UAE Embassy Welcomes Emirates Airlines’ New Flight to Washington, DC

Washington, DC (15 March 2012) – UAE Ambassador to the United States, Yousef Al Otaiba, issued the following statement regarding Emirates Airlines’ announcement that it will begin non-stop service between Dubai and Washington, DC in September 2012: 

“This new flight represents a bridge that will not only connect two of the world’s great cities, but also facilitate and enhance cultural, business and diplomatic connections between the UAE and United States.

“Dubai is a hub for business in the Middle East region.  In fact, more than 800 US companies have a presence in Dubai and the UAE.  The new flight underscores the deepening economic relationship between the UAE and US, and marks another milestone in the two country’s important and expanding bilateral relationship.”

Washington, DC will be Emirates Airlines’  seventh nonstop flight from Dubai to a major city in the US. Earlier this year, Dallas, TX and Seattle, WA celebrated inaugural flights from Dubai, bringing the total number of US cities served by nonstop flights from the UAE to nine (including Emirates Airlines, Etihad Airways and other US carriers).

These new flights follow recently released US government data that identifies the UAE as the US’ largest trading partner in the Middle East.  In 2011, total trade between the UAE and US was valued at over $18 billion, a 43 percent increase over the previous year.  

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Emirates’ planned investment in American industry is expected to support skilled jobs in more than a dozen states and impact over 250,000 direct and indirect American jobs.  Emirates Airlines employs over 700 American globally and has placed an order for fifty Boeing 777-300ERs for a record-breaking $24 billion.

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