12 diplomats focus on UAE foreign policy, peacemaking in Middle East

The Emirates Diplomatic Academy (EDA), the UAE’s leading International relations and diplomatic institution organised a global communication training. Twelve international senior diplomats are participating in the ‘Your Journey in the United Arab Emirates’ programme, in Abu Dhabi.

Diplomats participating in the programme are from the ministries of foreign affairs of Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Gabon, Kenya, Pakistan, South Africa, Uruguay and Uzbekistan. The event aims to make communication and relations easy among the different diplomats. The course intends on helping the attendees obtain essential skills that will enhance their performance in their various roles.

The bespoke training course seeks to enable attendees to develop essential skills to excel in their roles.

The programme will be running till 31 October. It will be addressing four key areas: Nation Branding and Soft Power, UAE History and Culture, UAE Public and Cultural Diplomacy, and UAE Foreign Policy. There will also be a panel discussion on peace-making in the Middle East.

The carefully designed curriculum immerses participants in a dynamic and interactive learning environment that combines lectures, hands-on training and discussions. The focus being cooperative learning and problem-solving. Part of the agenda includes visits to cultural sites, including the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Louvre Abu Dhabi and Qasr Al Watan. 

During the launch of the programme, Bernardino León, Director General of EDA, said: "The continuous drive for excellence and innovation is deeply ingrained in the UAE’s DNA. Hence, it gives us great pleasure to convene these elite diplomats as we strive to re-enforce the guiding principles and success story of the country. ‘Your Journey in the UAE’ provides an ideal platform for diplomatic training and exchange of best practices.”

He added: "In line with the Year of Tolerance, we seek to share the UAE’s fundamental values of tolerance, acceptance and mutual respect with our international partners, so they can reciprocate these in their roles.”

The aim of the EDA executive programmes is to groom diplomats for future opportunities and challenges. The Academy provides theoretical knowledge and practical experience to inspire future leaders to become the driving force of future international strategic initiatives.

In August, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, MoFAIC, in partnership with the Emirates Diplomatic Academy, EDA, announced it was hosting a series of programmes for 60 members of the diplomatic corps of South Sudan, Mali and Gabon.

The tailored programmes aimed to enhance diplomatic knowledge and skills among partner nations.

Commenting on the collaboration, León said, "The delivery of such impactful programmes reflects EDA’s unwavering dedication to providing a world-class training experience to the diplomatic community in the UAE, the wider region, and the world. We are proud to share our best practices and guiding principles with international peers while creating a platform for dialogue exchange and the pursuit of shared interests."

The specialised programme trained participants in problem solving and risk management in crisis negotiations.

Activities included an introductory course on the UAE’s history and foreign policy, a session on cultural diplomacy with a visit to the Louvre Abu Dhabi, and a lecture on countering violent extremism, held in cooperation with Hedayah, the UAE hub to enhance capacity building in the counter-extremism field.

Participants also undertook a course on human rights and international aid cooperation, with a focus on international human rights law and the humanitarian dimension of the UAE’s foreign policy.

EDA is the UAE’s leading international relations and diplomatic institution and was established in Abu Dhabi in 2014. A prestigious platform that combines the best of academia, research and practice, EDA equips the UAE’s current and future diplomats with the knowledge and multi-disciplinary skills to effectively serve their nation. A dynamic community of seasoned diplomats, renowned faculty, respected thought leaders, experienced researchers, international partners and exceptional aspiring diplomats come together at EDA to create an ecosystem of continuous learning and achievement – a true centre of excellence for diplomatic capacity development, research and thought leadership in the UAE.