Lorenzo Fanara, Italian Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates

Our interview to discover his world of diplomatic relations and his favourite places in the city

Lorenzo Fanara has been the Italian Ambassador to the Emirates since 2022. A Sicilian-born lawyer, over his diplomatic career he has held several positions at the Italian Embassy in Moscow and in London, and he served as Ambassador to Tunisia from 2018 to 2022.

How did your journey into relations between Italy and the UAE begin and how has it evolved since your arrival?

It started out as an uphill mission, as there were some open questions at the beginning. We solved them together with our Emirati friends in a constructive spirit. Now relations between Italy and the UAE are in an excellent phase, as witnessed also by the various high-level political meetings last year. The UAE is a strategic country for us, an indispensable partner in many global challenges: from security to energy and the fight against climate change, as demonstrated by the COP28 held in Dubai.

Lorenzo Fanara

What does being the Italian Ambassador to the UAE mean to you?

It is a great honour to represent Italy in a country that loves us and has a strong demand for Italy. It is also a great responsibility because in diplomacy, as in few other professions, one has no right to error. You need sensitivity, respect for the other and also a lot of empathy. In diplomacy, and particularly in the Arab world, personal relationships, mutual trust, keeping one’s word and loyalty are essential. In a way, these are our traditional values, to which I am very attached.

The projects you care most about?

They are the big cultural projects, which we carry out together with the Italian Cultural Institute and some sponsoring companies, such as Eni Plenitude. Investing in cultural dialogue means building bridges of long reach and duration, which bring peoples closer together and facilitate mutual understanding. It is the best way to counter fanaticism and violent extremism. Moreover, Italy is able to offer cultural projects of the highest quality, as in the case of the extraordinary La Scala concerts at Dubai Opera and the Puccini Festival at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi. Cultural promotion also contributes to our economy, as Italian exports benefit greatly from the attraction of our millenary culture.

Design, fashion, food and wine... how is the Italian lifestyle perceived in the Emirates?

It is enough to take a tour of the shopping malls, restaurants, major hotels and homes in the Emirates to realise how widespread Made in Italy and the Italian lifestyle are. Moreover, the figures for Italian exports to the UAE, more than 6 billion euros a year, are concrete confirmation of this positive perception. Not only are the Italian lifestyle ambassadors the 19,000 Italian nationals living in the UAE, but also the many Emirati families, who buy Italian design, food and fashion.

What do you love about the UAE and what do you think is the spirit of this land?

I love the spirit of peaceful coexistence between different cultures and tolerance towards the religion of others. One significant example is the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi, where a church, a synagogue and a mosque coexist in the same architectural complex. For us, this is a fundamental value. It is no coincidence that the first Foreign Minister to visit that sacred place was the Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Two places and two experiences not to be missed for those who want to discover the most fascinating face of the UAE?

First of all, the desert. As one cannot really understand the UAE, its roots and its mentality without experiencing the desert in depth. Secondly, I would recommend the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque for its extraordinary beauty, to which Italian artistic and architectural genius also contributed.

Your favourite addresses where to cultivate the Italian lifestyle in the Emirates?

There are fantastic corners of Italy everywhere in the Emirates. Since I am curious, I always like to discover new places. If I have to mention one, then I would say the Dubai Opera where I try to go whenever the best Italian music is on stage.

Your Dubai in 5 top destinations?

Dubai is a dynamic, ever-changing city. Possibly, by the time this interview is published, new top destinations will have emerged. As mentioned, I like going to Dubai Opera, whose programme has improved a lot since Director Paolo Petrocelli took over. Also for art lovers, I would recommend a stroll along Alserkal Avenue with its many galleries and cultural initiatives. I am also fascinated by the financial district, one of the few truly cosmopolitan places in the world, perfect for business meetings. To understand the soul and contrasts of the city, I would suggest adding two more destinations: the old city with a walk in the Al Seef and Al Fahidi area, along the canal, with the very first settlements of Dubai; and, in a completely different key, the Museum of the Future.

In short, there is never a dull moment in Dubai!