Emirates Diplomatic Academy hosts Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba

Yousef Al Otaiba, UAE Ambassador to the United States of America, has praised the significant role played by Emirati women in diplomacy and its honourable image, both inside and outside the UAE.

Delivering a lecture titled 'Connecting Capitals: from Abu Dhabi to Washington', at the Emirates Diplomatic Academy, Al Otaiba also commended the UAE diplomatic academy's 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.

The lecture was attended by Muhammad bin Issa, former Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, alongside students of the academy. Al Otaiba shared his thoughts and views with the audience on American foreign policy towards the Middle East generally, and the UAE specifically.

He started the interactive lecture by speaking on his personal experience and knowledge as an Emirati diplomat. 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.

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. He added that the UAE could gain from advanced knowledge the US possesses when it comes to technological, nuclear, and cosmic innovation.

The ambassador highlighted the challenges diplomats could face and the strategies they should employ to succeed, saying, "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."

Bernardino Leon, Director-General of the Emirates Diplomatic Academy, said, "We were honoured to host 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."

The ambassador presented 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, he added.