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).

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

History 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.

Ambassadors

# Ambassador Portrait Appointment Presentation Termination Appointer Notes1William StoltzfusFebruary 29, 1972March 20, 1972June 23, 1974Also accredited to Bahrain, Oman, and Qatar; resident at Kuwait.2Michael E. SternerMay 24, 1974June 24, 1974August 24, 19763Mukhtar RahimiSeptember 16, 1976December 14, 1976August 4, 19794William D. WolleSeptember 28, 1979December 15, 1979April 6, 19815George Quincey Lumsden, Jr.July 2, 1982October 13, 1982January 28, 1986Ronald Reagan6David Lyle MackSeptember 12, 1986October 7, 1986October 24, 19897Edward S. Walker, Jr.November 21, 1989January 16, 1990June 23, 19928William Arthur RughOctober 9, 1992November 3, 1992June 1, 19959David C. Litt October 3, 1995October 23, 1995October 13, 199810Theodore H. KattoufOctober 1, 1998April 4, 1999August 12, 2001Bill Clinton11Marcelle WahbaSeptember 17, 2001November 6, 2001June 17, 2004Bill Clinton12Michele J. SisonMay 12, 2004February 7, 2005January 19, 2008George W. Bush13Richard G. OlsonSeptember 28, 2008October 14, 2008May 2, 2011George W. Bush14Michael H. CorbinJuly 25, 2011July 28, 2011December 16, 2014Barack Obama15Barbara A. Leaf November 25, 2014January 20, 2015March 23, 2018Barack Obama16John RakoltaSeptember 17, 2019October 27, 2019January 20, 2021Donald Trump17Martina A. StrongJuly 27, 2023October 4, 2023August 5, 2025Joe Biden

Notes

See also United Arab Emirates – United States relations Embassy of the United States, Abu Dhabi Foreign relations of the United Arab Emirates Ambassadors of the United States

References United States Department of State: Background notes on the United Arab Emirates

External links United States Department of State: Chiefs of Mission for the United Arab Emirates United States Department of State: United Arab Emirates United States Embassy in Abu Dhabi