The U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council hosted an exclusive roundtable breakfast featuring remarks by David Scott, Executive Director of Energy & Economic Affairs at the Executive Affairs Authority of Abu Dhabi (EAA), last Monday in Washington, D.C. The event brought together senior executives from U.S. companies in the energy, infrastructure, and commercial defense sectors for a transparent conversation with Mr. Scott about the current economic state of affairs in Abu Dhabi.

Danny Sebright, president of the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council, chaired the closed-door meeting with Mr. Scott, who provided insights into Abu Dhabi’s economic development and implementation strategies.

In his remarks, Scott emphasized Abu Dhabi’s keenness to build the critical infrastructure necessary to ensure safe passage of energy resources from Abu Dhabi to the international marketplace and a shift in Abu Dhabi’s focus toward low-cost energy solutions. In doing so, Scott commented on the geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region and their implications for American businesses. He also offered insight into the sustainability of Abu Dhabi’s current economic programs and the broader U.A.E.’s ambition to become an industrial hub and central link to the global economy.

After discussing the political landscape underpinning local economic development, Scott highlighted the steps Abu Dhabi is taking to ensure sustainable water and energy supply for the future. In his remarks, Scott touched on Abu Dhabi’s efforts to build local capacity and provide internal resources to allow the emirate to research and cultivate new and traditional technologies necessary for sustainable economic and resource development.

Following Scott’s formal remarks, executives in attendance were given the opportunity to address specific issues impacting U.S.-U.A.E. business, provide comments about their companies’ experiences in Abu Dhabi, and to directly engage Mr. Scott about a range of economic and energy-related issues affecting business and corporate relationships in Abu Dhabi and the broader MENA region.

Mr. Scott, who brings years of U.S. government and private sector experience to his current position at EAA, leads a team of economic and energy advisors working to provide strategic economic policy advice to Abu Dhabi’s leadership.

For more information about Abu Dhabi’s Executive Affairs Authority, click HERE.