“The relationship between the United Arab Emirates and the United States has been positive and productive for more than 30 years. In the past decade alone, we have witnessed an exponential growth in our military, security, economic, and cultural relations.”

Yousef Al Otaiba
UAE Ambassador to the US

“The United Arab Emirates and the United States have a strong and enduring relationship based on mutual and reinforcing policy interests: political and security as well as economic and financial. We see this common commitment demonstrated in the recent decisions of the UAE to cancel Iraq's debt and expand diplomatic engagement there, for which we are appreciative. And, as I have discussed, the UAE and we are also now working more closely together than ever before on addressing the current global financial crisis and resisting protectionist pressures, as demonstrated by our partnership leading to the Santiago Principles. As we emerge from the current turmoil, which we will, it is through this constant communication, coordination, and collaboration that we enhance the prospects for prosperity not only in our own countries, but in the Gulf region and beyond. ”

Robert Kimmitt
Fromer US Deputy Secretary of the Treasury

“The US and the UAE share more than just a first name. Our countries hold a common belief in the value of education… Some of our shared concerns include developing human capital through high-quality learning opportunities, ensuring the availability and affordability of higher education, and equipping students to thrive in our competitive world.”

Margaret Spellings
Former US Secretary of Education

“Today, the United Arab Emirates is a major commercial hub of the Gulf region; a magnet for trade, transportation, tourism, and business services; a growing center in service fields such as education and health care.”

Richard Olson
US Ambassador to the UAE

“On the supply side, we are urging all oil producing countries to open oil markets to foreign investment, which would support faster and more efficient growth. The UAE is a case in point. As an important first step, Abu Dhabi is financing massive investments in upstream production and domestic refining capacity through partnerships with foreign companies. More liberalization along these lines would benefit all oil producing countries. In the case of the UAE, the United States is benefitting too; U.S. suppliers of oil and gas field equipment and services are 45 percent of the UAE's total imports.”

Henry Paulson
Former US Treasury Secretary

“It's a modern society that's using its wealth not only to educate its people, but to stay on the leading edge of technological change. I don't think most Americans understand the UAE. And I don't think most Americans understand that your education systems are modern and that you're thinking about the future in constructive ways. I hope that my visit shines a spotlight on the Middle East, the opportunities to work constructively with our friends and allies, and shows people the truth about what life is like here in the UAE. This is a remarkable place. Its architecture is beautiful. But the can-do spirit is amazing.”

George W. Bush
Former US President

“By confronting the challenge of breast cancer together, the United States-Middle East Partnership for Breast Cancer Awareness will help build lasting friendships between our countries. Most important, this partnership will give women hope, by teaching them about the things they can do to protect themselves from breast cancer.”

Laura Bush
Former US First Lady

“Let me commend you on the Masdar Initiative, which clearly demonstrates Abu Dhabi’s leadership role in the area of alternative energy. Through its graduate-level academic programs - and here I must mention its partnership with my alma mater, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology - as well as its research network and its $250-million clean-tech private equity fund, Masdar demonstrates the type of innovative, comprehensive solutions that are needed.”

Samuel Bodman
Former US Secretary of Energy

“The UAE, both as a key GCC member and as a party in the Arab Peace Initiative, has contributed to bringing peace and stability to the region.”

Ban Ki-moon
Secretary-General of the United Nations

“The UAE is a booming, multi-cultural center that has resulted in a booming American interest in the country. It has attracted many compatriots and Americans to this place. When I came in 2004, there were only 500 American companies but in the last three years, more than 700 companies have set base here.”

Hon. Michele Sison
US Ambassador to the UAE (2004-2007)

“As longstanding commercial and economic partners, the United Arab Emirates and the United States continue to engage in activities that foster mutual growth and sustained progress.”

Sheikha Lubna bint Khaled Al Qasimi
UAE Minister of Foreign Trade

"There has been such a huge amount of attention on other developing markets such as China and India recently, that Abu Dhabi has sometimes been overlooked. Thanks to the vision of its Government and favorable business attitudes in the Emirate, Abu Dhabi is expanding just as rapidly, but with more long-term sustainability."

Todd Buchholz
Former White House policy advisor and world renowned economist

“The American business community greatly values its commercial ties with the United Arab Emirates … On the commercial level, the UAE is a very attractive market for U.S. businesses. More than 500 U.S. companies operate here. We have over $2.3 billion invested, and bilateral trade exceeds $5 billion. This relationship is good, but it can be better. We have been encouraged by recent steps to open the economy further to investment and services.”

Thomas J. Donohue
President & CEO of the US Chamber of Commerce

“The United Arab Emirates is one of the best business platforms in the world … Our trade is booming because the UAE is booming … This country is a testament of what can be accomplished when tolerance, technology and tradition are in harmony.”

Frank Lavin
Former US Under Secretary of Commerce

"[T]he military-to-military relationship with the United Arab Emirates is superb. ... They've got airfields that they allow us to use, and their airspace, their logistics support. They've got a world-class air-to-air training facility that they let us use and cooperate with them in the training of our pilots. In everything that we have asked and work with them on, they have proven to be very, very solid partners."

General Peter Pace
Former Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff

“I personally believe that we have had no greater ally in seeking a resolution of problems in the Middle East, the Palestinian issue, the Israeli issue, than we have found in the United Arab Emirates.”

General Tommy Franks
Former CENTCOM Commander

“This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the U.S. by helping to improve the security of a friendly country that has been and continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East.”

U.S. Department of Defense's Security Cooperation Agency report notifying Congress of a possible foreign military sale to the UAE
December 2007

“Strategically, both Bahrain and the UAE are important to US interests, affording a vital foothold in the area from which 40 percent of the world’s internationally traded oil is shipped.”

Simon Henderson and Patrick Clawson
Washington Institute for Near East Policy

“Cooperation with Dubai officials has been outstanding and a model for other operations.”

US State Department’s 2006 Report on Terrorism

“The UAE is a case of a country that says we want to get beyond oil and gas, we understand the changes in globalization, we're going to develop a service-oriented economy, we're taking advantage of our port position, we're also going to develop tourist facilities. And it's the exact example of what we want to be encouraging.”

Robert Zoellick
President of the World Bank and former US Trade Representative

“Dubai has become a center for Middle East capitalism, and most people interested in the Middle East are having offices there.”

David Rubenstein
Co-founder of the Carlyle Group