Dubai: The launch of Emirate's non-stop flights to Dallas/Fort Worth is expected to generate more than $200 million in local economic activity and will connect Texas — a top exporting state to the UAE — directly to the UAE, Yousuf Al Otaiba, UAE Ambassador to the United States, told a reception in Dallas as the Dubai-based airline starts services to the largest state in the USA.
Emirates Airline launched new service from Dubai International Airport to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport on Thursday, February 2.
Betsy Price, mayor of Fort Worth, and Mike Rawlings, mayor of Dallas, attended the luncheon and welcomed Ambassador Al Otaiba. The event was attended by senior U.S. and UAE government officials, executives from prominent Texas companies, and members of the broader US-UAE business community.
Jim Falk, president and CEO of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth, and Danny Sebright, president of the US-UAE Business Council, welcomed the international audience to Dallas/Fort Worth and introduced senior government officials and executives in attendance. In his remarks, Falk highlighted the strong commercial ties that Dallas/Fort Worth has with the UAE and the community's interest in strengthening its international relationships. In his comments, Sebright emphasized the significance of the new connection between Dallas/Fort Worth and Dubai — a gateway to key markets in the broader Middle East, Africa, and Asia — to the growth of US-UAE commerce and of the American economy.
During his speech, Ambassador Al Otaiba highlighted the economic impact the new Emirates' flight will have on the Dallas/Fort Worth community. According to the Ambassador, the non-stop flight is expected to generate more than $200 million in local economic activity and will connect Texas — a top exporting state to the UAE (almost $2bn last year) — directly to the Emirates. Further, Ambassador Al Otaiba said the significance of the route transcended economics and was an important milestone in the overall US-UAE diplomatic relationship.
"We are in Dallas/Fort Worth to celebrate more than the launch of the new Emirates flight. In many ways, we are here to mark the opening of a bridge that will enhance trade and diplomacy between our countries and broaden cultural understanding between our communities," said Al Otaiba.
In his remarks, Ambassador Al Otaiba underscored the UAE's stance as both a key US export market in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region and as a reliable security partner to the US. He cited the recent establishment of the US State Department's Global Center of Excellence for Countering Violent Terrorism — to be hosted in the UAE — and close US-UAE military coordination in several international peacekeeping efforts as key elements supporting the strong commercial and diplomatic relationship.
Following the luncheon, the US-UAE Business Council hosted a CEO forum with Al Otaiba and senior executives from American companies with significant business in the UAE and broader Middle East region.
While in Dallas/Fort Worth, Al Otaiba and a senior delegation from the U.A.E. Embassy in Washington, DC will meet with local students and visit local businesses prior to the landing of the inaugural Emirates' flight on Thursday morning.
