Jerry Moran

Donald Trump has nominated former Kansas governor Jeffrey Colyer, a surgeon and Republican, as US ambassador to the UAE. The UAE has been without a US ambassador since Martina Strong departed in August 2025. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Iraq also remain without confirmed US ambassadors under the Trump administration. Trump has relied on special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner to lead diplomatic efforts amid the Iran war. Kansas senator Jerry Moran said Mr Colyer "has a proven record of public service, principled leadership and steadfast commitment to improving the lives of Kansans and the American people."

President Donald Trump has nominated former Kansas governor Jeffrey Colyer to be the US ambassador to the UAE.

The UAE has been without a US ambassador since Martina Strong left in August 2025. The Trump administration has been slow to name envoys to key posts, including in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Iraq remain without confirmed US ambassadors.

The White House submitted the nomination of Mr Colyer, a Republican, to the Senate late on Monday. The position requires Senate confirmation.

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“He has a proven record of public service, principled leadership and steadfast commitment to improving the lives of Kansans and the American people,” Jerry Moran, a senator from Kansas, wrote on X. “I am confident he will represent our country well on the world stage.”

The Trump administration's shortage of confirmed diplomats in the Middle East comes as the region is grappling with the effects of the Iran war. Mr Trump has preferred to use special envoys and Vice President JD Vance to lead diplomatic efforts in the conflict.

Mr Colyer, 66, is a surgeon and has a background in politics and international humanitarian work.

His predecessor Ms Strong is a career diplomat who was appointed under president Joe Biden.

Mr Trump has relied heavily on Steve Witkoff, a long-time friend he appointed as his special envoy for peace missions, and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, who has taken a leading role in negotiations involving Iran, Israel and Gaza, as well as other regional issues.

The nomination comes after Mr Trump’s party suffered a bruising defeat in the US midterm elections, and lost its majority in Congress.

Later on Tuesday, the Senate foreign relations committee held a nomination hearing for US ambassadors to Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

Nick Oberheiden, a German-born lawyer, was nominated last month to represent Washington in Cairo.

"Egypt anchors the MENA region, controls the Suez Canal, upholds the Camp David peace, is a trusted counterterrorism partner, and Egypt under President El Sisi guarantees President Trump's Gaza plan," Mr Oberheiden said during his remarks.

"If confirmed, I will continue advancing the President's comprehensive peace plan for Gaza and the administration's regional priorities, including stabilising Libya, stopping the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, countering Iran's malign influence."

Outgoing Republican Representative Wesley Hunt was nominated for the Saudi Arabia ambassadorship in September.

Mr Hunt, a US army veteran, has a past of Islamophobic comments and is staunchly pro-Israel.

He has said that Islam seeks to "take over" other countries and called for the US to ban "sharia law".

"I do think that there are some cultural differences that we are going to have to diplomatically work through," said Mr Hunt, who lost a primary challenge in May and is leaving Congress at the end of the year.

"There are some cultural differences that we are going to have to diplomatically work through," he said in response to a question regarding his past comments.

"I also recognise that as the United States Congressman, my job as an ambassador is going to be very, very different."

The committee also heard the nomination of Dino LaVerghetta, Mr Trump's pick for for US ambassador to Kuwait.

"Kuwait remains vital to global energy markets, but our economic relationship also extends well beyond oil," Mr LaVeghetta said.

"If confirmed, I will be a relentless advocate for American businesses and workers, opening doors for our exporters, securing critical infrastructure projects for American companies, and welcoming Kuwait Capital that creates American jobs."

Mr LaVeghetta's nomination came after Mr Trump's first pick for the position, Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib, failed after Republican senators said they would oppose his nomination.

His hearing last year turned tense after Republican and Democratic leaders confronted him with comments and social media posts about the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel and past remarks about former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

He was also questioned about social media content that was deemed anti-Semitic.

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