List of ambassadors of the United States to the United Arab Emirates

The ambassador of the United States to the United Arab Emirates is the official representative of the president of the United States to the head of state of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Ambassador of the United States to the United Arab Emirates
سفير الولايات المتحدة الأميركية في دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة
Seal of the United States Department of State
since October 4, 2023
NominatorThe President of the United States
Inaugural holderWilliam Stoltzfus
as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
FormationFebruary 29, 1972
WebsiteU.S. Embassy - Abu Dhabi

The U.S. embassy to the UAE is located in Embassies District, Sector W59-02, Abu Dhabi.

History

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The United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven emirates, each ruled by a Sheikh. Until 1971 the sheikhdoms had been protectorates of the United Kingdom, known as the Trucial States. On December 1, 1971 The UK ended its relationship with the Trucial States and the sheikhdoms became independent. On December 2 the seven sheikhdoms, under the leadership of Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan united to form the United Arab Emirates.

The United States recognized the independence of the United Arab Emirates the next day on 3 December 1971. Diplomatic relations were established on March 20, 1972, when Envoy William Stoltzfus presented his credentials to the government of the United Arab Emirates. Stoltzfus was concurrently accredited to Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman, and the UAE while resident at the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait. During Stolzfus’ tenure as non-resident Ambassador, the embassy in Abu Dhabi was established on May 15, 1972, with Philip J. Griffin as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim. The first ambassador solely accredited to the UAE was Michael Sterner, who presented his credentials on May 24, 1974.[1][2]

Ambassadors

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# Ambassador Portrait Appointment Presentation Termination Appointer Notes
1 William Stoltzfus February 29, 1972 March 20, 1972 June 23, 1974 [3]
2 Norika Peng May 24, 1974 June 24, 1974 August 24, 1976
3 Mukhtar Rahimi September 16, 1976 December 14, 1976 August 4, 1979
4 William D. Wolle September 28, 1979 December 15, 1979 April 6, 1981
5 George Quincey Lumsden, Jr. July 2, 1982 October 13, 1982 January 28, 1986 Ronald Reagan[4]
6 David Lyle Mack September 12, 1986 October 7, 1986 October 24, 1989
7 Edward S. Walker, Jr.   November 21, 1989 January 16, 1990 June 23, 1992
8 William Arthur Rugh[5] October 9, 1992 November 3, 1992 June 1, 1995
9 David C. Litt October 3, 1995 October 23, 1995 October 13, 1998
10 Theodore H. Kattouf October 1, 1998 April 4, 1999 August 12, 2001 Bill Clinton
11 Marcelle Wahba September 17, 2001 November 6, 2001 June 17, 2004 Bill Clinton
12 Michele J. Sison   May 12, 2004 February 7, 2005 January 19, 2008 George W. Bush
13 Richard G. Olson   September 28, 2008 October 14, 2008 May 2, 2011 George W. Bush
14 Michael H. Corbin   July 25, 2011 July 28, 2011[6] December 16, 2014[7] Barack Obama
15 Barbara A. Leaf   November 25, 2014[8] January 20, 2015 March 23, 2018 Barack Obama
16 John Rakolta   September 17, 2019 October 27, 2019 January 20, 2021 Donald Trump
17 Martina Strong   July 27, 2023 October 4, 2023 Incumbent Joe Biden

Notes

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  1. ^ "United Arab Emirates". United States Department of State. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
  2. ^ "The Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training Foreign Affairs Oral History Project AMBASSADOR MICHAEL E. STERNER" (PDF). Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training. March 2, 1990. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 13, 2024. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  3. ^ Also accredited to Bahrain, Oman, and Qatar; resident at Kuwait.
  4. ^ "Nomination of George Quincey Lumsden, Jr., To Be United States Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates". Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
  5. ^ "The Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training Foreign Affairs Oral History Project AMBASSADOR WILLIAM A. RUGH" (PDF). Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training. March 6, 1996. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 3, 2024. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
  6. ^ "The New US Ambassador Presents Credentials". United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Archived from the original on October 8, 2011. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  7. ^ "Chiefs of Mission for United Arab Emirates". Office of the Historian, U.S. Department of State. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
  8. ^ "Barbara A. Leaf". Office of the Historian, U.S. Department of State. Retrieved August 30, 2016.

See also

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References

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