The Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs (IFI) at the American University of Beirut (AUB), together with the Middle East Council on Global Affairs (ME Council), co-hosted the second Annual Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Think Tank Forum, bringing together regional and international policy experts to examine how global shifts impact the Arab region.
Held over two days, the forum convened members of the Arab Think Tank Network, alongside leading regional and international think tanks, to explore how global public goods are defined and prioritized in the Arab world. Discussions focused on trade and migration, development finance and capital flows, and climate change, with participants reflecting on challenges and opportunities for Arab countries in producing, providing, and governing these goods.
The forum also marked the first general assembly of the Arab Think Tank Network, where members adopted network guidelines, set strategy, and elected a coordination committee.
In his welcoming remarks, Dr. Joseph Bahout, IFI Director, underscored the importance of the gathering in light of the region’s current turbulence: “More than ever, our region needs increased discussion, more frank conversations, more like-minded cooperation… and a greater voice on our affairs.” He stressed that this year’s choice to focus on global public goods—rather than traditional geopolitical themes—was essential to the region’s future.
Tarik M. Yousef, Senior Fellow and Advisor at the Middle East Council, reflected on long-term structural shifts, noting that Gulf states had diverged from much of the Arab world over the past two decades, driven by stability and financial strength. This divergence, he observed, has created “two Arab worlds,” making regional cooperation more complex but also opening space for fresh policy approaches.
Alongside the main sessions, IFI and the Arab Think Tank Network organized a panel discussion titled “Building an Arab Voice on the Governance of Global Public Goods.” Speakers included Roula Majdalani, Senior Climate Advisor at ICARDA; Tarik M. Yousef, Senior Fellow at ME Council; and Ishac Diwan, IFI Associate Fellow and AUB Professor of Economics. The panel was moderated by Albert Kostanian, IFI Associate Fellow and economist. Discussions centered on how Arab countries can contribute to shaping global solutions that reflect regional priorities, while fostering collaboration and collective action.
The Arab Think Tank Network, a joint initiative launched in September 2024 by IFI and ME Council, now counts over twenty leading Arab think tanks and policy institutes as members. Serving as the network’s secretariat, IFI facilitates dialogue and coordinates activities to enhance the impact of regional policy research on global and local agendas.
By tackling global public goods at this year’s forum, participants emphasized the need for the Arab region not only to adapt to global debates but to actively shape them—ensuring that Arab perspectives and priorities are represented in international policy dialogues.
