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 | |
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Seal of the United States Department of State | |
Incumbent Sean Murphy Chargé d'Affaires since January 20, 2021 | |
Nominator | The President of the United States |
Inaugural holder | William Stoltzfus as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary |
Formation | February 29, 1972 |
Website | U.S. Embassy - Abu Dhabi |
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.[1]
Ambassadors
# | Ambassador | Portrait | Appointment | Presentation | Termination | Appointer | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | William Stoltzfus | February 29, 1972 | March 20, 1972 | June 23, 1974 | [2] | ||
2 | Michael Sterner | May 24, 1974 | June 24, 1974 | August 24, 1976 | |||
3 | Francois M. Dickman | 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 | |||
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 | 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 | |||
11 | Marcelle Wahba | September 17, 2001 | November 6, 2001 | June 17, 2004 | Bill Clinton | ||
12 | Michele J. Sison | May 12, 2004 | February 7, 2005 | 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[3] | December 16, 2014[4] | Barack Obama | ||
15 | Barbara A. Leaf | November 25, 2014[5] | January 20, 2015 | January 20, 2017 | Barack Obama | ||
16 | John Rakolta | October 27, 2019 | January 20, 2021 | Donald Trump |
Notes
- "United Arab Emirates". United States Department of State. Retrieved 2011-07-23.
- Also accredited to Bahrain, Oman, and Qatar; resident at Kuwait.
- "The New US Ambassador Presents Credentials". United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Archived from the original on 2011-10-08. Retrieved 2011-08-21.
- "Chiefs of Mission for United Arab Emirates". Office of the Historian, U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 2016-08-30.
- "Barbara A. Leaf". Office of the Historian, U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 2016-08-30.