Associates Breakfast With Michael Corbin,
U.S. Ambassador to the UAE
October 7, 2011
Santa Monica
The United Arab Emirates has become one of the most important centers of economic power in the Middle East, with one of the world's strongest sovereign balance sheets. Abu Dhabi has been amassing high-profile international assets, from the Manchester City soccer club to New York's Chrysler Building and a stake in London's Gatwick Airport.
But today the UAE faces unprecedented challenges: fluctuating oil prices, a deflating property market, strained infrastructure, rising unemployment in the northern emirates and growing calls for democratic reforms.
As the brand-new U.S. ambassador to the UAE, Michael Corbin is in a unique position to understand the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. He shared his insights during an interactive conversation with the Milken Institute Associates, including his observations about the U.S.-UAE relationship, economic partnership opportunities for the business community and the political changes sweeping the entire Middle East.
Michael Corbin was sworn in as the U.S. ambassador to the United Arab Emirates in July. He most recently served as deputy assistant secretary of state in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs. Prior to this assignment, he was minister-counselor for political-military affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad from 2008 to 2009 and charge d'affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Damascus from 2006 to 2008. He has also served as minister-counselor for economic and political affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo; deputy director of the Office of Arabian Peninsula Affairs in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs; director of the Counter-Narcotics Section at the U.S. Embassy in Caracas. His first overseas post was at the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait from 1987 to 1989. Prior to joining the foreign service, Corbin served in the Peace Corps in Mauritania.
This event was open only to Milken Institute Associates. To learn more about the program, please contact Mindy Silverstein, Director of the Associates, at (310) 570-4634 or msilverstein@milkeninstitute.org.
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