News

Read the latest news, press and other updates about 
His Excellency Yousef Al Otaiba, Ambassador of the
United Arab Emirates (UAE) to the United States of America (USA).

Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba at the White House signing ceremony for the Abraham Accords.

UAE-Israel Abraham Accords

On September 15, 2020, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Emirati Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived at the White House to normalize diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Following the ceremony, Yousef Al Otaiba’s long-time efforts came to fruition in the historic signing of the Abraham Accords in Washington, DC.

JPost
Podbridge

The Ambassador’s exclusive op-ed for Ynetnews details the agreement and corresponding plans to build a peaceful and prosperous future in the Middle East.

Op-Ed
Interview
Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba’s op-ed on Israel’s plan to annex occupied territory.
Op-Ed

News About
Yousef Al Otaiba

Partners in Torah to discuss ‘Pillars of Faith’ April 25

April 23, 2021 – Cleveland Jewish News
The Director of Partners In Torah of Cleveland hosted Ambassador Al Otaiba and Malcolm Hoenlein, Vice Chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, for a virtual conversation titled “Pillars of Faith: Building a Better World.”
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UAE, Israeli Ambassadors Plant Peace Tree for Earth Day​

April 21, 2021 – UAE Embassy in US
In celebration of Earth Day, Ambassador Al Otaiba and Israel’s Ambassador to the United States planted a ‘peace tree’ at the UAE Embassy in Washington, DC to honor the newfound UAE-Israel alliance and their collective commitment to addressing global climate change.
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The Abraham Accords: A Pathway to Peace with Economic Prosperity​

April 16, 2021 – The Institute of Politics at Harvard University
The John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum at Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics hosted an online conversation between Ambassador Al Otaiba and H.E. Shaikh Abdullah bin Rashid Al Khalifa, Bahrain’s Ambassador to the United States.
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UAE economy at the heart of foreign policy, says UAE's US ambassador

April 15, 2021 – Arabian Business
Arabian Business underlined Ambassador Al Otaiba’s optimistic outlook on the UAE’s growing economy during his recent podcast with Stanford University’s Hoover Institution.
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US Policy In The Middle East And Prospects For Peace And Economic Growth In A Troubled Region

April 14, 2021 – The Hoover Institution
Ambassador Al Otaiba discussed the Abraham Accords and Middle East conflict with H.R. McMaster on the Hoover Institution’s Battlegrounds podcast.
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Barakah is key component of UAE efforts to tackle climate change: UAE Ambassador to US

April 12, 2021 – Gulf News
The Ambassador recently highlighted how Unit 1 of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant will play a vital role in the UAE’s long-time mission to develop a clean nuclear energy sector, and to solve the global climate crisis.
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Shalva band sings ‘Bridge Over Troubled Waters’ with Emirati artist

March 16, 2021 – Times of Israel
Ambassador Al Otaiba was the featured guest speaker at the 31st anniversary of The Israel Association of Care and Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities, also known as Shalva. During the event, the Shalva Band and the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra performed a virtual duet of “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”
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Thinking About the Abraham Accords

February 24, 2021 – Jewish Standard
In late February, Yousef Al Otaiba attended New Jersey’s Jewish Public Officials Caucus briefing for state elected officials on the Abraham Accords normalization deal.
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Top UAE, Israeli diplomats recall their nations’ long road to peace

February 17, 2021 – The Washington Diplomat
The Dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies hosted Yousef Al Otaiba and H.E. Jeremy Issacharoff, Israel’s Ambassador to Germany, for a virtual panel discussion on the future of Arab-Israeli relations.
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Articles by
Yousef Al Otaiba

An invigorated identity for Arab youth - ASDA'A BCW Arab Youth Survey Middle East

Arab Youth Survey – October 20, 2021
The Ambassador presents his optimistic perspective on the ASDA’A BCW Arab Youth Survey 2021.
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U.S. Policy Toward Arab States, Palestinians, and Israel: Ideas and Approaches for the Biden Administration

The Washington Institute – February 3, 2021
Yousef Al Otaiba joined Samer Khoury, Fleur Hassan-Nahoum and David Makovsky for the Washington Institute’s virtual Transition 2021 Policy Forum.
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A Successful Mideast
Nuclear Deal

Wall Street Journal – March 4, 2020

In early March, the UAE announced that it had completed its project to load fuel into its new Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant. This accomplishment comes almost 10 years after the USA and UAE signed a bilateral agreement for nuclear cooperation.

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Special Olympics in Abu
Dhabi is a sign of progress

CNN – March 14, 2019

Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba and Special Olympics Chairman Timothy Shriver discuss how holding the 2019 Special Olympics World Games in the capital city of the United Arab Emirates shows progress in promoting inclusiveness and tolerance.

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Why We Invited the Pope
to the Arabian Peninsula

Politico Magazine – February 2, 2019

In 2019, Pope Francis became the first pope to visit the Arabian Peninsula. Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba explains why the UAE invited the Pope to visit Abu Dhabi and how interfaith and intercultural cooperation can help encourage tolerance and deter extremism.

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The UAE has made progress
toward being a model
for positive change in
the Middle East

Washington Post – December 7, 2018

The United Arab Emirates is leading the way in helping to build a more peaceful and prosperous world. Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba provides insights on how the UAE has established itself as a model for positive change in the region.

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The Arab coalition is
making progress against extremists in Yemen

Washington Post – September 12, 2018

The UAE is part of a UN-mandated coalition against terrorism in Yemen. Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba describes how the UAE and its partners have fought against al-Qaeda in Yemen and throughout the Arabian Peninsula.

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Yousef Al Otaiba
Press Releases

UAE Ambassador to US
Yousef Al Otaiba Meets
with Secretary of State
Mike Pompeo; Carries Message from UAE Foreign Minister

Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba recently met with Secretary 
of State Mike Pompeo to deliver a letter from UAE Foreign Minister His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan on how the US and the UAE can work together in response
to the novel coronavirus.

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Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba Statement on Peace Plan

Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba released a statement
in support of ongoing efforts by the US to help reach
a peace agreement between Palestine and Israel.

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UAE Delegation Meets with
Senior U.S. Government
Officials in Washington, DC
to Commemorate Ten-Year Anniversary of Peaceful Civilian Nuclear Energy Cooperation

Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba joined a delegation from
the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) who met
with US officials to discuss the UAE’s ongoing development
of a peaceful nuclear energy program.

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Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba Statement on the Death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi

Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba offers a statement in response to the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in a raid by US Armed Forces and support for ongoing efforts to fight extremism in the Middle East.

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UAE Embassy in Washington, DC Hosts Annual Interfaith Iftar; Ambassador Highlights UAE's Commitment to Tolerance, Religious Diversity in UAE

The UAE Embassy hosted an interfaith Iftar led by UAE Ambassador to the US Yousef Al Otaiba and attended by more than 150 religious, government, and community leaders.

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See all press releases from the UAE Embassy