters|date=26 August 2019|archive-date=26 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190826115554/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-emirates-spying-insight/why-the-cia-doesnt-spy-on-the-uae-idUSKCN1VG0V3|url-status=live}}
=Re-selling COVID-19 vaccines=
Sheik Tahnoun runs the Royal Group, which is a UAE conglomerate.{{Cite web|last=Sauer|first=Pjotr|date=2021-07-09|title=A Royal Mark Up: How an Emirati Sheikh Resells Millions of Russian Vaccines to the Developing World|url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2021/07/09/a-royal-mark-up-how-an-emirati-sheikh-resells-millions-of-russian-vaccines-to-the-developing-world-a74461|access-date=2021-07-19|website=The Moscow Times|language=en|archive-date=10 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710091447/https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2021/07/09/a-royal-mark-up-how-an-emirati-sheikh-resells-millions-of-russian-vaccines-to-the-developing-world-a74461|url-status=live}} In 2021, the company was involved in controversial deals to re-sell Russia's Sputnik vaccine to poor countries at substantial mark-ups.
=Pandora Papers=
In October 2021, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists released the Pandora Papers based on over 11.9 million documents, which mentioned the name of Tahnoun bin Zayed, alongside Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan.{{cite web|url=https://www.icij.org/investigations/pandora-papers/pandora-papers-reveal-emirati-royal-families-role-in-secret-money-flows/|title=Pandora Papers reveal Emirati royal families' role in secret money flows|access-date=16 November 2021|website=International Consortium of Investigative Journalists|date=16 November 2021|archive-date=5 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220305211612/https://www.icij.org/investigations/pandora-papers/pandora-papers-reveal-emirati-royal-families-role-in-secret-money-flows/|url-status=live}}
=Qatargate scandal=
In December 2022, Qatar denied its involvement in the Qatargate bribery case and accused the UAE of orchestrating the scandal. According to European Union correspondent Jack Parrock Qatari government officials believe that the scandal against Qatar has been planned by the UAE.{{cite web|url=https://emiratesleaks.com/2022/12/revealed-uae-involved-in-the-so-called-qatar-corruption-scandal-in-the-eu/?lang=en|title=Revealed: UAE involved in the so-called Qatar corruption scandal in the EU|access-date=14 December 2022|website=Emirati Leaks|archive-date=2 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102225119/https://emiratesleaks.com/2022/12/revealed-uae-involved-in-the-so-called-qatar-corruption-scandal-in-the-eu/?lang=en|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/jackeparrock/status/1602966494450778113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1602966494450778113%7Ctwgr%5E71338b860ab0a20b13fb98e048c8dd3ee954681f%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Femiratesleaks.com%2F2022%2F12%2Frevealed-uae-involved-in-the-so-called-qatar-corruption-scandal-in-the-eu%2F%3Flang%3Den|title=Tweet by Jack Parrock|access-date=14 December 2022|website=Twitter}} The Italian news site Dagospia alleged that it was Tahnoun who executed the scandal against Qatar and provided tips to Belgium, which opened the investigation.{{cite web|url=https://m.dagospia.com/la-strategia-degli-emiri-per-il-qatargate-negare-tutto-e-urlare-al-complotto-336537|title=Tahnoun bin Zayed spilled everything to Belgium|access-date=21 December 2022|website=Dagospia|date=21 December 2022|archive-date=2 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102225119/https://m.dagospia.com/la-strategia-degli-emiri-per-il-qatargate-negare-tutto-e-urlare-al-complotto-336537|url-status=live}}
= Abu Dhabi Secrets =
In 2023, an investigation, termed Abu Dhabi Secrets, was released. The investigation revealed that Mario Brero provided the UAE with a list of over 1,000 individuals and 400 organizations in Europe, including over 200 individuals and 120 organizations in France, who were falsely linked to radical Islam. According to The New Yorker, Sheikh Tahnoun Bin Zayed was involved in the smear campaign against Qatar and the Muslim Brotherhood as well.{{cite magazine |date=27 March 2023 |title=The Dirty Secrets of a Smear Campaign |magazine=The New Yorker |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/04/03/the-dirty-secrets-of-a-smear-campaign |last1=Kirkpatrick |first1=David D. |access-date=25 July 2023 |archive-date=2 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102225119/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/04/03/the-dirty-secrets-of-a-smear-campaign |url-status=live }}
