The U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council hosted an exclusive luncheon discussion featuring keynote remarks by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Arabian Peninsula Affairs Barbara Leaf on Wednesday, January 15th in Washington, D.C. The closed-door event brought together a diverse group of senior business executives and officials from the U.S. and U.A.E. governments to hear DAS Leaf’s perspectives on the political climate underpinning U.S.-U.A.E. relations.

U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Arabian Peninsula Affairs Barbara Leaf addresses key U.S.-U.A.E. commercial stakeholders in Washington, D.C.

Following an introduction from U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council President Danny Sebright framing the discussion, DAS Leaf provided the audience with insights into the U.S.-U.A.E. strategic relationship as well as the U.S.-GCC strategic relationship. In her comments, DAS Leaf referenced many of the challenges that face the Arabian Gulf and the broader Middle East region. In doing so, she commended the U.A.E. for serving as a consistent source of partnership, stability, innovation, and growth as the country continues to build domestic infrastructure and prepares to host World Expo 2020.

“The U.A.E. is a reliable and important partner to the United States in our shared efforts to encourage globalization and maintain regional stability in the Gulf, MENA region, and around the world,” said DAS Leaf. “As many in the room can appreciate, diplomatic relationships like America’s with the U.A.E. are vital to the success of international trade, global security, and to achieving shared foreign policy goals and objectives.”

Following DAS Leaf’s formal remarks, executives and officials in attendance were given the opportunity to address her on specific policy and economic issues impacting U.S.-U.A.E. business and the trend of rapid commercial development in the region. In answering their questions, DAS Leaf cited strong government cooperation between American and Emirati officials and outlined some of the potential challenges ahead for U.S. commercial and political engagement in the broader MENA region.

The discussion with DAS Leaf on Wednesday complements an ongoing effort by the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council to inform private and public sector stakeholders about policy, commercial, and economic developments driving U.S.-U.A.E. commerce and trade.