Statement from UAE Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba on Emirates Airline’s new Washington, DC to Dubai Flight

Washington, DC -- (September 12, 2012) -- I congratulate Emirates on the launch of the new nonstop Boeing 777 service between Dubai and Washington, DC. This new flight will not only link two of world’s great cities, but it also underscores the deep bilateral relationship that exists between the United Arab Emirates and United States. 

The UAE is the single largest export market for US goods in the Middle East, with $15.9 billion in exports in 2011 — the third straight year the UAE has held this distinction.   For the fist six months of 2012 (January-June) exports from the US to the UAE totaled approximately $11 billion, a 59 percent increase over the same period one year ago.

Further enhancing this bilateral relationship, Emirates is expanding its nonstop flights between the US and UAE.  The airline currently serves six American cities, generating millions of dollars of local economic activity in each of those markets, and supporting the creation of US jobs.  

Dubai is a global center for commerce, and with over 1,000 US companies in the UAE, the new Emirates flights will also give business travelers more choice and convenience.

Americans and Emiratis have demonstrated the demand for these flights, based of the increasing closeness of our two nations.  I am pleased that Emirates is taking steps to meet this demand by launching its new nonstop flight between Dubai and Washington, DC.