• US Partnership Pavilion at Dubai Airshow inaugurated
  • US-UAE associations traiblazed the US participation at the airshow

Dubai. 13 November 2023 . Day1 dawned at Dubai Airshow 2023 and the US Partnership Pavilion which is the largest country coglomeration at the show was inaugurated by the US Ambassador to UAE  Martina A Strong.

The Dubai Airshow Kick-Off Breakfast 2023 was a gathering organised by UAE-AmCham , was sponsored by Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Kallman Worldwide, reieterated America’s  innovation and collaboration in the aerospace industry.  AmCham is an independent, private, non-profit association of US companies, high profile American and local business executives, entrepreneurs, US Embassy officials, US citizens, and select Affiliates. AmCham Abu Dhabi’s mission is to promote commerce, investment and goodwill between its membership, the United States of America and the United Arab Emirates.

The U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council and Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) hosted over 300 senior business and government leaders at the Museum of the Future on Monday, November 13th for a reception on the margins of the biennial Dubai Airshow. This reception featured keynote remarks from Sarah Bint Yousif al Amiri, U.A.E. Minister of State for Public Education and Advanced Technology, and Chairwoman of the U.A.E. Space Agency. Martina Strong, U.S. Ambassador to the U.A.E., also addressed the audience.

U.S. Ambassador Martina Strong cited the large number of American companies at the Airshow is as a testament to the continued strength of the U.S.-U.A.E. bilateral defense, security, and commercial relationship. She congratulated the U.S. aerospace sector for the strong showing at the Air Show and the continued role it plays in strengthening ties between the two countries. The U.S. Pavilion at the Airshow is the largest ever, with some 140 U.S. companies. Ambassador Strong reaffirmed her commitment to advocate for American businesses in the U.A.E., and stated that the Dubai Airshow is a perfect backdrop for establishing and deepening U.S.-U.A.E. business partnerships. She emphasized the close alignment between the U.S. and the U.A.E. on broad policy objectives, which is based on shared ideals of regional peace, stability, and prosperity. She echoed that “the future is bright and prosperous for both of our countries.”

In her keynote address to the audience, Sarah Bint Yousif al Amiri lauded the U.S.-U.A.E. bilateral science and technology relationship, emphasizing the need to grow the space sector through commercial relationships. She highlighted the collaboration with U.S. academic institutions, government agencies, and corporations that helped enable the U.A.E.’s successful Mars Mission program, and cited this as a model for partnership between American and Emirati institution in other key sectors. She stressed the importance of knowledge transfer and co-development of intellectual property and investing in the next generation of space scientists. She provided details on upcoming U.A.E. space missions to the Moon and the Asteroid Belt and emphasized the critical importance of cooperation with the United States. She concluded her remarks with a message to business leaders and innovators that the U.A.E. is committed to building a cutting-edge space ecosystem by fostering a business-friendly environment and providing investment to innovative ideas. She urged the United States to “come and work with the Emirates as you have always done, as we continue to build a global reach and fund innovation.”

The U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council hosted a dinner conversation on Sunday, November 12, 2023, with Stanley L. Brown, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, and  Mike Miller, Deputy Director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA). The dinner, held at the Ritz Carlton DIFC, enabled some 50 U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council members across a broad range of industries to engage with U.S. government officials ahead of the Dubai Airshow, happening from November 13 – 17, 2023.

The discussion, held under Chatham House Rules, centered on U.S. release policy and priorities in the U.A.E. and the Gulf region and the current state of the U.S.-U.A.E. defense and security relationship. USG officials emphasized the importance of the U.S.-U.A.E. strategic relationship to regional stability, and the close alignment of the two countries on regional matters. Close U.S.-U.A.E. alignment on the Israel-Gaza conflict was also discussed. The officials outlined reforms on the current foreign military sales (FMS) process currently in the works, as directed by the Department of Defense’s tasking memo known as “Tiger Team,” that highlights six key FMS pressure points and provides recommendations to improve and accelerate the FMS process:

  • Improve the Department’s understanding of ally and partner requirements
  • Enable efficient reviews for release of technology
  • Provide allies and partner nations relevant priority capabilities
  • Accelerate acquisition and contracting support
  • Expand Defense Industrial Base (DIB) capacity
  • Ensure broad U.S. government support

Discussion included an overview of U.S. policy regarding weapons and defense technology release to the Middle East region, the potential for improving the CFIUS approval process for U.A.E. investments in the United States, and the impact of the U.A.E.’s ties with Chinese technology on U.S. defense and security relationships. Industry participants shared their perspectives on the FMS process and sought clarification regarding end use requirements and protection of U.S. technology. Conversation touched upon the impact of the demand for equipment stemming from the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine on the pipeline of sales to partners and allies, including to the U.A.E.

Key U.S. companies also asked questions about implementation and utilization of AI in defense equipment and the controls and oversight that might be implemented in the future. Cyber policy and controls were also raised. Both of these areas are ripe for growing and new cooperation between the U.S. and the U.A.E. defense establishments.