Dr. Ali Fathollah-Nejad
Iran, Germany
Iran, Germany
Dr. Ali Fathollah-Nejad is a German–Iranian political scientist and author focusing on Iran, the Middle East, and the post-unipolar world order. He is Founder and Director of the Center for Middle East and Global Order (CMEG), a think-tank devoted to exploring transformations and promoting a foreign policy that reconciles interests and values. He currently teaches Middle East politics and international security at the Hertie School – The University of Governance in Berlin and is also a Fellow with the University of Bonn’s Center for Advanced Security, Strategic and Integration Studies (CASSIS). Among his publications are, most recently, The Islamic Republic in Existential Crisis: The Need for a Paradigm Shift in the EU’s Iran Policy (2023, European Union Institute for Security Studies, Chaillot Paper), the much-acclaimed book Iran in an Emerging New World Order (2021, Palgrave), The Islamic Republic of Iran Four Decades On: The 2017/18 Protests Amid a Triple Crisis (2020, Brookings), where he suggested the start of a long-term revolutionary process in Iran. His forthcoming book is titled Iran – How the West is Betraying its Values and Interests (in German). Ali is also the former Iran expert of the Brookings Institution in Doha (BDC, 2017–20), the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP, 2015–18), and the American University of Beirut’s Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs (AUB-IFI, 2022–24) as well as a 2022 McCloy Fellow on Global Trends of the American Council on Germany (ACG). He holds a Ph.D. in International Relations from the Department of Development Studies at SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London) and was the winner of the 2016/17 post-doctoral fellowship of the Harvard Kennedy School’s Iran Project. He has taught, among others, at universities in London, Berlin, Doha, Tübingen, and Prague. The author of some 300 articles in English, German and French, with translations into a dozen other languages, Ali is also a regular commentator for major outlets across the globe.
Lior Dabush
Israel
Israel
Lior Dabush is a consultant, entrepreneur, and lecturer specializing in Middle East affairs, with a focus on the politics and economies of the Arab Gulf states. A former team member at the Embassy of Bahrain in Israel, she broke new ground as the first Israeli woman to join the diplomatic mission. As an advocate for the Abraham Accords, Lior advances peace through people-centered diplomacy, fostering regional integration and intercultural understanding.
Fluent in Arabic, Hebrew, and English, Lior uses her linguistic and cultural expertise to drive innovative initiatives that bridge divides and promote collaboration. She is an active member of several international NGOs shaping the vision of a new Middle East.
Currently pursuing an MBA at Reichman University, Lior also holds a B.A. with honors in Political Science and Middle Eastern Studies from Ben-Gurion University. Previously, she founded and led Sparkle Analytics, a business intelligence firm, serving as a board member and team leader for five years.
Chaimae Bouazzaoui
Morocco
Morocco
Ms Chaimae Bouazzaoui is based in the U.S.A. She is the first Moroccan woman diplomat in Israel, assigned in 2021 in her capacity as a career member of the Moroccan MFA, following the historic signing of the Abraham Accords in 2020 and the resumption of the Moroccan-Israeli Diplomatic relations on the eve of Hannuka, the celebration of Lights, a game-changer and tremendous source of hope in the MENA region. She worked at the Liaison Office of the Kingdom of Morocco in Israel as Political Counselor while touching on a wide range of intertwined arenas as well, in the frame of the trilateral-signed agreement with the U.S. in December 2020. She was part of the historic Negev Forum and contributed to the opening of the bilateral diplomatic relations. Chaimae was born in Meknes, a historical city dubbed “the little Yerushalaym” and has demonstrated a life-long interest in the contribution to and the deepening of a flourishing Moroccan-Israeli cooperation, bolstered and concretized thanks to the strategic decision of His Majesty the King Mohammed VI. She has also great hope in the broadening of the Abraham Accords in MENA and beyond, in the very spirit announced by Honorable President Trump and His Excellency PM Netanyahu. Regional security along with interfaith at large are among her top interests.
