I first saw him in Davos during the week of the 2025 World Economic Forum. It was at one of those overcrowded side events where the energy in the room could shift depending on who was speaking. But Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al Nuaimi wasn’t on stage—his son was.
He was in the audience, watching.
And the look on his face? Pride. A father seeing his son step forward in the world, carrying forward something bigger than legacy—purpose.
My next interaction with him wasn’t from across a room. It was on stage, face to face, where I had the chance to interview him. What struck me first wasn’t his title or his reputation. It was his presence. He had a kindness in his eyes, a gentleness in his voice, and a deep-rooted wisdom that made it feel as if a thousand ancestors were speaking through him. It was a moment in time I won’t forget.
Because Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al Nuaimi—the world knows him as The Green Sheikh—is one of those rare people who leaves an impact everywhere he goes. Not through force, not through power, but through the sheer gravity of his conviction. He is a man touched by the universe with a gift of understanding the urgency of protecting this planet we call home.
And now, he is being recognized as a Monaco 40 Over 40 laureate—not for what he owns, not for the title he holds, but for the mission he has dedicated his life to.
The Man Who Chose Green Over Gold
Born into the royal family of Ajman, the Sheikh could have easily lived a life of comfort, disconnected from the struggles of the world. Instead, he chose a different path—a path that led him through the harsh realities of environmental destruction, the weight of human suffering, and the realization that privilege is only meaningful when it is used in service of others.
With a background in petroleum and chemical engineering, a Master’s in Environmental Management, and a PhD in clean production and industrial ecosystems, his journey wasn’t about abandoning modern industry—it was about reshaping it. He understood that the world doesn’t need empty activism; it needs solutions. It needs bridge-builders, those who can speak the language of business and the language of the earth at the same time.
What makes him different is not just his credentials—it’s his belief that real change starts with people.
Through the Al Ihsan Charity, which he oversees as Executive President, he has personally supported 900 orphans and provided aid to more than 5,000 underprivileged families. His Sustainability Majlis brings together world leaders, scientists, and young activists to create real, actionable change. His Green School Initiative is not just a project but a movement, embedding environmental consciousness into the very foundation of education.
And when the world talks about climate action in theory, he does it in practice.
He has planted trees in deserts to fight land degradation, stood alongside indigenous leaders to protect rainforests, and joined explorers in the harshest environments on Earth—not for the photo op, but to understand, to learn, and to lead by example.
Why The Green Sheikh Matters More Than Ever
In a world where climate conferences turn into diplomatic performances and environmental pledges get lost in bureaucracy, the Sheikh’s approach is refreshingly simple: Act. Now.
Because he knows the cost of waiting.
He knows that while corporations debate sustainability strategies, entire ecosystems are disappearing. He knows that while governments argue over emissions targets, families are losing their homes to rising seas. He knows that while the world scrolls past climate news, species are vanishing, never to return.
And he refuses to be a bystander.
Instead, he has made it his mission to wake people up—not with fear, but with hope. Because if there’s one thing he believes in more than the urgency of the crisis, it’s the power of human beings to fix it.
The Future He’s Fighting For
When asked what drives him, he tells the story of a moment that shaped his life.
As a child, he once asked his father to teach him how to hunt with a falcon, just as generations before him had done. His father looked at him and said:
“My son, your time will be different from mine. I want you to focus on something bigger than yourself. I won’t tell you what it is, but you will find it. Because, in truth, you are the falcon.”
That lesson became his life’s purpose.
Not to hunt, but to protect. Not to take, but to give. Not to live in nostalgia for the past, but to build a future where we are not at war with the planet that sustains us.
A Leader the World Can’t Afford to Ignore
There’s a reason why the Green Sheikh is more than just a name—it’s a calling.
At a time when the world is desperate for leadership that is both visionary and human, he is proof that power and humility can coexist. That progress and sustainability are not at odds. That the voices we need most are not always the loudest, but the ones willing to do the work.
Being named a Monaco 40 Over 40 laureate is an honor. But for him, it’s not an endpoint. It’s just another step.
Because the fight for this planet is far from over.
And The Green Sheikh is still leading the charge.