H.E. Faisal Al Bannai occupies a rare position at the intersection of defence technology, advanced research and national innovation strategy. As Chairman of EDGE Group, one of the world’s leading advanced technology and defence organisations, and Secretary General of the Advanced Technology Research Council, he plays a central role in shaping Abu Dhabi’s knowledge economy across academia, the public sector and private enterprise.
In April 2024, he was appointed Advisor to the UAE President for Strategic Research and Advanced Technology Affairs, with the rank of Minister — a recognition of the breadth and significance of his contribution to the UAE’s technological transformation. He is also a member of the Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technology Council, reinforcing his influence over the country’s AI agenda at the highest level.
His entrepreneurial credentials are equally compelling. Al Bannai founded Axiom Telecom, which grew into the largest distributor of mobile devices in the Middle East with an annual turnover of $2.5 billion — a venture that established him as one of the region’s most consequential technology entrepreneurs long before his public sector roles.
