Abeer Shoukry-Al Otaiba
Founder & CEO
As the Founder & CEO of Al Otaiba Investments, Abeer Shoukry-Al Otaiba is on a mission to invest in people and ideas that are for the greater good of humanity.
Through this business endeavor, Abeer collaborates with some of the world’s most talented innovators to help drive global solutions to global problems. As a female entrepreneur, women’s rights activist and philanthropist, she is shattering gender stereotypes and showing young women around the world that they too can be the change they want to see in the world.
From the Mediterranean coast to France and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Abeer grew up under a unique set of experiences that have shaped her into the woman she is today. Her career in civil engineering began with Orascom Telecom in Egypt and later led her to work in Dubai. It was here that she met her husband, Yousef Al Otaiba, the current UAE Ambassador to the United States and Minister of State for the Emirates.
After several years in engineering, Abeer found herself deeply inspired by motherhood and launched her luxury fashion brand, SemSem, in 2015. Strongly influenced by her Arab roots, the SemSem clothing line is entirely hand-made and dedicated to female empowerment and development. As a women’s rights advocate, Abeer pairs SemSem with a different nonprofit organization every season to improve the welfare of disadvantaged women and children from all over the world.
Outside of her personal business ventures, Abeer has made a name for herself in the philanthropic world. Through these efforts, she has advocated for critical issues such as gender equality, health, literacy, education and human rights.
In terms of pediatric care, she has partnered with her husband to support several causes with the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC. She also serves as the Honorary Chair of the Board of Directors for the Hope for Henry Foundation. Here, she supports pediatric patients and their families through innovative programs that entertain, reduce stress and promote top-quality hospital care.
With a life-long passion for the arts, Abeer also spends a great deal of time supporting creative & cultural organizations in Washington, DC. This includes the Meridian International Center, the Kennedy Center, the National Museum of Women in the Arts, the Washington Ballet and the National Portrait Gallery.
Outside of the local area, she also has deep connections with the Special Olympics and the Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases.
