After graduating from high school in 1959, Atabay joined the Iranian Navy, where he quickly demonstrated the organization and precision that would later define his career. His diligence earned him rapid promotion to the rank of captain. Yet his ambitions extended beyond military life. In 1968, at the personal request of Mohammad Reza Shah, he transferred to the Imperial Court, becoming Director General of Technical Affairs—a position of immense responsibility, overseeing the logistics of royal events and international visits.
