Abu Dhabi, UAE - November 8, 2017:  The Emirates Diplomatic Academy hosted His Excellency Yousef Al-Otaiba, the UAE Ambassador to the United States. His Excellency delivered a lecture titled “Connecting Capitals: from Abu Dhabi to Washington.” His Excellency Muhammad bin Issa, former Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, attended alongside students of the academy. His Excellency Al-Otaiba shared his thoughts and views with the audience on American foreign policy towards the Middle East generally, and the UAE specifically.

His Excellency started the interactive lecture by speaking on his personal experience and knowledge as an Emirati diplomat. His Excellency Al-Otaiba discussed what he gained during a successful career spent serving UAE diplomacy and representing the country in the United States and in international forums. Students benefitted from his extensive knowledge on international relations and were motivated and inspired to become UAE’s future diplomats to represent the UAE at global platforms. 

His Excellency Al-Otaiba also touched upon a number of other subjects during the lecture, including American-Emirati relations and the strategic partnership between the two countries. He explained how the UAE could benefit from the influence the US has in international communication, especially on Middle Eastern affairs. His Excellency Al-Otaiba also explained that the UAE could gain from advanced knowledge the US possesses when it comes to technological, nuclear, and cosmic innovation.

His Excellency highlighted the challenges diplomats could face and the strategies they should employ to succeed, stating: “My advice to you as Emirati diplomats and future representatives of the state is to always be fully prepared; for everything a diplomat says or does has an influential impact and effect which conveys certain messages; messages that could be misunderstood.” He added “diplomatic work is not limited to offices, occasions, or meetings; it is a constant effort that demands from us awareness and mindfulness of the positions and policies of the country we represent and the worldwide message of our state.”
His Excellency praised the significant role played by Emirati women in diplomacy and its honorable image, both inside and outside the UAE. Furthermore, His Excellency Al-Otaiba commended UAE Diplomatic Academy efforts in fostering the talent of the Academy’s students through training courses, academic and lectures and courses designed to encourage the students to develop further and be creative to serve the UAE’s diplomatic interests. 

His Excellency Bernardino Leon, the Director General of the Emirates Diplomatic Academy, said about hosting the Ambassador: “We were honored to host His Excellency Yousef al-Otaiba at the academy. He has shared the insight and practical experience which will assist us in preparing the students of the academy and empowering them to face the diplomatic challenges of the future.” He added, “His Excellency presented us with a number of diplomatic lessons from his career as a seasoned diplomat who left his mark on the international level as a representative of his country and Arab interests.”  

It is worth noting that the Emirates Diplomatic Academy hosts seasoned diplomats from the UAE and abroad to enhance the education of its students, who will become the diplomats of the future. His Excellency Al-Otaiba’s lecture was a fine example of this direction, as his lecture left the students with a positive impression and enriched their preparation and experience to face future international challenges.