Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh: A Steady Hand Behind Abu Dhabi’s Rise

Roots in a Changing City Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh was born in 1962 in Abu Dhabi, a city that was just beginning to find its modern identity. The streets were simpler then, shaped by trade and the first waves of the oil economy. Growing up in this environment gave him an early sense of how ambition, discipline, and vision could build something lasting. Education That Opened New Doors After finishing his early schooling in Abu Dhabi, Ahmed left for the United States in the early 1980s. He enrolled at Lewis & Clark College in Oregon, where he earned a degree in economics in 1983. The years abroad were more than a classroom experience; they exposed him to new ideas about growth, governance, and how nations build strong economic foundations. First Steps in Energy On returning home, Ahmed began working with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. The energy sector was at the heart of the