Launched in 2025 by G42 with partners including OpenAI, Oracle, NVIDIA, Cisco, and SoftBank, Stargate UAE is a landmark AI supercomputing project. As part of a $500 billion global AI infrastructure initiative, it will feature a 1-gigawatt computer cluster, expanding to 5 GW — the largest outside the United States. Aligned with both the UAE’s Vision 2031 and National AI Strategy 2031, the Stargate AI cluster serves to reinforce national digital sovereignty, economic diversification, and sustainable innovation with the use of nuclear and solar energy. The Middle East Institute hosted speakers from the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR) in a webinar to explore Stargate’s scale, sustainability, strategic goals, and its role in shaping regional AI leadership.

In scarcely a century, Salafism has transformed Sunni Islam. Claiming to be a revival of the purest form of Islam, this movement promotes ultraconservative social and religious norms and rejects all non-Sunni reli gious groups. In Egypt, its influence has grown to the point of reshaping mainstream conceptions of the faith. How did such a deep religious transformation sweep through Egypt so rapidly? What is the significance of Salafism for the country’s political scene, both before and after Hosni Mubarak fell from power in 2011? Twilight of the Saints examines the history of Salafism in Egypt from its 1920s emergence in Cairo’s scholarly circles through the present day, shedding new light on the movement’s shifting relationship to politics. Drawing on extensive fieldwork and interviews, Stéphane Lacroix illustrates how Salafism redefined what it means to be Muslim for Egyptians. He emphasizes the factors that distinguish the Salafis from the Muslim Brotherhood, despite their parallel trajectories. Lacroix explores how Salafism influenced the dynamics of the 2011 revolution and the democratic transition that ended with the army’s takeover of the country, as well as how it has fared since. In this context, MEI will host a book talk with Stephane Lacroix to present the book and reflect on our understanding of the relationship of Salafism, politics, and authoritarianism in Egypt, and its significant implications for the wider Muslim world.

America is a mixed bag for Arabs. Its culture and institutions are respected, but its policies in the Middle East, especially its unwavering support for Israel, are widely despised. In this webinar, Professor Mustapha Kamel Al-Sayyid will examine these contradictions, drawing on public opinion surveys from across the region to show how Arab societies balance admiration with resentment. The talk will highlight the gap between popular sentiment and government policy and explore what these tensions mean for the future of US–Arab relations.

In the wake of recent regional conflicts, the Middle East has once again become a testing ground for major power competition. Although US-China relations are largely defined by strategic rivalry, the region also raises the question of whether cooperation on shared concerns remains possible. Track 2 dialogues have explored potential common ground in areas such as regional stability, while also exposing where the two sides clash most sharply, and why. In this talk, Prof. She Gangzheng, Associate Professor and Director of the Centre for Overseas Security at Tsinghua University and currently a visiting scholar at Harvard University, will share insights from his recent involvement in Sino-US projects exploring avenues for cooperation in the region, unpacking both the opportunities and the challenges for engagement.

The war in Gaza triggered by Hamas’ attacks on Israel in October 2023 sparked several massive aftershocks that have redrawn the geopolitical map of the Middle East. After decimating Hamas, the Israel Defense Forces went on to effectively neuter Hezbollah in Lebanon, depriving Iran of its most potent forward threat to Israel. The overthrow of the Assad regime in Syria last December further weakened the so-called Axis of Resistance. With Iran at its most vulnerable in decades, Israel took the fight to the Islamic Republic in a 12-day offensive in June that left its chief regional foe reeling. The aftermath of the violence has significantly altered the balance of power in the Middle East. Israel has emerged as the primary security power in the region, Iran has seen its influence evaporate, and other countries are calibrating their responses to the new reality. How do Arab states, particularly those in the Gulf, which have only recently moved to détente with Iran, respond to Israel’s rise in tandem? The Middle East Institute’s Annual Conference 2025 unpacked the effects of a re-ordered region on the rest of the world via three panels staffed with experts. These panels examined the impact of the far-reaching changes brought about by almost two years of war.   Panel 3: What Lies Ahead? This concluding panel looked ahead and attempted to divine future trends, including how the Gaza war will end, and the repercussions of changes on Singapore.   Get Ready to Dive Deeper than the Discussion.    Asaad Alshamlan argued that the Middle East cannot be explained by a single grand narrative, highlighting four forces—Gulf–Arab disparities, state fragility, US–China rivalry, and the unresolved Palestinian question—which shape the region’s complex landscape. This MEI Persepectives article builds upon his arguments - read here.   Based on the insights he delivered at the event, Mohammed Baharoon unpacks how regional powers, global actors, and non-state players are fueling a revival of old imperial ambitions while introducing new, economy-driven “quantum politics” in the Middle East - read the full piece here.  

