(Washington, D.C.) — The U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council hosted a luncheon and discussion yesterday featuring keynote remarks by the Honorable Michael H. Corbin, United States Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E), and an introduction to Mr. Rob Waller, the incoming Consul General to Dubai, on Tuesday at the W Hotel in Washington, D.C. The event was held on the margins of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the U.A.E. Armed Forces His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s visit to the U.S. to meet with President Barack Obama on Wednesday. The event attracted senior private and public sector representatives from the U.S. and U.A.E— including a large delegation from the Embassy of the U.A.E. in Washington, D.C.
Following his opening remarks, Danny Sebright, president of the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council, introduced Ambassador Corbin. In his introduction, Sebright underscored the importance of Ambassador Corbin’s commitment to advancing the commercial and trade relationship between the two countries and applauded Corbin’s business-centric approach to his work and role as a chief advocate for American business in the Emirates.
Ambassador Corbin delivered keynote remarks to the audience of government officials, corporate executives, and academic experts. In his off-the-record comments, Corbin emphasized the growing strength of the overall U.S.-U.A.E. diplomatic, security, and economic relationship, citing strategic and commercial elements of the relationship as key driving forces behind its rapid development.
“The U.A.E. is a key strategic and commercial partner in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region for the United States. The meeting between His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and President Obama tomorrow and the second meeting of the U.S.-U.A.E. Economic Policy Dialogue in September are excellent examples of the powerful ties that exist and are growing between the two countries,” said Ambassador Corbin. Ambassador Corbin also highlighted for the audience the importance of U.S. business supporting the Global Entrepreneurial Summit, which the U.A.E. and U.S. will convene in December and congratulated the continued close cooperation between AmCham Abu Dhabi, the American Business Council of Dubai and the Northern Emirates (ABC Dubai), and the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council in promoting American business interests in the U.A.E.
Following Corbin’s keynote speech, Rob Waller, a veteran Foreign Service Officer, took the podium and provided the audience with an overview of the diplomatic strategy he plans to implement during his tenure as Consul General to Dubai. In his remarks, Waller applauded Corbin for the progress he’s achieved in advancing the U.S.-U.A.E. relationship and pledged to work closely with and have an open door policy for U.S. business at the U.S. Consulate in Dubai.
Afterwards, the floor was opened for a question and answer session with Ambassador Corbin. During the session, Corbin addressed questions about geopolitical developments and their impact on business in the region, U.A.E. commercial policies relevant to American businesses looking to establish and/or grow in the Emirates, and the new oil pipeline in Fujairah—which is set to begin distribution in July.
“The new pipeline that is set to run through the U.A.E. and bypass the Strait of Hormuz will be crucial to maintaining energy security in the broader region and will positively impact the economic development of the northern Emirate of Fujairah, where the pipeline is based,” said Ambassador Corbin.
Bringing the questions and answer session to an end, Sebright concluded the event by emphasizing the importance of the support provided by Ambassador Corbin and Mr. Waller, and urged the audience to utilize the services provided by the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the U.S. Consulate in Dubai.