In her previous capacity, she served as Political Affairs Counselor in the Moroccan Embassy in Tunis and the Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, specializing in regional and multilateral cooperation with the United States of America and American affairs at the UNSC at large. Prior to her assignment, Chaimae was the Political Advisor to then Minister-Delegate and currently Minister Bourita on the Moroccan-U.S. Cooperation (2017-2019) and contributed to interfaith international events and visits, including the Ministerial to advance religious freedom in Washington D.C. -Potomac Declaration and OIF interreligious conference in Fez. She served at the UN&International Organizations’ bureau and Public Diplomacy department at the MFA. Chaimae ranked first entering-candidate at the MFA NationalExam2015, then graduated the following year, from the Moroccan Academy of Diplomatic Studies as top valedictorian cadet at the ranking times, after which she joined the Cabinet of then Minister Delegate Bourita.
Chaimae has had a polyvalent profile combining diplomacy (Counselor of Foreign Affairs), international organizations (UN-NY and UNESCO), journalism (specializing in regional security) and think-tanking (Palo Alto college school). Ms Bouazzaoui was awarded a National Trophy Merit for Moroccan Foreign Correspondents by Morocco’s Government, in March 2015, from the then Minister Delegate to the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Charge of Moroccans Living Abroad and Migration Affairs.
Ms Chaimae Bouazzaoui has also graduated first of her class 5-yearly-times from the Institute of Press and Information Sciences (IPSI-Tunis). Her master studies have been completed both in Israel and Tunisia, specializing in Information and Communication Studies and in Political Science, following a Mathematics Baccalaureate at the elit highschool of Meknes- Al Marjiia High School. She completed a Research Stay in Germany in 2014 While She was Research Fellow at Tunisia in Wandel Research Group with Ludwig Maximilian Universitat of Munich. Her thesis was focused on e-Political Marketing and the blogosphere arena. Previous experience includes Anadolu Agency (2014), Tunisia In Transition German Group (2014), “Femmes et Médias au Maghreb” UNESCO Journal (2013) and Reuters (2012). Ms Chaimae Bouazzaoui speaks English (fluent), Arabic (fluent), Hebrew (fluent-spoken), French (fluent) and German (basic).
Dr. Jamal Boukouray
Morocco
Morocco
Prof. Boukouray, before joining UIR, was the Dean of the School of Business, Law, and Vatel School of Hospitality at UIC-Laureate in Morocco. He holds degrees from Sorbonne, Paris III, and a Ph.D. in Social Semiotics & Marketing from UQAM & McGill University, focusing on brand communications, entrepreneurship, and fame manufacturing. At UIR, he played a pivotal role in rethinking the commercialization of R&D, intellectual property assets, and the Technology Transfer & Enhancement Office’s role by implementing 4.0 go-to-market strategies for early-stage technologies and spinouts. He also initiated the digital marketplace platform to showcase mature projects, technologies, and innovations, to promote patents and promising startups emerging from UIR’s 360° Incubator and launchpad. His career includes leadership roles as CEO of Pierre Cardin & Group Ethier International Canada, CEO of Airtel Telecom (Canada & CEMAC region in Africa), and VP of Marketing for LCI, Multidev Technologies. Featured in publications like Revue de Gestion HEC and Stanford Social Innovation Review, he has led initiatives like the creation of the first low-cost broadband network for Sub-Sahara Africa and mentored hundreds of startups and entrepreneurs in the MENA region & Africa.
Shady Elborno
UAE
UAE
Advisor, Abu Dhabi Executive Office Shady Elborno is a distinguished economist and policy advisor with over 24 years of experience spanning financial services and government sectors. Currently, as the Head of Insights at the Abu Dhabi Executive Office, Shady leads a team dedicated to developing strategic economic and policy insights that inform high-level decision-making. His work focuses on leveraging advanced analytics and big data to enhance economic frameworks and drive innovative strategies across various sectors. Shady’s career has been marked by a commitment to fostering sustainable economic growth and diversification. At the Abu Dhabi Executive Office, he has been instrumental in operationalizing analytics and developing economic composites tailored to critical indicators like GDP growth, employment rates, and sectoral contributions. His role as a MENA Advisor at Alumia further demonstrates his expertise in providing strategic financial, economic, and policy insights to support business growth and alignment with regional economic and regulatory frameworks. Holding a Master’s degree in Big Data and Business Analytics, Shady is at the forefront of integrating AI and data-driven methodologies into policymaking. His ability to translate complex data into actionable insights has made him a trusted advisor to both government executives and corporate leaders.As a thought leader, Shady is passionate about using his knowledge and skills to contribute to the sustainable development of the MENA region. His dedication to innovation, collaboration, and strategic foresight aligns closely with the mission of MENA 2050, where he aims to work with fellow members to address regional challenges and create a prosperous future.
