IMAGINE an international market where Boeing and Microsoft have regional headquarters, where the University of Washington runs a training program, and where several Seattle architectural firms are engaged in large projects.
Now imagine that this international market was nothing but sand 30 years ago, that one of the principal cities has a sovereign wealth fund of nearly $300 billion, and that they are positioning their region to be a global center in finance, air transportation, culture and tourism.
Fortunately for our region, which has one in three jobs tied to international trade, this is no mirage. Such an economic oasis exists in Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.). Recently, 83 civic leaders from the Puget Sound region spent 10 days there on an international study mission. The mission, sponsored by the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce and the Trade Development Alliance, represents one of the largest and longest of its kind to the U.A.E.
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