Anwar Gargash

Anwar Gargash
Anwar Gargash at the ‘London 11’ Friends of Syria Meeting, 15 May 2014
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
In office
17 February 2008 – 10 February 2021
PresidentKhalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Prime MinisterMohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Preceded byMohammed Hussein Al Shaali
Succeeded byShakhbout bin Nahyan Al Nahyan
Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs
In office
2006 – 20 October 2017
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byOffice abolished
Personal details
Born (1959-03-28) 28 March 1959 (age 65)
Dubai, Trucial States
Alma mater

Anwar Mohammed Gargash (Arabic: أنور محمد قرقاش; born 28 March 1959) is an Emirati politician who served as the minister of state for foreign affairs between February 2008 and February 2021.[1][2] Since February 2021, he has been serving as a senior diplomatic advisor to the United Arab Emirates president.

Education

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Gargash received a bachelor's degree in 1981 and a master's degree in 1984 in political science from George Washington University. He then obtained a PhD from King's College of Cambridge University in 1990.[3][4]

Career

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Gargash, Senior White House adviser Jared Kushner and head of Israel's National Security Council Meir Ben-Shabbat in Abu Dhabi on 31 August 2020

Gargash started his career as a faculty member at United Arab Emirates University where he served from 1985 to 1995.

From 1995 to 1999, he worked as managing editor at the strategic studies publications of the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR) and from 1995 to 2006 as chief executive officer of Gargash Enterprise. Between August 2006 and February 2007 Gargash was the chairman of the National Election Committee.[3]

He was appointed minister of state for the federal national council in 2006.[5] In February 2008, Gargash was appointed as minister of state for foreign affairs, and remained in that office until February 2021.[6]

On 13 August 2020 Gargash announced the UAE's agreement to normalize relations with Israel stating that his country wanted to deal with the threats facing the two-state solution, specifically annexation of the Palestinian territories, and urging the Palestinians and Israelis to return to the negotiating table.[7] Gargash's tenure ended on 10 February 2021 when Shakhbout bin Nahyan was appointed to the post.[8] Immediately following his removal from the office he was made a diplomatic advisor to UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.[8][9] In February 2022, Gargash said that the UAE would not "take sides" after Russia invaded Ukraine.[10]

Gargash has been involved with the boards of various UAE institutions, such as the UAE's Culture and Science Symposium, Al Ittihad, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), Emirates Media,[3] Dubai School of Government, Al Owais Cultural Foundation,[11][12][13] Dubai Economic Council, the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy, and the Ministerial Legislative Committee.[14]

Personal life

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Gargash is a member of a prominent trading family in Dubai which is part of the minority Huwala in the United Arab Emirates.[15][16]

In 2017 Gargash received the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award from George Washington University,[17] and the Abu Dhabi Award in 2017.[18]

References

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  1. ^ "Gen. Soleimani killing in Iraq: UAE calls for wisdom to avoid confrontation". Gulf News. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  2. ^ "UAE Says Region Must Pull Back From 'Troubling' Tensions". The New York Times. Reuters. 8 January 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  3. ^ a b c "Biography" (PDF). UN. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  4. ^ "Members of The Cabinet". uaecabinet.ae. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  5. ^ "Cabinet Members". UAE Cabinet. Archived from the original on 26 January 2010. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  6. ^ "H.E Dr. Anwar Mohammed Qargash". UAE Government. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  7. ^ "Further Israeli annexation of Palestinian territories would have eliminated hope for peace: UAE". Al Masdar News. 13 August 2020. Archived from the original on 13 August 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  8. ^ a b "UAE's Anwar Gargash removed as foreign affairs minister". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  9. ^ "Anwar Gargash meets UN Special Envoy to Yemen". WAM. 9 May 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  10. ^ "UAE not taking sides in Ukraine conflict, senior official says". Reuters. 27 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  11. ^ "Dubai School of Government" (PDF).
  12. ^ "Anwar Gargash". Middle East Institute. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  13. ^ "Dr. Anwar Gargash re-elected as Chairman of Al Owais Cultural Foundation". MoFAIC. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  14. ^ "Abdullah bin Zayed attends Shapers of Tomorrow graduation ceremony at Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy". www.mediaoffice.abudhabi. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  15. ^ John W. Limbert (16 August 2016). "Iranian and Arab in the Gulf: Endangered Language, Windtowers, and Fish Sauce". University of Durham, Institute for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies.
  16. ^ "The untold Iranian story of the UAE". BBC. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
  17. ^ "Alumni Awards". The George Washington University. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  18. ^ "H.E. Dr. Anwar Mohammad Gargash". Abu Dhabi Awards. 22 June 2017.
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