Mr. Al Suwaidi graduated with a degree in Petroleum Engineering in 1981 in the USA.

After graduation, he rapidly moved up through the ranks of ADNOC, the national oil company of Abu Dhabi, until he became the Director of Exploration and Production. He then went on to have numerous concurrent directorship in other ADNOC subsidiaries: ADMA, ADCO, ZADCO and ADGAS.

The Chairmanship of ADPPOC, ADDCAP and National Drilling company revealed and developed his entrepreneurial potential until he left ADNOC in 1999. He acquired ESSAR Drilling in 2002; which later became Dalma Drilling and sold to an IPO: Aabar Petroleum, launched by him in 2005.

He is also currently chairman of Al Maha Petroleum in Oman, Colombo Shipyard in Sri Lanka, Gulf Marine Services, Control & Application Emirates, and Horizon Energy in Abu Dhabi. He also holds directorships in the Abu Dhabi Investment Development Company (Marina Mall) and Noor Capital (Abu Dhabi).