The official inauguration on November 20, 2011 of the Embassy of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in Abu Dhabi by the Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg, Jean Asselborn, in the presence of Crown Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg and the UAE Foreign Minister, Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, represents a new milestone in the development of the bilateral relationship between our two nations. The opening of a Luxembourg Embassy in the UAE comes on the top of more than 30 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. It is a decisive step and a true commitment by my country to further strengthening the long-standing relationship in every field: political, economic, social and cultural.
On Sunday, I had the pleasure to welcome an important business delegation in Abu Dhabi led by the Crown Prince of Luxembourg. During the coming days, top executives from Luxembourg will be discussing mutually beneficial opportunities with their counterparts from the UAE. The fact that this is the third business and trade mission this year alone and the fact that the Luxembourg Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade, Jeannot Krecké, has decided to open a Trade and Investment Office within the new embassy clearly demonstrates Luxembourg’s willingness to explore promising ideas and develop future projects together.
But it is not only about business. As a small landlocked country within the European Union, Luxembourg has always recognised the importance of contacts between people. To fully develop the potential our bilateral relationship holds, we need to get to know each other better. This was a main driver behind Luxembourg’s decision to establish a diplomatic, economic and consular presence in Abu Dhabi. In the years to come, personal relationships will serve as a catalyst to everything else. This way, we will be building a solid foundation for a lasting friendship between our two people.
On the lighter side
Chargé d’affaires a.i., Marc Scheer, currently heads the Luxembourg embassy in Abu Dhabi. He is also the Executive Director of the Luxembourg Trade and Investment Office, Abu Dhabi. In a chat with GNFocus, Scheer talks about life in the UAE.
How long have you been in the UAE?
About ten months. I arrived a week before the World Future Energy Summit 2011 to help prepare for the visit of the Crown Prince of Luxembourg and Minister Jeannot Krecké to this important event.
Does your family live here with you and, if yes, what do they think about the country?
Yes, my family arrived three weeks after me, and they do love being here. The country and Abu Dhabi, where we live, is a great place for families with children. Our twins are four years old. They started kindergarten in September and they enjoy themselves very much. Apart from the school curriculum, there are lots of activities for them and for the whole family.
What aspects of the UAE life do you most enjoy?
There are many aspects of life in the UAE which I find enjoyable — the proverbial hospitality which I experienced so many times, the cultural diversity and the safety. And, I know it will seem odd to people from around here, but coming from a part of the world where we are blessed with a lot of rain, I cannot get enough of the blue skies and the sun that we have here almost every day. One thing that I like and that impresses me is the pace of development in this country.
What is your favourite memory of the UAE so far?
My office overlooks the Dhow harbour. So, once in a while, I take a few minutes’ break to watch the sunset over the Corniche and the Arabian Gulf. The colours and the light at that time of day are beautiful.
Which part of Luxembourg are you from and what do you miss the most about your homeland?
I was born in Wiltz, a small town in the northern part of Luxembourg, which is in the Ardennes, a beautiful region with hills, castles and forests. But before coming to the UAE, I used to live in Luxembourg City. What I miss most is, of course, the family and friends who still live in Luxembourg. Luckily, with technology being what it is today, staying in touch with them is easy. Besides that, in everyday life, there are not many things that I could not find here in the UAE. Shops and supermarkets have products from almost anywhere in the world, so I find items I am used to, and I discover new things. Arabic Mezze has become one of my favourites. If there is one specific thing that I miss, it would probably be Luxembourg mustard, which has a smoother and less spicy taste than the ones I can buy here. But honestly, that’s all.
When not on official duty, what’s your favourite way to spend time?
As my work and official duties take up a lot of time during the week, I try to spend maximum free time with my family. For example, we take the children out for sightseeing or to an exhibition. Some of the highlights so far were visits to the zoo in Al Ain, a desert outing (our son took his little model track loader with the intention of moving some of the sand dunes), or visits to Dubai and Sharjah. My wife and I like music and the movies, so whenever we can make time, we take advantage of the many cultural activities on offer. We caught up on some movies during the Abu Dhabi Film Festival and attended a few concerts during the Abu Dhabi Classics. We also try to get acquainted with the region’s history, tradition and art, for example, by attending a concert evening at the Oud House. One of the highlights for the family was a visit to the Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque. There are many more activities across the emirates that we are still looking forward to.
What part of your job makes you most proud? And what is the biggest challenge of being a diplomat in this region?
Firstly, the fact that I was entrusted with establishing the first diplomatic representation of my country in the region. At the same time, the biggest challenge was to start from scratch. In the beginning, I was the only person working on this project here, so I had to do everything myself, which, it seems, made me earn my nickname. But it was one of the most interesting and enriching experiences I have ever had. I went through all the administrative and organisational steps necessary to establish this embassy. Wherever I went I was welcomed and people were helpful whenever I ran into difficulties. So I truly experienced the hospitality of the people of the UAE.