The war in Gaza triggered by Hamas’ attacks on Israel in October 2023 sparked several massive aftershocks that have redrawn the geopolitical map of the Middle East. After decimating Hamas, the Israel Defense Forces went on to effectively neuter Hezbollah in Lebanon, depriving Iran of its most potent forward threat to Israel. The overthrow of the Assad regime in Syria last December further weakened the so-called Axis of Resistance. With Iran at its most vulnerable in decades, Israel took the fight to the Islamic Republic in a 12-day offensive in June that left its chief regional foe reeling. The aftermath of the violence has significantly altered the balance of power in the Middle East. Israel has emerged as the primary security power in the region, Iran has seen its influence evaporate, and other countries are calibrating their responses to the new reality. How do Arab states, particularly those in the Gulf, which have only recently moved to détente with Iran, respond to Israel’s rise in tandem? The Middle East Institute’s Annual Conference 2025 unpacked the effects of a re-ordered region on the rest of the world via three panels staffed with experts. These panels examined the impact of the far-reaching changes brought about by almost two years of war.   Panel 2: The Middle East and External Powers This panel dissected what the changes meant for big powers in the region, particularly the United States and China.   Get Ready to Dive Deeper than the Discussion.    Ambassador Barbara Leaf reflects on her analysis from the conference to unpack why the Middle East has never truly been an arena for “Great Power Competition,” despite frequent claims to the contrary - head here to read.   Zhaoyi Zhu’s MEI Perspectives piece dives into how China’s rivalry with the US drives its Middle East policy, with Beijing prioritising its Gulf partners, maintaining conditional ties with Israel, and engaging cautiously with Iran.

The war in Gaza triggered by Hamas’ attacks on Israel in October 2023 sparked several massive aftershocks that have redrawn the geopolitical map of the Middle East. After decimating Hamas, the Israel Defense Forces went on to effectively neuter Hezbollah in Lebanon, depriving Iran of its most potent forward threat to Israel. The overthrow of the Assad regime in Syria last December further weakened the so-called Axis of Resistance. With Iran at its most vulnerable in decades, Israel took the fight to the Islamic Republic in a 12-day offensive in June that left its chief regional foe reeling. The aftermath of the violence has significantly altered the balance of power in the Middle East. Israel has emerged as the primary security power in the region, Iran has seen its influence evaporate, and other countries are calibrating their responses to the new reality. How do Arab states, particularly those in the Gulf, which have only recently moved to détente with Iran, respond to Israel’s rise in tandem? The Middle East Institute’s Annual Conference 2025 unpacked the effects of a re-ordered region on the rest of the world via three panels staffed with experts. These panels examined the impact of the far-reaching changes brought about by almost two years of war.   Panel 1: Winners and Losers in a New Regional Order This opening panel discussion focused on regional reactions, and included perspectives from Israel and Iran.   Get Ready to Dive Deeper than the Discussion. Drawing on his discussion at MEI’s Annual Conference, Alam Saleh explores how the 12-Day War has forced Iran to recalibrate its foreign policy amid global shifts, regional realignments, and domestic crises - to read, click here.   Read an in-depth analysis by Neri Zilber—building on his insights from MEI’s Annual Conference—as he examines how the 7 October Hamas attack reshaped Israel’s domestic politics, drove a shift in its military doctrine, and altered the regional balance - click here.   Syria’s new rulers have scored some successes in moving the country out of international isolation. But, Nanar Hawach argues, they risk these gains because of a series of mis-steps domestically. Expanding on his remarks at MEI’s Annual Conference, he charts a course forward. Read his remarks here.    

