Ambassador Al Otaiba highlights deep ties with Texas at World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth

WASHINGTON, DC (19 February 2010) -- Yousef Al Otaiba, UAE Ambassador to the United States, outlined the strength of the UAE-US bilateral relationship and the leading role that Texas plays in promoting economic and defense ties, during a speech delivered to the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth.

Speaking in front of over 300 business and community leaders, Ambassador Al Otaiba highlighted the tremendous commercial relationship with the state Texas, which ranks second among all US states in exports to the UAE, as well as many other emerging partnerships.

Ambassador Al Otaiba speaks on US-UAE relations at the Dallas/Fort Worth World Affairs Council

"Texas exemplifies the breadth and depth of the UAE-US bilateral relationship, with collaboration initiatives spanning the business, health care, defense and security arenas," said Ambassador Al Otaiba. "There are few places in the US with as many commercial and personal connections to Abu Dhabi and the UAE".

Ambassador Al Otaiba, who is leading a UAE Embassy delegation to Dallas this week, also noted that in similar spirit, Texas Governor Rick Perry visited the UAE in 2007, when he reinforced the already robust business ties and explored new areas for cooperation. The Governor's visit in 2007 and Ambassador Al Otaiba's trip this week are testament to the deep-rooted, and still growing, commercial relationship between Texas and the UAE.

"Just here in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, corporate powerhouses like Exxon Mobil, Hensley, Hillwood and Lockheed Martin are significant exporters and partners," said Ambassador Al Otaiba during his speech. "Texas companies, and thousands more across the United States, have been part of the UAE's economic development success".

Following the speech, Ambassador Al Otaiba met with a group of high school student-members of the World Affairs Council International Education Program, to answer questions about the UAE and explain why he and the Embassy delegation were in Dallas.

On Thursday, Ambassador Al Otaiba also met with the editorial board of the Dallas Morning News, the prominent newspaper of North Texas, to exchange views about the UAE, the Gulf region, and the common economic and security challenges facing the United States and the UAE. In addition, Ambassador Al Otaiba participated in a roundtable discussion with the Dallas Committee on Foreign Relations.

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