Hamad Abdulrahman AlKaabi is a PhD candidate and research scholar at the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies (CAIS) at the Australian National University (ANU). His doctoral research investigates the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) investment in artificial intelligence (AI) and the implications of emerging technologies on the country’s foreign policy, strategic autonomy, and international engagement.

His current research aims to critically examine how AI technologies are reshaping the UAE’s foreign policy priorities, with a focus on policy innovation, global partnerships, and national security.

He currently serves as Head of Political Affairs at the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Canberra, where he leads key diplomatic initiatives to advance political and strategic relations between the UAE and Australia. His work includes bilateral coordination, high-level engagement, and policy development with a particular emphasis on East Asia and technology diplomacy. 

Hamad holds a Bachelor of Arts in East Asian Studies from the University of Arizona with a minor in Middle Eastern and North African Studies and has earned multiple postgraduate qualifications. These include a Master of Business Administration from the University of Fujairah, a Postgraduate Diploma, and a Master’s in Diplomacy and International Relations from the Emirates Diplomatic Academy.