Ayesha Al Ateeqi serves as the Executive Director of the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative. Established in 2024, the Initiative is part of the UAE’s efforts to address global water scarcity, working towards promoting accessible, affordable and sustainable water for all.  It focuses on raising awareness of water scarcity to elevate its prioritization on the global agenda, the development and application of breakthrough technologies, and deploying solutions to water-stressed communities.

Ayesha served as a senior member at the Economic and Energy Affairs Unit at the Executive Affairs Authority, a specialized government agency mandated to provide strategic policy advice to His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates. Prior to leading the Initiative, for 14 years Ayesha provided independent research, advisory and project management support to the Chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority on matters related to domestic and international economic and energy policy. Prior to this role, Ayesha worked within the sustainability space in the UAE, where she built her career.

Ayesha holds a master’s degree in strategic and security studies from the UAE National Defence College, an MBA in global leadership from UAE University, and a bachelor of education from the Higher Colleges of Technology, UAE.