= Dealings with gold smugglers =
A unit of Sheikh Tahnoun's IHC, International Resources Holding (IRH) acquired Zambia's Mopani copper mine under its chief global strategist, Sibtein Alibhai. Following that deal, IRH started looking for mining deals in Africa and other places aggressively. The United Nations investigators alleged that Alibhai and IRH approached and had meetings with several gold smugglers from Democratic Republic of Congo. The Congo government said most of the smuggled gold ends up in the UAE.{{cite news|title=IRH Mining Dealmaker Has Met With Congo Gold Smugglers, UN Says|url=https://origin.www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-10/irh-mining-dealmaker-has-met-with-congo-gold-smugglers-un-says|access-date=10 July 2024|work=Bloomberg|archive-date=29 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240729063722/https://origin.www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-10/irh-mining-dealmaker-has-met-with-congo-gold-smugglers-un-says|url-status=live}}
= 2025 Washington visit =
File:Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan with Donald Trump - 2025.jpg on 18 March 2025]]
On 18 March 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan for a banquet dinner at the White House. Discussions focused on strengthening economic and technological ties, with a major emphasis on artificial intelligence, a key priority for Sheikh Tahnoun. Analysts noted that more sensitive topics were also addressed. Leaked reports revealed that during closed-door meetings, Sheikh Tahnoun sought Trump’s support on several fronts: shielding the UAE from potential international sanctions and an ICJ investigation into its alleged support for the RSF militia in Sudan; backing Israel’s airstrikes in Syria aimed at regional destabilization; and facilitating plans to transform Gaza into an Emirati-controlled economic zone under the guise of reconstruction.{{cite news|title=The UAE's Trump Tech Charm Offensive|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/03/20/uae-sheikh-tahnoon-meeting-trump-artificial-intelligence-ai-china/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250322234506/https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/03/20/uae-sheikh-tahnoon-meeting-trump-artificial-intelligence-ai-china/ |archive-date=22 March 2025|website=Foreign Policy |date=20 March 2025}}{{cite news|title=UAE's Secret Washington Talks: Tahnoun bin Zayed Negotiates High-Stakes Deals on Sudan, Syria, and Gaza|url=https://www.watanserb.com/en/2025/03/17/uaes-secret-washington-talks-tahnoun-bin-zayed-negotiates-high-stakes-deals-on-sudan-syria-and-gaza/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250319094802/https://www.watanserb.com/en/2025/03/17/uaes-secret-washington-talks-tahnoun-bin-zayed-negotiates-high-stakes-deals-on-sudan-syria-and-gaza/ |archive-date=19 March 2025|website=Watan |date=17 March 2025}}
= Campaign against Nasser Al-Khelaifi =
The Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company (ADQ), which is chaired by Sheikh Tahnoun, was speculated as responsible for the campaign against Nasser Al-Khelaifi and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). The campaign was initiated by Complément d'enquête and amplified by networks like the French sport streaming service, RMC Sports. Majorly involved in pushing the agenda, RMC Sports is a subsidiary of Altice France, which is owned by Patrick Drahi. The French-Israeli billionaire maintains connection with the UAE through ADQ.{{cite news|title=GCC Geopolitical Rivalry Finds Battleground in France |url=https://thediplomaticinsight.com/gcc-geopolitical-rivalry-finds-battleground-in-france/}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nahyan, Tahnoun Zayed Sultan}}
Category:Children of presidents of the United Arab Emirates
Category:People awarded a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu