The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is forcefully asserting itself into US politics with a record-setting lobbying effort to drown out critics both foreign and domestic.
The Arab World's second-largest economy spent $12.7 million last year to silence challengers to its ruling families and preserve its world-beating airline industry. After an initial public relations campaign to burnish its image following the 2006 Ports World debacle, the UAE spending spree has soared to new heights over the past few years as the Gulf power has gotten bolder.
Top of mind is the protection of its Open Skies agreement with the United States, which has come under attack from struggling US airlines that accuse the UAE’s Emirates and Etihad airlines — along with Qatar Airways — of receiving unfair subsidies. The industry is vital to the UAE’s strategy of diversifying beyond oil and gas to become a global travel hub and tourism destination — a plan that’s already well on its way after Dubai International Airport surged ahead of London’s Heathrow to become the world’s busiest airport last year, with almost 69 million passengers.
US President Barack Obama's administration launched an open forum in April for stakeholders to weigh in as it ponders its next move. Weeks later, more than 250 House members of both parties in April signed on to a letter calling on the Obama administration to seek official consultations.
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