Below is the text of a letter UAE Ambassador to the US Yousef Al Otaiba sent to the US-UAE Business Council on March 17, 2026.
Dear Friends,
My best to all our friends for Eid al-Fitr. It certainly has not been the quiet Ramadan we had all hoped for when we were together in Washington three weeks ago.
Since then, Iran has launched nearly 2,000 missiles and drones against the UAE – far more than any other country targeted by Tehran in the conflict. I spent the first week in the UAE and witnessed firsthand as our defense forces intercepted more than 93% of the attacks. They are doing extraordinary and heroic work.
It was equally inspiring to be with our leadership, who remain resolved and unwavering about our path forward. His Highness President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has affirmed that the UAE will emerge from this crisis stronger than before.
This is not a war we wanted, and we worked intensely to avoid it. Our Foreign Minister, His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, was in Washington the last week of February, and senior UAE diplomats were in Tehran in the preceding weeks. Even when I spoke with you on February 25, there was still strong hope that diplomacy might forestall war.
But even as we held hope and pursued de-escalation, we also knew a war could someday come. With prudence and foresight, over the last 30 years, we have prepared the nation, our people and our economy with a comprehensive, layered system of safeguards. We acquired the most sophisticated missile and drone defenses, built hardened and resilient infrastructure, diversified supply chains and developed strategic reserves.
We constructed an oil pipeline bypassing the Strait of Hormuz and built sovereign wealth reserves of more than $2 trillion. These preparations have allowed us to reopen seaports and airports quickly and maintain global trade connectivity even under pressure.
That long foresight and strategic depth have earned the world’s confidence. Energy supplies are moving, even if at reduced volumes. S&P Global Ratings has maintained the UAE's "AA/A-1+" sovereign credit rating. In conversations with partners such as Disney, Wynn, the Guggenheim, the Cleveland Clinic, Microsoft, Oracle, Amazon and so many others, they have not flinched. All remain fully committed to their UAE projects and initiatives.
This confidence and commitment go both ways. The UAE’s $1.4 trillion investment and economic framework with the US, announced last year, will stay on track with plans to accelerate deployment and funding. Over 45 deals between UAE and US companies have been announced in the past 15 months alone. And there is a full pipeline to come spanning AI, clean energy, advanced manufacturing and critical infrastructure.
Our outreach to key US states continues with the recent appointments of new UAE Consuls General in Florida and California, and with key economic and trade engagements in Oklahoma, New Jersey, Maryland, Texas and Pennsylvania, among others.
Through this challenging moment, our priority, of course, has been the safety and security of the nation and everyone who lives in, works in or visits the UAE. I have been personally in touch with many Americans in the Emirates to offer support. Remarkably, the conversation always turns, with my American friends asking what they can do to support us. It was particularly heartening to learn that the US, like many other countries, had to scale down evacuation plans because so few citizens wanted to leave.
Just as we learned, adapted and emerged stronger from COVID-19 – accelerating investments in food security and supply chain resilience – we will do the same now. Every challenge motivates us as we look to the future.
The UAE remains open for business, committed to our shared priorities and confident in our ability to navigate this period successfully. The UAE's response to this moment is not to “shelter in place.” It is to move forward. And we will do it alongside our closest partners in the US.
In that spirit, I offer my deep appreciation to the Business Council, to all its members, to Danny Sebright and the team for the great effort you have all made in support of the UAE and one of the world’s best bilateral business relationships.
I also want to thank my colleagues at the Embassy and in our Consulates who have been working around the clock to provide support to Emiratis and to Americans. They, too, have done an extraordinary job. Please continue to rely on them – and on me – if you have any questions or special needs.
I ask that you share this message with your colleagues, boards, customers and friends – everyone in your network. Your continued confidence and partnership are vital.
Once again, Eid Mubarak. To better times ahead.
With deep appreciation,
Yousef Al Otaiba
UAE Ambassador to the US
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