Visitors

A delegation from the European Parliament responsible for relations with the Gulf States, including Yemen, was briefed by the GRC research team. The delegation was led by Bernard Savage, Head of the EU Delegation Office in Riyadh, and Lilli Gruber from Italy, Chair of the Committee in the Parliament. Other members included Tobias Pluger of Germany and Vice-Chairman of the committee; Ms. Roberta Anastase and Mr. Eugen Mihăescu from Romania; and Mr. Patrick Louis of France.

A group of 10 students from the American University in Washington, DC, accompanied by Dr. Isa Blumi of Georgia State University, were briefed about the current regional issues.

1. Ambassador of France in the UAE Patrice Paoli

2. A group of 35 students and two faculty members from the School of Social Sciences division of the Singapore Management University, who were on a tour of the UAE and Qatar as part of a Business Study Mission, were briefed about the political, economic and security dimensions of the Gulf region.

1. Dheeraj Chhabra, Manager, Dubai Industrial City/Business Development and Vimal Kumar Jaiswal Manager, Standards, Maqayees, Dubai Centre for Industrial Standards, discussed future cooperation in environmental training and consultation with GRC.

2. Jeffrey Black, Green Energy Analyst

A group of 15 women students from the social sciences department in the Zayed University, Dubai, were briefed about the activities and programs at the center. They were given a round-up of the current developments in the region, as well as advised about the nuances of research and scope for a professional career in it.

As part of the Regional Heads of Mission meeting in the UAE, the GRC hosted a briefing session for Swedish ambassadors to the Middle East and officials from the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice and other authorities. The delegation was headed by Olof Skoog, Director-General for Political Affairs in the Swedish Foreign Ministry, and included 12 regional ambassadors. The session focused on the key political, security-related, and economic developments in the Gulf region.