YPFP Ambassador Series: H.E. Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba on Diplomacy During COVID-19
YPFP is delighted to invite you to a discussion with His Excellency Yousef Al Otaiba, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the United States of America, about the role of diplomacy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The conversation will touch on the UAE's response to the crisis, including coordination with the US and multilateral partners and the Embassy's shift toward "digital diplomacy." Broadly, the discussion will cover thoughts from Ambassador Al Otaiba on digital diplomacy will influence the work of diplomats in the future, as well as his perspective on leadership in times of crisis.
Ambassador Al Otaiba
H.E. Yousef Al Otaiba was appointed Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the United States in July 2008, and has used his diplomatic position to help strengthen strategic UAE-US economic and security relations. During his tenure, bilateral trade has grown by more than 400 percent and the UAE has established itself as one of the US’ largest sources of foreign direct investment.
As Emirati Ambassador to the US, Al Otaiba has also helped forge important partnerships with major US institutions such as New York University, the Cleveland Clinic, the Guggenheim Museum, the Children’s National Medical Center, Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
In the security arena, Ambassador Al Otaiba has helped build closer ties and cooperation with the United States and other allies in the fight against hostility around the world, promoting peace and coexistence. His 2020 publication on normalizing diplomatic ties incited international discussion, leading to the signing of the Abraham Accords.
Before taking up his post, the Ambassador served for seven years as international affairs adviser to H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the current president of the UAE.
In recognition of his loyal service to the UAE, and leadership to build closer ties with the US, Ambassador Al Otaiba was promoted to the rank of Minister in October 2017. He remains in his current role as the UAE’s Ambassador to the US.