How UAE Ambassador to the US Yousef Al Otaiba won over Washington
The UAE has spent more than $270 million on lobbying in Washington over the past decade, according to the Financial Times.
In the past two decades, the United States has gained a more favorable view of the United Arab Emirates. While some politicians previously referred to the UAE as “Abu Dubai,” today it is recognized for its influence in finance, trade, defense, and artificial intelligence. The Emirates' image in Washington has been significantly improved, and this transformation can be attributed in large part to the efforts of Yousef Al Otaiba, the UAE's ambassador to the US since 2008.
According to the Financial Times, the UAE has invested over $270 million in lobbying activities in Washington over the past decade, surpassing both Saudi Arabia's $422 million and Qatar's $269 million. However, it is Al Otaiba's strategic approach that the paper credits for driving this shift. Over the years, he has worked tirelessly to build relationships with politicians, policymakers, universities, and the media, as well as encouraging influential Americans to visit the Emirates.
His efforts have been described as the "ultimate case study in how to run a government public relations campaign in DC" by the Financial Times. Through his persistent and well-planned outreach, Yousef Al Otaiba has managed to transform the United Arab Emirates' image in Washington, reflecting its growing importance and significance on the global stage.
Written by urgent.news from Semafor's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
