On April 6th, the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council hosted His Excellency Yousef Al Otaiba, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the United States of America , and diplomats from his team for a teleconference with Council members to discuss ​important developments ​in the U.S. and U.A.E. relationship.

After brief welcome remarks by Danny Sebright, President of the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council, Ambassador Al Otaiba began by thanking the Business Council for organizing this call, saying the Council was “created for these moments.” He also stressed the importance of strengthening bilateral partnership at this time.

Ambassador Al Otaiba then acknowledged Embassy and other U.A.E. diplomatic staff, giving a special mention to H.E. Abdulla Shaheen, U.A.E. Consul General in New York, and H.E. Hazza Al Kaabi, U.A.E. Consul General in Los Angeles, for their tireless efforts in repatriating Emiratis to the U.A.E. His Excellency also extended his warm appreciation to Emirates and Etihad for their role in combating the virus through deliveries of medical equipment as well as the repatriation of 2,500 Emirati citizens and hundreds of Americans who call the U.A.E. their second home.

The Ambassador ​then paid tribute to ​the 25 healthcare institutions on the call, thanking the healthcare professionals on the frontlines of this ​pandemic in both the U.S. and the U.A.E. and lauding the overall U.S.-U.A.E. collaboration ​to combat Covid-19.

Ambassador Al Otaiba and his team then briefed participants on the Covid-19 situation in the U.A.E., highlighting the U.A.E. was committed to mitigating the economic impacts of the virus through as various federal and Emirate-level stimulus packages. Business Council members also learned more about the possible postponement of Expo 2020 Dubai , the oil price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia, and escalating regional tensions between the U.S. and Iran.

Following his remarks, Ambassador Al Otaiba heard suggestions and questions from executives of members companies on quarantine measures, the opening of borders, stimulus packages, and how U.S. businesses can help address this crisis.

The call was attended by John Rakolta, U.S. Ambassador to the U.A.E., as well as 200 senior executives from leading American and Emirati energy, defense, healthcare, logistics, finance, and technology companies.

Mr. Sebright concluded the call by thanking Ambassador Al Otaiba and attendees for their participation, and their shared commitment to supporting the U.S.-U.A.E. bilateral relationship in these challenging times.