The Consulate General of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Los Angeles, in partnership with the U.S.-UAE Business Council and the Los Angeles World Affairs Council (LAWAC), hosted a welcome reception in honor of Consul General Hessa Alshuwaihi.
Government, business, and community leaders gathered to celebrate the strong and enduring bilateral relationship between the United Arab Emirates and the United States. Distinguished guests included LA Deputy Mayor for International Affairs Dilpreet Sidhu, Los Angeles Chief of Police Jim McDonnell, U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council President Danny Sebright, and LAWAC Chair & 24th Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, The Honorable Maria Contreras-Sweet.
In her remarks, Consul General Alshuwaihi highlighted the shared spirit between the people of the UAE and the United States — a mutual commitment to innovation, inclusion, and a refusal to accept the word “impossible.”
“The UAE and the United States share a strategic partnership grounded in shared values,” said Consul General Alshuwaihi. “Our collaboration in AI, technology, the arts, sustainable energy, and space continue to create meaningful opportunities for both our nations.”
The event underscored the depth of economic ties between the UAE and the United States. In 2024 alone, U.S. exports to the UAE reached $2.8 billion from California, supporting approximately 16,000 jobs in the state. The UAE has remained the top export destination for U.S. goods in the Middle East for 17 consecutive years — reflecting the strength of our bilateral economic partnership
