“Making it with Resilience” Kick-Off Reception Ahead of MIITE 2026
May 3, 2026
AmCham Abu Dhabi convened senior industry leaders for the “Making it with Resilience” Kick-Off Reception, held in association with Make it in the Emirates 2026 (MIITE 2026) at the Rosewood Abu Dhabi. The reception was attended by senior representatives from across the public and private sectors, including former U.S. Ambassador to the UAE Martina Strong and Katherine Skarsten, Economic Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi, alongside executives and stakeholders from across the Abu Dhabi business ecosystem.
The program opened with remarks from Sharief Fahmy, AmCham Abu Dhabi Board Member and Chair of the Defense & Aerospace Committee, who framed the discussion around the UAE’s industrial resilience and the scale of opportunity emerging to empower local sectors.
A keynote address was delivered by Daniel Mouton, Vice President and Chief Executive of Lockheed Martin Middle East, who highlighted the evolution of U.S.–UAE partnerships from transactional engagement toward long-term value creation, joint capabilities, and in-country innovation. He emphasized the growing role of Emirati talent in shaping the next phase of this partnership.
Moderated by Christie Bear, Co-Chair of AmCham Abu Dhabi’s Energy & Sustainability Committee, the panel featured Sharief Fahmy; H.E. Salama Al Awadhi, Senior Vice President, In-Country Value and Industrial Development at ADNOC; and Nirmal Mull, Vice President at Parsons Corporation. The discussion examined how resilience is being operationalized across sectors, from national industrial strategy to investor-focused programs that prioritize manufacturing and local value creation.
In closing remarks, Jasem Al Nuaimi, AmCham Abu Dhabi Board Member and Chair of the Energy & Sustainability Committee, underscored the UAE’s positioning as a global hub for industrial innovation and investment.
AmCham Abu Dhabi was pleased to welcome senior representatives from leading organizations, including Adrifi & Angell, Alliott Hadi Shadid Chartered Accountants, Apex Group, Conscient Strategies, Emerson, Emirates Development Bank, Fives Industrial Technologies, Lockheed Martin, Milipol International Establishment, Mubadala, Occidental Oil & Gas International, Parsons Corporation, Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement, and The Abu Dhabi EDITION, alongside a strong network of AmCham Abu Dhabi members and partners.
The room reflected the strength of U.S.–UAE bilateral trade and investment, bringing together leaders from industry, government, and innovation-driven enterprises to exchange market insights and build connections ahead of MIITE 2026.
The gathering underscored the value of cross-sector dialogue and reaffirmed AmCham Abu Dhabi’s role as a key platform for high-impact engagement across the U.S.–UAE economic corridor.