Yasmina Asrarguis
Morocco
Morocco
Researcher specialised on Peace in the Middle East, Yasmina Asrarguis is a former professional at UNESCO, the United Nations Cabinet and the diplomatic cell of President Emmanuel Macron. She has great expertise in the issues of peace and stability in the Middle East and currently documents bilateral recognitions and cooperation between Israel and the Arab countries signatories to the Abraham Accords. A Global Shaper at the World Economic Forum, she notably received the Peter Throughton Prize in 2018 for her field study on Islamism in France. In 2015-2017, she also worked with the OneVoice movement and the UNESCO Aladdin project, both of which promise inter-religious dialogue in the Euro-Mediterranean zone.
Elana Banin
Israel, USA
Israel, USA
Elana Banin is a Policy Advisor at the International Rescue Committee leading public policy engagement across issues that span women and children. She has 15 years of experience working across development, humanitarian, and peacebuilding initiatives. She led strategic planning in the Division of Communications at UNICEF, research analytics for policy and advocacy at PATH, and previously spent several years advising the Israeli government on the implications of the onset of the Syria war as well as studying external funding flows abetting the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Elana holds an MA from Tel Aviv University in Security and Diplomacy.
Prof. Yossi Mekelberg
Israel, UK
Israel, UK
Prof Yossi Mekelberg has been an associate fellow with the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House since 2002.
He is currently a guest professor at the University of Roehampton, in the UK. He was previously professor of international relations at Regent’s University, where he was head of the international relations and social sciences programme, and the faculty lead on outreach projects. He had taught at Regent’s University since 1996, and before that at King’s College, London. His fields of expertise include the politics of the Middle East, Israeli politics, the Middle East peace process, revolutions as an international phenomenon, and US foreign policy towards the MENA region.
For four years he wrote a weekly column for the Al-Arabiya network before moving to write twice a week for Arab News. In addition Yossi is a regular contributor to international media on a variety of international affairs issues.
Laith Alajlouni
Jordan
Jordan
Laith Alajlouni is a policy research consultant. He specialises in macroeconomic policy, geo-economics and regional integration in the Middle East. Laith has worked as an economist and social research consultant at various institutions, including the World Bank and the Jordan Strategy Forum. He has also published several articles on the socio-economic situation in Jordan (in English and Arabic). Laith has written for various international institutions, including the Middle East Institute in Washington DC, the Institute for International Political Studies – ISPI, the Atlantic Council and the LSE Middle East Centre. He has also worked as an independent consultant for various institutions in Jordan and elsewhere. Laith received his master’s degree in political science from the Central European University, Vienna in 2021, and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Jordan in 2018.
Hamdan Almarar
UAE
UAE
Hamdan Almarar was born and raised in Abu Dhabi. The Almarar family has held numerous government positions including the UAE’s first minister of education and minister of commerce. Hamdan holds a BA in Business Administration from the AlHosn University in Abu Dhabi. He started his career as a currency trader for the Al Hilal Bank prior to joining Falcon Private Bank Ltd as a relationship manager. Most recently he was appointed senior private banker at the Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank and has developed extensive knowledge about opening new businesses in the UAE and advising HNW individuals about business opportunities and solutions. He also holds several positions of board member for companies based in the UAE. Hamdan strives to build bridges and was a founder of the UAE-Israel Business Council. Besides his native Arabic, he speaks English and little bit of Hebrew and conducted the first interviews in Hebrew with Israeli media.