About the Author: Donna Hopkins serves as Coordinator for Counter-Piracy and Maritime Security in the Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs. 

World renowned as a global commerce hub, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is among the growing community of nations, international organizations, and industry groups coming together to confront pirate gangs based out of Somalia targeting seafarers in the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and surrounding waters. 

I recently returned from Dubai, where I attended the conference: “Global Threat, Regional Responses: Forging a Common Approach to Maritime Piracy.” Hosted by the UAE’s Foreign Ministry and co-organized by global ports operator DP World, the conference was attended by government officials from 60 countries and more than 170 senior maritime industry leaders. The event underscored the importance of further strengthening counter-piracy partnerships between governments and industry and succeeded in raising nearly $5 million for a UN-administered fund to support prosecution… more »