enables leaders to shape agendas, unlock opportunities, and create lasting impact.

What we do

From positioning leaders on the global stage to guiding institutions through periods of scrutiny, HAO Strategies crafts strategies and narratives that safeguard credibility and reinforce long-term influence. It advises leaders on agenda setting, coalition building, and stakeholder alignment across public and private sectors.

HAO Strategies provides value-generating access to decision-makers and investment prospects across the UAE and global capitals. Here, the full breadth of its network of strategists, seasoned business leaders, public affairs experts, legal advisors, and experts come together to identify opportunities, evaluate risks, and enable clients to pursue investments and partnerships with clarity and confidence.

HAO Strategies brings structure and authority to resolving competing interests, applying disciplined negotiation expertise to create alignment, preserve relationships, and convert conflict into opportunity. Al Otaiba’s diplomatic experience navigating complex bilateral priorities and advancing sensitive negotiations underscores the firm’s ability to approach mediation with discretion and authority.

About

HAO Strategies is a global strategic advisory and market entry facilitation firm headquartered in the UAE.

It operates at the intersection of business opportunity and strategic communications, drawing on the expertise of seasoned strategists, business and sovereign leaders, legal advisors, public affairs professionals, and academics.

It enables clients to access complex markets, make informed decisions, and forge enduring partnerships.

The model is built on bespoke teams tailored to client objectives, combining strategic foresight with executional capability.

This approach accelerates timelines, strengthens access to decision-makers, and provides the clarity and confidence required to act decisively and seize opportunities.

The company was founded by Hend Mana Al Otaiba, former Ambassador of the UAE to France and a senior leader in strategic communications across major national institutions.

Biography

Hend Al Otaiba is the Founder of HAO Strategies and a senior leader in strategic communications and global affairs. From 2019 to 2024, she served as the United Arab Emirates’ Ambassador to France, becoming the first Emirati woman to hold the post and helping to advance bilateral relations at the highest levels.

Prior to her ambassadorship, Al Otaiba established and directed national strategic communications departments and served as the UAE’s official spokesperson, representing the country’s positions on the global stage. She is recognized for her vision-driven leadership, collaborative ethos, and unwavering commitment to integrity.

Al Otaiba’s academic background centred on the study of behavioural science, complemented by postgraduate studies in communications, management, and national defense. She is known for her expertise in leadership strategy, public affairs, and statecraft. Her contributions have been recognized with the First Class Order of Zayed II, conferred by the UAE President in acknowledgment of distinguished national service, and the title of Commander of the National Order of Merit of France, awarded by President Emmanuel Macron.

Al Otaiba continues to champion cross-cultural dialogue and the empowerment of women in leadership on international platforms.