Founder
Ambassador Michael Corbin, a career diplomat with extensive experience in the Middle East is the outgoing U.S. Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates. He finished his term in Abu Dhabi in December, 2014.
During his tenure, Ambassador Corbin helped to strengthen U.S.-UAE business relations across all sectors, resulting in a significant expansion in U.S. companies exporting to the UAE.
Ambassador Corbin has significant expertise and experience in the Middle East, having previously served in Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Tunisia and Kuwait during his career in the Foreign Service in addition to his service as Ambassador to the UAE.
Prior to his service as Ambassador, he most recently served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs. Before that, he was Minister-Counselor for Political-Military Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad from 2008 to 2009 and Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Damascus, Syria from 2006 to 2008. Ambassador Corbin served as Minister Counselor for Economic and Political Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo from 2003 to 2006. He was Deputy Director of the Office of Arabian Peninsula Affairs in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs from 2001 to 2003. Ambassador Corbin served as Director of the Counter-Narcotics Section at the U.S. Embassy in Caracas, Venezuela from 1997 to 2001 and Political-Military Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, Egypt from 1994 to 1997. His first overseas post was at the U.S. Embassy in Tunis, Tunisia from 1985-1987. He served in Kuwait from 1987 to 1989. Ambassador Corbin joined the Foreign Service in 1985.
Prior to joining the Foreign Service, Ambassador Corbin served in the Peace Corps from 1982 to 1984 in Mauritania. He received a bachelor’s degree from Swarthmore College. He speaks Arabic, French, and Spanish.
What is Corbin Crossroads Consulting?
After a 29-year career in the U.S. Foreign Service, mostly across the Arab World, I decided I would stay on in the UAE after I finished my term as Ambassador and continue to support trade and business as a private consultant. The UAE is a unique location, serving as a global crossroads for not only the Arabian Gulf and the rest of the Arab world, but also for the Indian sub-continent, sub-Saharan Africa and Central Asia. An exemplary transit hub, the UAE also serves as a front office for many businesses in this large area. Beyond the clear business opportunities in the GCC, Corbin Crossroads Consulting is particularly well-placed to interact both within the UAE and Gulf, but also beyond.
Corbin Crossroads Consulting is a consultancy based in the “new global crossroads” in the UAE seeking to help international-focused institutions with projects, initiatives or concepts in the broad region that comprises the Arab World, South and Central Asia and Africa. We are focused on not just introducing and explaining the business environment in this region, but on understanding an idea or approach to the region, analyzing how it can be most successful, and then providing concrete, specific advice and assistance on implementing a successful roadmap.
CCC is ready to apply this model to any initiative or proposal that we believe is serious and where we determine, after careful analysis, that we can provide specific, measurable success. We do not limit our assistance to any particular sector and are open to using our experience in a wide range of areas. Our expertise is on how to take a concept to the next level in this complex but opportunity-filled region.