The U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council hosted a business roundtable luncheon on January 15th 2020 in New York City in honor of U.A.E. Consul General in New York, His Excellency Abdalla Shaheen. The luncheon was held in the New York City offices of The Carlyle Group, a leading global investment firm. Mr. Wael Bayazid, Managing Director of Investor Relations at the Carlyle Group welcomed attendees to the event.

Consul General Shaheen engaged with 30 leaders from New York City’s business community who discussed their companies perspectives and interests in the U.A.E.

Consul General Shaheen also discussed potential partnership opportunities between New York and the U.A.E., as well as Expo 2020 Dubai, and the business climate in the U.A.E. The Consul General expanded on the strong economic ties between the U.A.E. and New York, noting the state exported $1.8 billion worth of goods and services to the U.A.E. in 2018. This number is expected to have risen in 2019 when final bilateral trade numbers are reported later in the first quarter this year.

Pictured from L to R: Mr. Danny Sebright, President, U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council; H.E. Abdalla Shaheen, U.A.E. Consul General in New York; Mr. Wael Bayazid, Managing Director of Investor Relations, The Carlyle Group; Mr. Brian Bernasek, Managing Director and Head of the Global Industrial & Transportation team, The Carlyle Group.

During the event, Consul General Shaheen stated, “following the successful visit of a delegation from New York State to the U.A.E. in October 2019, I look forward to expanding and intensifying outreach to businesses in New York and other states within my Consular District.”

Attendees also engaged in a question and answer session with Consul General Shaheen to learn more about recent business developments in the U.A.E. and His Excellency’s focus for 2020.

U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council President Danny Sebright concluded the luncheon by thanking His Excellency Shaheen, the Carlyle Group, and the business community for joining the event and stressed the critical role U.A.E. Consul Generals in the United States play in bolstering the bilateral relationship.