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County delegation reports meetings in Qatar, Oman and UAE exploring trade, investment and data‑center interest
Summary
Washtenaw County officials joined a Michigan delegation to the Middle East and North Africa in December and briefed commissioners on meetings with government and private-sector partners about trade, ports, logistics, education and possible data‑center and investment interest.
County leaders and chamber partners briefed commissioners on a December delegation to the Middle East and North Africa that included stops in Doha (Qatar), Muscat (Oman) and the United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi, Dubai).
Deputy County Administrator Andrew DeLo and OCED Director Tony Kyumay accompanied the county administrator and representatives from the Arab American Chamber of Commerce. Ahmed Chibani, chair and founder of the Arab American Chamber, and Bilal Hamoud, the chamber’s executive director, described the trip’s purpose as rebuilding relationships after COVID and creating channels for trade, investment and cultural exchange.
Delegation members said meetings covered a range of topics: port logistics and airport-linked trade in Oman, sovereign‑investment and innovation hubs in Abu Dhabi, and private-sector investment and data‑center developers in Dubai. Bilal Hamoud said the group secured follow-up interest from at least one Dubai-based data‑center developer and that Omani and Emirati hosts emphasized partnerships for logistics and workforce development.
“These meetings set a foundation for future collaboration,” Ahmed Chibani said during the Jan. 22 presentation. County staff and chamber leaders said Michigan and regional partners presented the state and counties as an organized, talent‑ready option for collaborations that could include trade, education and project investment.
County staff said they would return with recommendations on specific next steps and follow-up engagements that could include targeted business outreach, coordination with neighboring counties and work to position local sites and workforce assets for potential investment. Commissioners praised the delegation’s effort and asked staff to bring more detailed proposals to the board as opportunities crystallize.
No county commitments or contracts were announced; the briefing was informational.