The war in Gaza triggered by Hamas’ attacks on Israel in October 2023 sparked several massive aftershocks that have redrawn the geopolitical map of the Middle East. After decimating Hamas, the Israel Defense Forces went on to effectively neuter Hezbollah in Lebanon, depriving Iran of its most potent forward threat to Israel. The overthrow of the Assad regime in Syria last December further weakened the so-called Axis of Resistance. With Iran at its most vulnerable in decades, Israel took the fight to the Islamic Republic in a 12-day offensive in June that left its chief regional foe reeling. The aftermath of the violence has significantly altered the balance of power in the Middle East. Israel has emerged as the primary security power in the region, Iran has seen its influence evaporate, and other countries are calibrating their responses to the new reality. How do Arab states, particularly those in the Gulf, which have only recently moved to détente with Iran, respond to Israel’s rise in tandem? The Middle East Institute’s Annual Conference 2025 unpacked the effects of a re-ordered region on the rest of the world via three panels staffed with experts. These panels examined the impact of the far-reaching changes brought about by almost two years of war. Mr K Shanmugam, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs, opened the conference.

The book provides a comprehensive analysis of the emergence, political economy, and foreign relations of Japan’s interactions with the Middle East, with an emphasis on its relations with the states in the Gulf region. It offers both country-specific case studies and thematic chapters, providing a comprehensive study of Japan’s relations with the Gulf and the broader Middle East. Japan enjoys a strategic partnership with the Arab Gulf countries in terms of energy trade, which has since expanded into a broader trading relationship with the wider Middle East. The book examines Japan’s relations with Israel, Egypt, and Turkey, covering security, the oil sector, and the LNG sector in the Middle East. This depth of analysis allows the book to go beyond its rich analytical and empirical content.

The 12-day war between Iran and Israel revealed certain realities about the regional order for the Gulf Arabs, while also offering lessons for the future. The current order in the Persian Gulf is influenced by the US’ “Pivot to the East” strategy and the containment of China. The effects of this approach are evident in Israel’s increased presence in the region and the Abraham Accords. Following Hamas’ 7 October attack on Israel, the decimation of the group, as well as Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, Tel Aviv has sought to impose its desired order in the region. Israel’s recent attack on Iran, as well as the US’ own strikes,  have heightened concerns about the dominance of Israel’s preferred order in the region. On the other hand, Iran’s response by hitting the American Al-Udeid base in Qatar, has raised Gulf worries about maintaining neutrality in a direct war between Israel/the US and Iran. These countries, in pursuit of an independent role, aim to continue diplomacy with Iran to shape their desired security order in the region — a diplomacy that largely prevented the expansion of war in the region.

Join us for a special Book Talk with Professor Jonathan Fulton on his latest publication, Building the Belt and Road Initiative in the Arab World: China’s Middle East Math. Drawing on the 1+2+3 Cooperation Pattern introduced by President Xi Jinping in 2014, the book offers a compelling framework to understand China’s political economy strategy in the region, centred on energy cooperation, infrastructure development, and emerging sectors like nuclear and space technologies. In this session, Prof. Fulton will discuss how different Arab states, and sub-regions have positioned themselves within this evolving equation, and what these reveals about Beijing’s strategic priorities. The talk will provide timely insights for scholars, policymakers, and anyone interested in the intersection of Chinese foreign policy and Middle East regional dynamics.

In the years following the turmoil of the Arab Spring, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates jockeyed for power, becoming significant forces—and rivals—in regional politics. In her recent book published by Lynne Rienner, Dr. Emma Soubrier, director of the PRISME initiative, unpacks the nuts and bolts of these two small states’ rise to prominence, exploring how their diverging foreign and security policies have enabled both of them to become power players in the Middle East and beyond. On 24 June, Soubrier will join MEI for a virtual talk to share her research findings and discuss the potential trajectory of Qatari and Emirati foreign policies.

US president Donald Trump most recent visit to three Gulf monarchies — Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) — saw him leave with bountiful, billion-dollar deals. According to fact sheets released by the White House, the president secured economic agreements amounting to $600 billion with Saudi Arabia, $243.5 billion with Qatar, and $200 billion with the UAE — what were deemed as “historic” levels of investment. While these reported deals illustrate Mr Trump’s strong business focus, the choice of the three Gulf states reflects their global diplomatic standing and connections with the US president. The mutual adulation on display pointed to how Washington sees the Gulf states as paving the way in Middle Eastern affairs. From the Gulf-US Summit to the announcement of Syria’s sanction relief, Mr Trump’s programme was also marked by discussion on important regional files. The glaring omission on his itinerary, however, was Israel — sparking speculation of a Trump-Netanyahu rift. Are we witnessing a golden era in US-Gulf relations? How sustainable are the deals signed? Apart from doing business, will the Trump administration provide greater security guarantees to the Gulf states? Are we expecting more US-Gulf alignment on regional theatres such as Iran, Syria, and Gaza? The Middle East Institute hosted two experts from the region, Hasan Alhasan and Yousuf Al Bulushi, to address the above issues and more.

