Michael H. Corbin, Ambassador-Designate of the United States to the United Arab Emirates, arrived in the UAE on the evening of Wednesday, July 27.
“I am delighted to be here in Abu Dhabi,” said Ambassador Corbin, “and especially pleased to be arriving so soon before the beginning of Ramadan. I look forward to spending this special time of year acquainting myself with the heritage and culture of the Emirates and to getting to see as much as possible of this beautiful country.”
Michael Corbin was nominated as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates by President Barack Obama on May 5, 2011. His nomination was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on June 30, and he was sworn in by Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs William J. Burns on July 25. He will formally remain Ambassador-Designate until he presents his credentials to H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, President of the United Arab Emirates.
Previously, he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs from 2009. He was Minister-Counselor for Political-Military Affairs at Embassy Baghdad from 2008 to 2009 and Chargé d’Affaires in Damascus, Syria from 2006 to 2008. Since joining the Foreign Service in 1985, Mr. Corbin has held various positions overseas and in Washington, including: Minister Counselor for Economic and Political Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo (2003-2006), Deputy Director of the Office of Arabian Peninsula Affairs (2001-2003), Director of the Counter-Narcotics Section at the U.S. Embassy in Caracas, Venezuela (1997- 2001), Political-Military Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo (1994-1997) and at the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait (1987-1989). Prior to joining the Foreign Service, he served in the Peace Corps from 1982 to 1984 in Mauritania. Mr. Corbin received a B.A. from Swarthmore College.
Also joining the U.S. Mission in the UAE this month will be L. Victor Hurtado, who will serve as Deputy Chief of Mission. A career Foreign Service Officer, Mr. Hurtado most recently served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Muscat, Oman. He has also served as acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and at the U.S. Embassies in Riyadh, Tunis, Damascus, Ottawa, and Mexico City.
