Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE’s national security adviser, has become a powerful investor in artificial intelligence while overseeing a vast security and business network, according to a recent investigation. The report raises questions about what his security background could mean as AI infrastructure and data systems become more influential.
A powerful security and business portfolio
Tahnoon, a brother of UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed, oversees an economic portfolio estimated by the investigation at around $1.5 trillion. A central company in his technology ambitions is G42, which has expanded from cloud services into AI infrastructure and investment. The investigation traces connections between G42 personnel and DarkMatter, a UAE-linked cybersecurity firm associated with Project Raven, a hacking programme that reportedly targeted dissidents and critics.
Past surveillance allegations
Rights groups have accused UAE authorities of using spyware, including Pegasus, against activists and journalists. The investigation recounts cases involving Emirati rights defender Ahmed Mansoor and British academic Matthew Hedges. The UAE has denied torture allegations, while G42 rejects claims that its origins lie in cyber-espionage or that it enables unlawful surveillance.
Global partnerships and questions
G42 has attracted investment and partnerships involving major US technology companies. The investigation asks whether the concentration of AI resources in the hands of a senior security official deserves closer scrutiny. It does not establish that G42’s current AI systems are being used to target critics. Tahnoon did not respond to an interview request, and the UAE foreign ministry declined comment.