In February, King Abdullah II of Jordan rebuffed US President Donald Trump’s proposal for his country to absorb Palestinians living in Gaza — part of the now infamous “Riviera” plan. When dealing with the Trump administration, the Jordanian king is certainly caught in a bind between rejecting Palestinian displacement and restoring the flow of foreign assistance from Washington. An aid-reliant economy notwithstanding, Amman has longstanding identity issues arising from citizens of Palestinian origins, tracing back to the aftermath of the 1948 war which saw Jordan’s population triple with the addition of Palestinian refugees and inhabitants of the West Bank. Domestically, Jordan’s recent parliamentary elections held last September produced a strong Islamist showing, with the Islamic Action Front (IAF) — the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood — emerging as the largest bloc in the legislative body. Amman also had to navigate the succession crisis in 2021 involving Prince Hamzah bin Hussein, whose house arrest and subsequent public reconciliation with King Abdullah II revealed underlying tensions within the Hashemite royal family. The Middle East Institute hosted Steve L. Monroe and Nicolai Due-Gundersen, two newly-minted authors and experts on Jordan, to address the above issues and more.

The Gulf states, rich in mineral reserves—Saudi Arabia with gold, silver, copper, nickel, iron ore, and aluminum, and the UAE with limestone, copper, and gypsum—are increasingly positioning themselves as key players in the global critical mineral market. As the demand for clean energy technologies, particularly in EV batteries, grows, and as AI continues to drive heavy energy consumption, these states are embracing the mining, processing, and trading of critical minerals. This strategic shift is part of their broader effort to diversify their economies, reduce reliance on oil, and secure a leading role in the future global economy. Global Distinguished Professor of Environmental Studies and Public Policy at NYU Abu Dhabi Sophia Kalantzakos discusses these in the final edition to the ME Outlook series.

Grant Rumley, Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, speaks with Clemens Chay, MEI Research Fellow, about the significance of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Jordan’s King Abdullah visiting Washington in the early weeks of Donald Trump’s presidency. Rumley highlights President Trump’s unconventional diplomatic style and his aim to foster peace and stability in the Middle East. Comparing policy trends across the Trump and Biden administrations, he notes that while Trump’s approach is more bilateral, there are notable parallels. Although Trump often wields the stick, he also remains open to new offers—a strategy, Rumley argues, that compels foreign leaders to assess whether the president is calling their bluff.

As Trump returns to office and lifts the freeze on LNG export permit applications, the global LNG landscape is set for another shake-up. Importing countries are closely watching how the US leverages LNG in trade negotiations, while competing producers, particularly Qatar, brace for intensified competition. With its 80% expansion of the North Field announced in early 2024, Qatar must now navigate a market where US LNG suppliers offer more flexible, destination-free contracts. In this interview, MEI Senior Research Fellow June Park speaks with Dr Steven Wright, Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, to unpack the implications of these developments on the Gulf’s role in the global energy market.

In recent years, China’s relations with North Africa have evolved significantly, driven by strategic economic interests and geopolitical considerations. As China expands its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), North Africa’s strategic location—linking Europe, the Middle East, and sub-Saharan Africa—makes it increasingly important. Looking ahead, China’s engagement in the region is expected to deepen, particularly in the digital economy, renewable energy, and space cooperation. However, despite strong mutual interest in strengthening ties, Sino-North African relations should not be overstated, as China’s presence and influence in the region remain far below that of the US and the EU.

Dr Rory Miller, Professor of International Politics at the Georgetown University of Qatar, discusses the shifting security dynamics in the Gulf region, particularly how inter-state relations might evolve with the return of the Trump administration in 2025. He also explores the prospects and pitfalls of the ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, providing a summary of the key issues at play.

Daniel Neep, Professorial Lecturer at the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University, discusses the challenges for Syria after the fall of Bashar al-Assad. With regime change now placing Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in charge, Neep outlines the domestic and foreign policy priorities of the new government led by de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa. It is clear from the outset, with Al-Sharaa’s various foreign trips, that regional and international recognition is a pressing matter for his new administration. But so are territorial integrity, inclusivity, and the rebuilding of infrastructure, as Neep highlights. He also assesses the level of Islamism that we can expect from governance, following media reports on Al-Sharaa’s jihadist history, including prior connections with Al-Qaeda and Isis.