Featured Past Event: featured

Iran’s influence in the Middle East has been a subject of intense scrutiny and analysis in recent years, as the country continues to play a pivotal role in shaping regional dynamics and global geopolitics. Situated at the crossroads of Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, Iran boasts a rich cultural heritage and a long history of regional influence. From historical trade routes to modern-day strategic alliances and conflicts, Iran’s actions and policies have far-reaching implications for the stability and security of the Middle East.

More than six months into the war between Israel and Hamas, the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is every day more severe. More than 33,000 Palestinians have been killed, and over 75% of the total population has been displaced. Aid agencies agree that a famine is now imminent. Aid delivery has long been hindered by restrictions and concrete challenges on the ground, while the lives of humanitarian workers are endangered. This event delves into the crisis affecting the Gaza Strip, focusing on the humanitarian impact of the conflict, the management of aid in the Strip, and the politisation of humanitarian efforts since the outbreak of the conflict.

The Middle East Council on Global Affairs (ME Council) hosted a Suhoor Gala, featuring a panel discussion featuring prominent Arab writers and public intellectuals who address various issues concerning the Arab world from their perspectives in the diaspora. The panel discussed topics such as identities, hyphenated identities, how their status as Arab exiles influences their writing, and their position in both historical and contemporary contexts of Arab intellectuals in exile or the diaspora.

The Middle East Council of Global Affairs (ME Council) convened a panel of experts who touched on the historical foundations of Japan-GCC ties, the economic interdependence between both regions, and the evolving strategic and geopolitical considerations shaping this critical partnership.

The Middle East Council on Global Affairs and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, have officially launched the Doha Global South Health Policy Initiative. To kick off this initiative, a high-level panel discussion titled “Enhancing Primary Healthcare Access in the Global South: Challenges and Solutions” was held on February 19, 2024, at the Sheraton Grand Doha. The event brought together representatives from nine low-and-middle-income Countries (LMICs) in Africa and Asia, alongside international experts and key stakeholders from Qatar, including the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Qatar Fund for Development, Qatar University, and Hamad Bin Khalifa University.

The Middle East Council on Global Affairs (ME Council) organized a plenary discussion at the Doha Forum titled “Palestine Has Become a Global Crisis – Does It Have a Global Solution?” The plenary was moderated by Becky Anderson, managing editor and anchor of Connect the World at CNN, and included Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, minister… Continue reading Palestine Has Become a Global Crisis – Does It Have a Global Solution?

As the economic weight of the world shifts towards Asia, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is deepening ties with Asia’s biggest economies, including China, South Korea, Japan and India.

As part of the 2023 Doha Forum, the Middle East Council on Global Affairs held a panel discussion titled “The Middle East’s Fragile Reset: What Future?”

In response to these tragic events, the Middle East Council on Global Affairs (ME Council) in partnership with the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs at the American University of Beirut hosted a webinar to offer Palestinian and regional perspectives. What is Israel’s endgame as it begins a military ground invasion? Does Hamas and the larger Palestinian national movement have a strategy? Is the regionalization of this conflict inevitable? How will the broader international community respond, and what are the geopolitical implications beyond the region? 

To examine the potential impact of the global economic slowdown on the MENA region, the Middle East Council for Global Affairs (ME Council) will hold a webinar bringing together a panel of esteemed regional experts in finance, banking, and economics.