Senior government and business officials from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will gather in Washington this week for two independent events underpinning the robust US-UAE strategic relationship. On Thursday the second installment of the US-UAE “Economic Policy Dialogue” (EPD) meeting will take place. This meeting will facilitate government-to-government collaboration to promote trade and discuss economic policy. The second event, Dubai’s Emirates Airline’s expansion of nonstop flights from the UAE to Washington's Dulles international, will occur over the course of Wednesday and Thursday (Sept. 12-13) and involve private and public events designed to show case the close business and economic partnership between our two countries.

Both of these events highlight the evolution of the US-UAE economic relationship and the deepening connections between the two countries.  While the UAE has not been immune from the calls for political reform in the Middle East, it is also a model for stability and a centerpiece for US interests in the region.

For its part, the UAE has become an engine of economic growth and a haven for entrepreneurship in the Middle East region as it continues to attract international commerce.  The country’s GDP has reached $360 billion, which ranks second in the Arab League and is on par with countries like Chile, Denmark, and South Africa. 

Although a major oil producer, the UAE has taken steps to diversify its economy to build a future that is less dependent on carbon fuel revenue. Today, the nation is a center for international business, a global hub for shipping and aviation, and is growing rapidly into a major tourism destination.  The country is also positioning itself as a powerful thought leader and innovator in medicine, education, and Arab language media content.