UAE Embassy in Washington, DC Celebrates 42nd National Day

December 4, 2013

Washington, DC (4 December 2013) – Last night, United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ambassador to the United States Yousef Al Otaiba hosted a reception honoring the country’s 42nd National Day. The event, held at the UAE Embassy in Washington, DC, celebrated the UAE’s continued growth and progress, and recognized organizations that have received support from the UAE to improve the lives of people in communities around the US and the world.

The UAE and US are close allies and friends, as evidenced by the growing commercial ties between the two countries, and increasing security cooperation. Cultural and philanthropic partnerships between the UAE and US also continue to deepen, particularly in the areas of education and healthcare. In that regard, the UAE Embassy’s National Day celebration highlighted the work of several key US-based partners that are making advances in childhood education and well-being, healthcare, disaster relief and recovery, and community development.

• Children’s National Medical Center;

• City Soccer in the Community;

• Joplin, Missouri;

• Joplin Public Schools;

• Mercy Hospital;

• Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund;

• Everybody Wins! DC;

• Hope for Henry;

• Fight for Children;

• Johns Hopkins Medicine;

• Mayo Clinic;

• Cleveland Clinic; and,

• The MD Anderson Cancer Center.

In remarks delivered to guests at the National Day celebration, Ambassador Al Otaiba conveyed that the UAE’s philanthropic work is a reflection of the strong bilateral relationship between the UAE and the US. He thanked the UAE’s partners for their commitment and dedication to giving back and improving their local communities, noting that “Sheikh Zayed would be very proud that his legacy of charity and help to improve the lives of others is as strong as ever in the UAE and is also reflected in the friendship that has grown with the US.”

“On behalf of the UAE, I want to thank each and every one of our partners for all the great work they do,” said Ambassador Al Otaiba. “I am humbled – and inspired – by these organizations that spend so much of their time helping others. We look forward to the continued close partnership between the US and UAE as we all work together to make a difference.” Ambassador Al Otaiba also thanked the UAE’s Takatof Program for Social Volunteering for dedicating their time and effort to help rebuild local communities after devastating natural disasters in Joplin, Missouri and the East Coast.

The UAE Embassy’s National Day celebration was attended by hundreds of guests including representatives of the featured community organizations, as well as senior US government officials, including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey and Deputy Secretary of State Ambassador William Burns. Guests also included Ambassadors representing countries from around the world, representatives of the Washington, DC diplomatic corps, business leaders, and community officials.

On this festive occasion, the Ambassador congratulated UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Rulers of all the other Emirates, His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and the people of the UAE.